There was a young woman who lived in New Jersey
with so many pets she should have had pleurisy.
She’d started with three,
but wasn’t let be,
by the creatures all covered in fursey!
— Scylla

I have a giant blinking sign above my head that says “Cat Sucker”.

It started last year with Hazel. She obviously saw the warm glow of the cat sucker sign over my head as I left Marlena’s school and decided to approach me for permanent residency in Cat Camelot. A kingdom where she would be allowed to sleep on her choice of two beds every night, and would only be faced with the hardship of choosing which lap to sleep on during evening television programming, instead of having to scrounge for her supper.

Of course, technically it started before then, with Rue. Really, he was the first new addition to the Cats of the Round Table, and he was primarily Lee’s fault. (Lee does not have a cat sucker sign on his head, but he is listed in the “animal softy” registry.)

Well, if we are going to be completely honest here, this particular Cat Camelot started with Chloe, many years ago, when I agreed to adopt her from a friend who had to move into a no pets allowed building, and wanted his PTSD-suffering Siamese to have a gentle and loving home. (Of course, before her there was Woody… you get the idea.)

Now there is another petitioner for admittance into Cat Camelot. He is sitting outside in my backyard. He is small and black and white, and currently sated after having consumed a large bowl of kitty food. He is very friendly. He tells me that he has traveled far, and has braved many trials and hardships, in order to seek membership in these most hallowed halls. He has heard the stories of warm beds, multiple available hands for petting, and plentiful food. He is even willing to brave the potential hardship of Oliver love and the canine hordes, in order to be allowed past the gates into this land of plenty.

Yes, once again, the warm glow of the cat sucker sign has led one right to my door. I guess I should be glad it doesn’t say “Hippo Sucker”.

After three days caring for two sick children I am finally at peace. Marlena is off at school, Oliver is sleeping, and I am on the couch with a cup of coffee, a good book, and an ER rerun or two.

Now this is the life.

about enabling one’s children to accomplish their goals, learn new things, and develop new abilities.

Mothers know the importance of handing your baby a rattle, painstakingly teaching him how to grasp it, and when he’s mastered grasping it, teaching him how to wave it about. They know that teaching him how to bang it like a tambourine, to produce noise and make him smile, is valuable for his development.

Yup, it’s a proud day when you can look at your baby, enthusiastically waving his rattle against the bed, and smiling at the sound it makes upon striking the mattress.

Of course, the moment he realizes it makes a better noise banged against you may correspond with the moment you realize you have just successfully taught your infant to beat you repeatedly with a large plastic rattle…