Something About Nothing by Julie Seedorf

I am a sentimental person.  That is very evident when I dig out my Christmas decorations for the season. Over the years many people have given me gifts at Christmas that add to my holiday décor.

Last year, after Christmas, I decided I needed to let go of some of the many decorations that I had. I purged, gave away and threw, but I could not let go of any holiday items that good friends and family had given to me.

Since mischievous cats Natasha and Boris, the feline detectives, have come to live with us it has been a challenge to display my beloved decorations. When my kids were little I was not the parent who left things bare so my kids would not break my decorative items. I felt my kids needed to learn respect for items displayed in my home so they would respect items in friends’ homes when we visited.

A few things got broke but very few. Our friends did the same thing. Their kids were respectful when playing at our house. My mother-in-law was the same way. She had an open spool shelf full of glass teacups that she never took down when her grandchildren were there. They knew to respect what was hers.

Christmas decorating at my house included old glass ornaments previously owned by a loved deceased relative. My clay Santa bank given to me for Christmas by my Uncle Ed and Aunt Marcella and their kids when I was very young always had a place on my table. It still is one of my favorite Christmas decorations reminding me of my childhood. It survived my kids. A gigantic stuffed reindeer given to me by friends when I was a senior in high school peered at them from over the couch. Many handmade gifts decorated my walls then and now. Yes, I kept them all and will for a long time.

These items were always up when my kids were small. However, life has changed since the furry investigators have come into our lives. The furry investigators do not have the respect of my human kids. And they have been known to become thieves in the night when it comes to the Christmas tree or a stuffed musical toy. For some reason they love noise. It doesn’t scare them.

Last year we put our large tree up. One morning we woke to find our 15-pound cat Boris sleeping on a branch inside the tree as the branch slowly crept toward the ground. The tree came down that same day.

It was suggested that we hang our tree from the ceiling as a friend did a few years ago. That wouldn’t work here; my furry kids are mountain climbers. They can climb to the highest heights and jump to the farthest star.

Since I love my glass ornaments and the homemade ornaments from my grandchildren, I was crushed to not be able to display them on my tree. I grabbed a wire and hung the ornaments in front of windows and over the large door between my dining room and kitchen.

As I hung large ornaments from the ceiling fan in my dining room I watched as Boris watched me. I could see his mind working. He was trying to figure out how he could get to the ceiling fan to get the ornaments.

There are some people who shake their head and say they would get rid of the problem, my furry shysters. They would not stand for a minute of it. That leads me into my love for my furry creatures. We make allowances for those we love even the furry ones. They become a part of our home and our heart.  I once saw someone get it.

One member of our family adopted a cat that had been left outside to freeze. The cat lost a tail, parts of paws and part of an ear. This animal had been left to die a painful death.

Some didn’t understand saving the cat. Their comment was, “It would have been easier to shoot them,” … until they met the cat. Their next comment was “I now understand the word compassion. You showed compassion for one of God’s creatures. I will never look at my animals the same again.”

It may seem I make more allowances for my cats than I did for my children. My children had to grow up to be respectful members of our society. I needed to raise them up in the way they should go. But my furry friends teach me the art of love and compassion.

I follow Humane Society stories. I follow Safe Sanctuary out of Faribault because I have dealt with them personally for adoption of a pet. I know the heart they and other rescues have for animals.

Recently Safe Sanctuary, as I am sure other rescues have, had an increasing number of cats and dogs rescued from vacant apartments where owners have moved and have abandoned their pets without food and water. They have taken in dogs that had been family pets and have been left at the side of the road to die. They take care and take in the very abused of animals.  I have a theory that those who cannot show compassion for an animal will not show compassion for a human being.

I keep ornaments. I am sentimental about keeping things forever. But there are people out there that treat their animals like an old ornament. They toss them out when they feel they are no longer of use or they get tired of them.

This Christmas season, if you are thinking of a pet for your household, think about adoption from a rescue. And if you are thinking about acquiring a pet this Christmas season, remember, a pet is not an ornament to be tossed out like an old Christmas ornament. They love and they break, just like glass if not treated with love and respect.

“Until we extend our circle of compassion to include every living creature we cannot enjoy world peace.” — Albert Schweitzer

 

Wells resident Julie Seedorf’s column appears every Monday. Send email to her at thecolumn@bevcomm.net. Her Facebook page is www.facebook.com/sprinklednotes.