Gratitude Challenge Day 2 (a day late): Animals

I don’t know how it is they know, but they know. Our animals know when we need extra. They know when we need the extended cuddle, the curl up on the shoulder, the lean. Currently, I have three cats. Two are fully indoors–Usul, a black and white tuxedo kitty who is an old woman at 14 and change and Martok, a gray and white bundle of mischief who is settling into a gentler version of his younger self. And of course there is Seamus, the increasingly indoors kitty now that the weather and light are shifting. He’s a Maine coon who serves as neighborhood ambassador and demanding old cuss. The daily care of these three yahoos has been an anchor for me. Do all my clothes and furniture have some cat fur despite my vigorous attempts to make it otherwise? Yes. Worth it.

These aren’t the only animals for which I am grateful. I’m grateful for memories of past pets who filled this home with humor, light, and love. I’m grateful for the time spent at my bestie’s where her two beagles, Doug and Travis, brought me extreme joy and lots of cuddles with their long soft ears, soulful eyes, and insistence at being loved. I am smitten with dogs even though I’ve never really had one of my own. Friends send photos and videos telling stories that make me smile, making me bask in vicarious joy, and if I’m honest, maybe creating a little envy. I get to meet new dogs on my walks at Mill Creek, too, and count the quality of those walks by the number of canines I get to give ear scritches. When friends, new and old, share their animals with me, I feel extremely lucky.

I’m grateful for all the love and enriched life these creatures so selflessly give. Even the shattering heartbreak of losing one is a reminder of just how beloved and dear they are. Heartbreak is the price of love and we willingly pay because it’s worth it. This is true for us and our critters, too, even though the reminders are far more frequent than we prefer.