Hello, Mabel

The Husband's birthday yesterday. He loves a film, so we drove off to see one. I decided to run up the back roads, a much prettier route with almost no traffic.

This route passes the Humane Society. We chatted about our inability to go in. Seeing all the animals needing homes, all of them torn from the lives they'd had, no security, being gawped at by hordes of little kids. No matter how the staff tries to make the animals happy, it's just plain uncomfortable. And it makes us cry. Our hearts fair break over all the beautiful unwanted animals. Then The Husband says:

"Do you want to go in?"

We parked, wondering why we'd do this to ourselves.

There were so many kitties there, all delightful. When he asked if we should take one home, I said yes. It didn't take a minute to calculate the added costs, the time involved in getting her through the initial weeks of solitary confinement until the vet gave the go ahead to introduce her to the rest of the cats. Well, I've done it before, and will do it whenever needed. And he found Mabel right off. All those beautiful cats. But he'd found Mabel, and stayed by her cage til we were called to the visitors room. Love at first sight. Enduring love, too. He didn't leave her but briefly to see the other cats, and it was most of an hour before our turn. He loves the name they'd given her, so Mabel she remains.

And here she is. Ten months old. A foundling, wandering about and so friendly it was no hardship for someone to capture her and bring her to the Humane Society.

Now she's found our hearts. The other cats know something is going on-the office regulars have their noses out of joint since they're not being let into the office. But Mabel has a home now, and eventually all will be well.