This morning, I went in early to the grocery store to buy canned cat food. (None was donated this week). The manager of this one store is always kind enough to discount cans to me when this happens. My cart was pretty full and as I stood in the check-out line there were these two women behind me giggling and whispering.
I have to say that I have the ears of a bat and I heard every word, including the ones that kept popping up “Crazy Cat Lady.” I didn’t say a word to defend myself. I have other things on my mind, but I left the store with their hysterical laughter trailing me.
I got home and thought about some things.One being that I didn’t choose this life, it chose me. So in honor of that and to all you cat lovers out there- I have written the following poem.
I hope you enjoy it, I hope you share it and I hope it speaks to the people who don’t understand what it is to live among these often misunderstood creatures. And I hope it brings smiles to those who do! So without further ado, I present my poem:
Ode to the Crazy Cat Woman
by Mary Anne Miller
C-is for the Comfort
found within the rumble of the purrs.
R-is for the Relationship
wrapped tightly up in fur.
A– is for the Awareness
in between the chaos and the strife.
Z is for the Zeal,
you’ve got a friend for Life.
Y- is for the Yowling,
heard only during feeding time.
C– is for the many Cat food cans
waiting down the line.
A– is for Aluminum,
it’s recyclable (Thank you Lord).
T– is for the Tomcat,
now neutered at your door.
L– is for the Licking of the tongue
upon the face.
A-is for feline Agility,
the loveliness, the grace.
D– is for the town Debate,
Is she crazy? Is she sane?
Y– is for Yielding, to the One who truly reigns
understanding this life is a calling
not one easily explained.
One further note CATS Inc. now only stands $376.00 short of making the vet debt! I cannot put into words my feelings to all of you who dug in and sent me your lunch money, your “I don’t need to play BINGO tonight money” and everything else in-between. Hopefully this will keep us in good graces with the vet. You guys rock! I am so in awe of all of you. Thank you for keeping us alive.
I have been lurking here for quite awhile! Your blog is very interesting and you’re a very caring person. I’m happy I made a donation a few days ago. Please take care,
Debbie (From Ontario)
I wonder what the women behind you are doing with their lives today? Helping other living beings or watching fake ‘reality’ shows on tv? Raising awareness of suffering animals or gossiping about the latest idiot ‘celebrity’?
If the donations coming to you are any indication, there are a lot more crazy cat people out there than those two at the grocery store know.
Thank you for the poem. My wheelchair gets a lot of attention from passers-by (overwhelmingly positive attention) because the backpack says “Crazy Cat Ladies Society”! Yes, it was a real society about 15 years ago, but seems to be dormant now. (The website was still there last time I looked.) I do think I persuaded one bus driver that he should be getting a pet for his kids now – and he intends it to be a cat! I told him to get in touch with one of the Rescue Groups here. Thank goodness you’re “crazy” and not the only one. And good luck with the physiotherapy!
Your last line of your post. is really, I am quite sure, one of the many things that your little roadside wanderers say to you:
“Thank you for keeping us alive.”
I know it’s hard to do, but it’s best to try to forget these people as soon as possible, don’t keep them on your mind. The problem is with them, not you. Odds are they have already forgotten that episode in the grocery store, and have moved on to making fun of a neighbor or another townsfolk or something. They’re just bullies. They like to make fun of others to make themselves feel better, because inside they don’t feel too good about themselves.
On another note, I donated something this am, hope it helps.
They have no voice, they have no choice. I question the mental stability of those that can turn a blind eye to an animal in need, not to mention the instability of those that when noticing that others do stop and help resort to insults and attempted degradation. Who is the sick mind here?
Who makes fun of a doctor or nurse? Who thinks they are crazy? What do they think about Mother Theresa?
Clearly, they have a mental illness where they think that ridicule and/or apathy are parts of the solution.