This is Saga. He belongs to our friends and next door neighbors Montrue and Bill. They have been raising and showing award-winning Salukis for years. Saga has a very impressive pedigree and is going to the Westminster Dog Show in New York next month. He runs like a gazelle through their large backyard gardens, with his champagne feathers fluttering in the wind. Every now and then, he stops to strike a proud, elegant pose and then takes off running again. Running makes him happy. It's what he was born to do.
This is "Pretty Kitty". He belongs to another neighbor. "Pretty Kitty" does not have a distinguished family tree. He's a really sweet cat and follows us around the yard like dog. There's just something about "Pretty Kitty". He's, well...he's pretty! But it's more than that. He's got charisma...he's got class! If he were a person, he would speak with a British accent! And it's not just us who feel this way. "Pretty Kitty" is charming the socks off everybody in the neighborhood. Well, ...almost everybody.
Saga hates "Pretty Kitty". The sight of "Pretty Kitty" makes Saga crazy! He jumps around trying to get over the fence barking his head off. Meanwhile, "Pretty Kitty" walks by calmly and gives Saga a condescending look. I think "Pretty Kitty" must be using cat mental telepathy to say, "Na,na,na,na,na! You can't get me!"
At this point, Saga sticks his slender, aristocratic nose right up to the fence and barks angrily. "Pretty Kitty" then walks slowly up to the fence, staring Saga straight in the eyes. He stops about 2mm from where Saga's teeth are snarling,
sits down and raises his paw. (I'm not making this up!) Now Saga's really going nuts! And then, just like the clashing of the cymbals in a musical score, "Pretty Kitty" slaps Saga on the nose with his paw! This is like pouring kerosene on a fire. Saga pushes his nose even further through the fence.... and...you guessed it... "Pretty Kitty" pops him again! This scene goes on until Montrue or Bill come out and drag Saga inside or "Pretty Kitty" is no longer amused and walks quietly away to wash his paws.
You know, if you have a dream...you've met "Pretty Kitty".
You're excited, energized...just like Saga running in the backyard. Then here comes "Pretty Kitty" looking smug and saying things like, "Why do you want to do that?", "You should do something practical.", "That's never going to work.", "You're not smart enough...rich enough...you're too smart...you've got too much money...you're too young...you're too old..." And just like Saga, you've probably spent a lot of time barking with your nose in the fence. I know I have. There are a lot of "Pretty Kittys" in this world. They are at work, at school, maybe even in your own family. The next time you see "Pretty Kitty" coming, just think about how elegant you look running in the wind... then throw him a little smile and keep on going! Now, doesn't that feel better?
Some day Ill get that cat!
Signed,
Saga
Posted by: Saga | September 14, 2007 at 07:52 PM