I’m generally a laid-back kinda guy. Most people would consider me easygoing, moderately patient, not so quick to anger. It takes a lot to get me riled up.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am officially riled up.
But why, you ask? The weather’s great in Lafayette, New Orleans is slowly creeping back toward normalcy, and cell phone service is almost what it should be. Isn’t that enough for you?
Yes, yes, of course it was–until some schmuck took it upon himself to respond to Lola’s story with the most shocking, reprehensible, unsolicited email ever. Please, allow me to share it with you:
I can’t tell you how relieved I was to learn that upon your return to your home, Lola managed to resuscitate herself enough to let you know not to continue to dig her little grave. Truly, that must have been a joyous moment for you. I’ve not met you or the kitty, but the news that she was still alive after having been alone for over a week brought tears to my eyes.
That having been said, I must say that it was an absolute abomination for you to even have considered leaving the cat alone during a hurricane. Although you thought it best to move your dogs to a place of safety, somehow you believed that your cat could fend for herself during the intense noise and water stoppage and potential looters rummaging through your house? I’m astounded at your insensitivity and your lack of foresight.
Assuming that you’ve spent more than just a few minutes with your cat, you must realize that cats are sensitive to strange or loud noises. They’re averse to any change in routine. They require clean water and regular food. And all domestic cats need love and attention and physical contact with their owners, no matter how much they’d have you think otherwise. For you to blithely pack up your dogs and assume that Lola would be all right by herself is stultifying. I do not know any of the details regarding your hasty pre-storm departure, but any other cat owner would have packed Lola up into her kitty carrying case before anything else. I know I would have. Even a domestic dog has a shot at surviving by himself in the event of an unplanned separation from his owner. Cats do not.
My cat is item number ONE on the list of things to relocate to safety in the even of an emergency. That’s because I regard him as my dear companion, my playmate, by nap buddy, my infant child, my travel pal and my confidant. If you do not regard your cat in this way, perhaps you’d best stick with your dogs, and give Lola to someone who appreciates the love and beauty and importance of an animal as lovely as she obviously is.
My hope is that you’ve learned from this experience. ALWAYS KEEP THE CAT SAFE. They don’t always make good decisions on their own.
–Jon
Of course, I just had to respond:
Jon:
Thanks so much for your stern words of admonishment. You know, despite being displaced from my home for a month and a half, having my friends suddenly scattered across the country with no chance to say goodbye, suffering weeks of uncertainty about my own future and that of the city I love, and generally being part of the worst natural disaster in US history, I wasn’t feeling quite bad enough about Lola’s ordeal. I’m overjoyed to receive such a supportive letter from someone who’s clearly been through comparable hardship in…where is that you’re from? San Diego? I mean, under normal circumstances, I might take your tone as condescending, ignorant, even idiotic, but given all the experience you’ve had with hurricanes and such, I’m sure you speak from an informed position.
Cheers,
Richard
Did I overreact? I mean, have I not made it abundantly clear that I know I made a mistake? Did I not adequately explain my efforts to retrieve her in the three weeks prior to my return home? I don’t know how many other ways I can say it: I screwed up, big time. I’ll try not to let it happen again.
And yes, I was going to include his email addy, just for kicks. But then, I thought, that might just give him more opportunities to annoy people. If you really want it, though, it’s yours for the asking….
sturtle [dot] com 