both are definitely right up there on my own list of favorite things. However, while I ache for a garden that includes roses, especially climbing ones, my past experiences trying to grow those beautiful blooms have taught me that the yearning for roses in my own backyard must wait until I possess a life with much more free time and also a yard with much better light.
Kittens, on the other hand, are another matter. Late this past fall, our dear friend Jill had an obviously pregnant cat dumped at her doorstep. On October 13th, with Jill serving as a midwife, "Mama" delivered a litter of six tiny kittens. For the next six weeks, Jill made a home on her deck for Mama and the newborns, and watched over them constantly. Once the kittens were weaned, Jill's energy was directed at finding good homes for them, which she was able to do for four of the babies by late November.
My husband and I entered into this story a few weeks earlier, having heard about the newborn kittens and then stopping over to Jill's in order to visit Mama and her wee offspring. Jill, bless her, pushed hard for us to adopt one, but our completely crazy lifestyle and the fact we already had two dogs completely dictated against us taking on the responsibility of a new animal for the next ten to twenty years. Through Jill, however, I tracked the adoption of the first four kitties and I figured odds were good that the remaining two would soon find homes as well.
Fast-forward to the week of Thanksgiving, which Scott and I spent living it up in New Orleans. After a great trip, we flew home to discover that the warm and sunny late autumn weather in Ohio had rather predictably turned cold in an abrupt way. Freezing cold, in fact, with temperatures falling into the twenties at night.
Our first day back from vacation, a quick call to Jill confirmed that the two remaining kittens still awaited a home. Jill advised that they were holding their own in the cold, trying to keep warm by cuddling with their mother in the insulated home Jill had created for them on the deck. After a few unprintable expletives flew out of my mouth (primarily directed at my dismay over what a sucker I am), I told Jill that we would take the kittens and she agreed to deliver them within the hour, which she did.
Thankfully, my husband is one of the most flexible and agreeable of men to ever walk to earth, and he did not balk in the least when I informed him (via text, of course, since I am also a chicken) that we had just adopted two new kitties, notwithstanding the fact that this development was totally contrary to all of our previous discussions on the matter. Upon Scott's arrival home from work that afternoon, I announced that the tiny solid black female would be named Chloe, and that her little gray-striped brother would be known as Max.
That was just four months ago, and we now truly cannot imagine life without Chloe and Max in it. In such a short time, those two little bundles of fur have brought more interest, humor and joy to our existence than we would have thought possible. I came across an article awhile back that, based upon a study of some sort, reported that persons with pets were better-adapted people than those who forego that experience. And, meaning no offense to anyone without animals, I do happen to believe that there is more than just a little truth to that premise.
In our case, we are so enjoying watching Chloe and Max as they develop and grow, as they learn and explore. It both amuses and amazes us that they are so small and vulnerable but yet so smart and cunning, that they are completely sweet, loving and cuddly but also so spirited and playful.
And, in a strange way (or, perhaps, not so strange), I have become convinced that the beautifully simple and instinctive nature of the kittens' behavior also serves to teach us some very valuable lessons with regard to our own human attitude and actions. The kittens are full of trust and they love without condition. Chloe and Max display affection wholeheartedly, but expect nothing in return. They feel no guilt when they play hard and sleep well. They are not afraid of new adventures, of meeting new people or of experiencing new things. They do not hesitate to try physical feats at which they will initially fail, because they seem to know that they will eventually be able to achieve the same. The two of them are partners for life, but yet they happily co-exist with their own distinct personalities, habits, traits and interests.
For sure, touting kittens as human role models will only serve to make me sound like the crazy cat lady that I am well on my way to becoming. But, nonetheless, I stand by the assertion that we can certainly learn a thing or two from their innocence and love. Which is just one of the many reasons that those little balls of fur are two of my favorite things. Along with roses. And, of course, brown paper packages tied up with string (okay...tape), which typically means that the UPS man has delivered a new pair of shoes (another favorite thing which, I'm sure, Rodgers and Hammerstein just inadvertently left out of the song).
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