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These last few years have been pure HELL for those of us who fervently believe that government should work for the good of the people, not corporations and special interests. The Clinton-bashing, impeachment, the Gore-bashing, the stolen election, the war, the demise of the Democratic party, and now this dirty, mud-slinging election. I often find myself seething with anger, screaming silently, wishing hideous punishment upon those who have bought our country and will leave our children to pay the bill. My stomach churns. I'm short-tempered. I'm easily distracted. I'm testy. Some days I'm a mess. Then I come home and there is our cat, sitting on the railing by the door, quietly waiting for attention. What a purrfect little creature! (no doubt I will lose my gold DU star for that one...and deservedly so!).
Right now she is curled up asleep across the room. Every so often she lifts her head, yawns, stretches, scans the room, curls herself in the other direction, and goes back to sleep. She has been with us now for about a year, a present from her feral mother. She grew up in the woods and is never happier than when she's chasing deer 30 times her weight out of our yard. She is insatiably curious, constantly knocking things off tables, counters, ledges, shelves, just to see how they bounce. Coming home from work is always an adventure. What has she tipped over, chewed, or climbed today? We retaliate with our own mischief, like the time we took the glass insert out of the coffee table that she likes to jump up on. The look on her face as she sailed through the hole was priceless! We still find ourselves giggling ourselves silly about that! But she is so petite, dainty, graceful, and gentle, it's hard not to smile every time we see her even though we know she is constantly plotting ways to steal our sandwich should we put it down.
Later, I will turn out the light and head up to bed. She will run up to first landing and wait for me. She knows I will sit with her, pet her soft fur, stroke her tummy, and scritch her ears as she stretches her body full length, twisting back and forth, rubbing her face in my hand, all the while returning my love with her throaty purr. Her needs are few: food, shelter, and love. My needs are much greater, but she provides the one I need the most right now: she evens my keel. I know that tomorrow I will make it through the day okay.
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