Animals seem to find us…actually I believe, in many situations, they come to people when they are needed the most. This guy came along when we least expected him. We’d had to say goodbye to two canine friends within the past six months leaving a very lonely little “Charlie” and a feline “Lucy” who lives her life in constant denial.

Along comes this guy. We can’t decide if he is a dog in a cat’s body or just plain, delightfully weird. He straddles furniture legs trying to settle in to a purrfect spot. (sorry, couldn’t help it.) lies spread eagled on the cool porcelain tile, drapes his body on my bedside table at night, his legs hanging dramatically over the edge so much so I expect to hear a scrambling thump as he crashes to the floor. So far he’s managed to maintain his perch. He gently grasps my eyeglasses off my nose in an effort to gain my attention for deep shoulder scratches and has claimed possession of one corner of my writing desk. Mind you, my writing desk isn’t that large so he ends up with half of his body slung over my keyboard until I can rescue it and continue plunking the keys from my lap. (Note to self: larger writing desk when we move along with a kitty bed at one end)

I write this with tongue in cheek, however. As with most animal lovers, I wouldn’t change a thing. Oscar has taught Lucy, denial is simply a river in Egypt and fun can be had in the most unlikely places. He has taught Charlie friends come in species other than dogs as they lie together on the porcelain floor surveying their domain from the screened porch. Life is good again, in fact it’s purrfectly sublime.