Today I did something I never thought I do ... again. I rescued three small kittens.
The crying was so loud I thought a kitten was out back. But no, this small black kitten was sitting directly across the street on my neighbor's steps, crying its heart out for mommy.
I put my coat on. I kept asking myself why. Why on earth would I save this one when I had resisted so many times before? Once I stepped outside, I could hear another plaintive cry. Again I was not sure where it was coming from.
So I walked a bit down my alley only to realize that both sets of cries were coming from across the street. Armed with an old handtowel, dressed in pajamas and slippers, I crossed to the first kitten. She tried to run but I caught her mid fall from the concrete steps. Just a little longer than my hand and hissing like nobodies business. I started to walk back when I heard the other cry. I followed it thinking that maybe I could hold two at a time when I found them -- two identical kittens two doors down hiding next to the steps.
There was no way I could hold all three. So I crossed over just as she wiggled out of my hand. She ran for the wall next to my steps and I caught her just as she realized that there was no where to hide. I wrapped her in the towel and went inside. I dumped out a box and placed her inside.
I carried the box back out with me as I crossed over the street again. Setting the box down I approached the two kittens. And just as I reached for them one made a break under the porch and out of my reach. I put the second kitten in with the first. They hissed at each other, then abruptly looked up and hissed at me -- oh good, common cause.
I had to leave the third and bring the first two inside. After loads of hisses and a saucer of milk, at least one was looking at me wide eyed and expectant. I taped the edges the lid so they stood up high enough to keep them inside, and got dressed for my errand.
I was away way longer than I had intended. When I got home my neighbor had just arrived. And along with the young man who lived next to her, we formed a three person tag team to retrieve the last kitten in the darkness. That little kitten was labeled, "Lucky". As I carried her in, she hissed and wiggled till I set her in with what I thought would be the comforting smell of her siblings -- but the box was empty. Yikes!
And the Calico Goddess was not pleased!
Apparently the little munchkins had made their escape. I caught one immediately and placed her in with her frightened sibling. I put in some warm milk and placed each of their small heads above the saucer. The newest arrival had to be coaxed to take a taste - but soon even she caught on and was lapping up with glee.
So now I would have to wait till the other one got hungry. Less than 20 minutes later I could hear a small cry. I followed it till I found a shivering and crying little bundle of fur under the radiator - and thus a joyous reunion ... and of course more milk.
Three little hissing mouths and six little glowing eyes greet me as I check their progress. One watches me from the lit end of the box while the others hide in the shade.
Right now I can hear them playing with one of the Calico discarded toys, while she sits hissing under her breath at my feet. Did I mention who was not pleased?
They cannot stay, right? Sigh.
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sweet! :-)
You are usually able to annunciate what I do not have words for. Thank you!
Much love,
-Eridanus
INTJ here. I hear what you are saying.
"what is remembered, lives". It was with sadness that I read of Wilma Mankiller's passing. She won't be forgotten.
"...Weaver, Weaver weave this thread, whole and strong into your web...Healer, Healer, heal our pain...In love may she return again..."
While student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I became friends with Carl Rogers, who was respected as one of the leading psychotherapists of his time. He taught me much about the art of listening.
Dr. Rogers said that when we listen, and people know we are listening, it shows we truly care about them. In turn, they will respond by caring about you. It opens communication and also opens hearts. When we accept them as a person, unconditionally, they will be more kind to you.
We should listen without preconceptions, without anticipation and without judgement if we want others to portray what they truly feel. We listen with all our senses, not just to the words which are said. Some people cannot fully express themselves while speaking, so we must try to see them as they see themselves. We should watch for non-verbal clues as to what they really mean: facial expressions, body movements, etc.
While we should show positive regard for the other person, we should also demonstrate our own positive self-regard. We do not react to their negative comments, verbally or physically, even when we disagree with them. When they do ask for our opinion, however, we should respond with our true thoughts and in specifics rather than generalities. We offer our own perspective as other options rather than as contradictions.
Listening might seem quite passive as opposed to speaking. It is actually very active. To paraphrase Bobby Kennedy, “I learn while listening. When I talk I don’t learn too much.” If you think talking helps to spread your own wisdom, you are not really wise.