Life Lessons from One Skinny Cat

Wise Old Taz, photo by Marianne M. Smith

He jumped from the 17^th vertical cage and landed squarely on the back of my neck.  I somehow managed to stay upright.  The surprised animal shelter tech hadn’t expected the six-month-old kitten to launch himself into the air when she opened his cage from a library ladder.  (The shelter in Vail couldn’t afford much of their pricey real estate, so they built in an upward direction.)

Life Lesson #1:  When you see what you want, go after it with gusto.

He wrapped himself around my neck and wouldn’t let go, even when the tech and I both tried to wrestle him into a crate for the ride home.

Life Lesson #2:  When you get want you want, hang on for dear life.

I was on vacation but staying at home, and that kitten rode around on my neck for two days before deciding he could actually walk on the floor.

Life Lesson #3:  It’s ok to change your mind once you have examined your options.

Although I tried many names on this cat, he would only answer to one:  Taz.

Life Lesson #4:  Never let anyone else define you.

Taz was one of the most loving cats I’ve ever been around.  He never missed an opportunity to be as close to me as possible.  He’d even sleep on my face.

Life Lesson #5:  Love like there will be no tomorrow, even if you need to wake someone up.

He liked to announce himself whenever he entered the room, always claiming his space as top cat, even though he never weighed more than seven pounds.

Life Lesson #6:  It’s ok to claim your space and be self-confident. 

Taz also loved to get right in front of me whenever I was on a mission, intentionally tangling  my feet up to slow me down.  That way, he could get whatever he needed next.

Life Lesson #7:  Live like there’s no tomorrow.  Be passionate about everything!

While passionate, Taz was a Zen Master.

Life Lesson #8:  Eat when hungry, sleep when sleepy, and lay in the sun and watch the birds in the garden when you’re not either one.

Taz , photo by Marianne M. Smith

I could go on, but I’m sure you get the point.

I had Taz longer than I’ve ever had any other animal.  Two vets told me that they hadn’t ever treated a cat as old as Taz; I had him over twenty years!  On Saturday, when he could no longer rally, we made the hard decision to put him down.

I’m now convinced that he lived as long as he did because he had so very much to teach me.

We buried him near the pond in a sunny spot, finding few words to speak.

Life Lesson #9 (perhaps my hardest):  Appreciate what you have, and when the time comes, let it go.

Thanks for the life lessons, my dear friend!

As always, I'd love to hear your comments.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Why Sarcasm is a Brilliant Form of Communication

from wehearit.com

Many think that sarcasm is just veiled anger, and try to avoid it all costs.  However, I find it exceedingly therapeutic.  I suppose it helps if the person you are thrusting it upon has a sense of humor.

Some go so far as to call it the lowest form of wit.  But I totally disagree.  Humor, irony, satire and understatement can be some of the most interesting forms of communication, if not always the most delicate.  But I think the deciding factor in whether sarcasm is evil (and sometimes it is) depends on the intent of the sarcasticator (and yes, I made that word up).

Some relationship experts say that sarcasm is an attempt at dominance, sort of a top-dog syndrome.  But I prefer to think of it as a clever form of self-defense.



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In my own experience, sarcasm often keeps me from killing people who are being stupid or unkind.  A sarcastic retort can sometimes confuse people.  After all, you are dishing out the opposite response from what is expected.  The lull can give you time to disengage from the stupid or unkind and keep you from landing in jail.

 

Sarcasm can also be a gentle form of self-deprecation.  It gives you a chance to poke fun at yourself instead of beating yourself over the head with the nearest blunt object.

My husband and I enjoy several good rounds of mocking banter daily.  You could say that we are sarcasm SME’s.  I will admit that it is easier to get snarky with someone you are comfortable with, and sometimes we do get a little carried away.  But that happens with all forms of communication.

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Our collective fascination with social media has even brought about something called “The Sarcastic Font Movement.”  This is a perhaps futile attempt at making sure your sarcasm will not be overlooked online.  If there is an established movement, it must be important, right?

How do you feel about sarcasm?  No really, I’d LOVE to know! J  Please feel free to leave an especially sarcastic comment.


Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

In Search of Mayberry

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Unless you've been on an extra-long holiday, you're probably aware that Andy Griffith died on July 3rd.  He was an icon in many ways, but his role as Sheriff Andy in small-town Mayberry is the one that warms up our hearts the most.


 


I've been doing a lot of thinking and research lately about what makes up the perfect community.  Dwayne and I plan to make one more calculated move in our lifetime, and we want to get it right.  We've been tossing around lots of ideas, and focusing on research that says a college town is the ideal place for older Americans.  Because we still plan to live on a farm, our time in town is pretty special and important to us.


When Andy died it hit me:  We are not looking for a perfect community, but for an imperfect one, full of interesting characters and challenges.  Who doesn't need an Aunt Bea, even though at times she can be a bit overbearing and likes to gossip?  She would chase off the devil himself if she thought you were in danger.  And who isn't amused by the ego-riddled antics of lawman Barney Fife?  Or sympathetic to the plight of poor Otis, the usually agreeable and sweet town drunk?  And then there's Opie, a good boy who asks penetrating questions and tries hard to mostly stay out of trouble.

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My husband and I have found ourselves in a position that allows us to live anywhere, for the first time in our lives.  We both work from home now and have no distance limitations.  It's not just about living in a place where the majority of the population isn't ingesting bath salts.  We're drawn to art, auctions, antiques, dance, community theater and the water.  We love old town squares but crave cultural and learning opportunities.


We're looking for a place where people really want to engage with each other, but where they also know how to respect solitude. We're seeking a place with warmth and heart, where people are genuine and creative and community-minded.  Sounds like a lot to ask, doesn't it.  I think we're in search of Mayberry.

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Have you ever thought about what would make a perfect (or perfectly imperfect) community for you and your family?  It's an eye-opening experience.  I'd love to hear what your Mayberry looks like.  Please feel free to leave a comment.


Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com