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THOSE CAT PEOPLE

Monday Feb. 9, 2015

I enjoy, find my curiosity intrigued, by nuance, viewpoint – current events, philosophy, religion, politics … my list goes on and on, but some ought not be negotiated with. Dare I say: smokers, religious zealots, country music fanatics, cat fanciers and practicing substance abusers/addicts, grammar-impaired, and the yearning-less.

Yes, I’ve just described my ‘don’t date those’ criteria.

I’ve learned you just can’t negotiate country music loving or cat fancying – I say with great respect for many cat owners, some are fantastic people – just not so fantastic for me.

Country music lovers cannot be taken seriously on any intellectual level.

There have been exceptions – few and very exceptional treasures – otherwise, I’m sticking to my guns, ever cautious with never-married ones and ‘antennae up’ with widows …

I fit best with like-minded people. Their minds intrigue me, because curiosity and intelligence are important in all healthy relationships.

True with great dogs.

True with really great people.

Cats and cat aficionados, on the other hand, are to be tolerated.

I wish them no ill, but have trouble stifling disdain/dislike for cats and, no matter how I try to disguise it, for their keepers/staff. You just can’t negotiate that out of those people – no matter what scope of relationship you contemplate.

Now, to clarify my no-cats-policy, I advocate a cat-free (I don’t mean jungle cats, Serengeti cats … just house + barn varietals) world. Not whole world – just my world, for maintaining cat-fancier-free zone, or at least, cat-minimal relationships …

Warning, from Miguel de Cervantes: “those who’ll play with cats must expect to be scratched”. Same holds true when playing with cat-fanciers.

I’m dog people. 

 

Mark Kolke

column written/ published from Calgary, AB

morning walk:  -14C/8F (at the airport), overcast/ice crystals in the air seem to numb-down the traffic noise, Gusta found some wet/mucky stuff notwithstanding ‘everything should be frozen’ weather reports so perhaps it’s a little warmer down south …

 

Reader feedback:

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

Often making sure one is safely between the ditches is reality and is required for survival, AN, Calgary, AB

No sunrise for northeast Texas/Louisiana this morning...We had fog, lotsa, lotsa fog.  Went to Delta Downs in the wee hours of the morning to play the slot machines for the first time.  Went in at 5:00 am and out at 7:00 am and still couldn't see across the parking lot.  Interesting experience for me-was down $80 and was getting ready to stop and did one more spin and won $87.  Walked out with winnings of $7.  Perception of gambling expanded  .  Not something I would want to do all the time but it was a whole lotta fun.  I can see how people can be lured into an addictive relationship by the possibility of winning lots of money.  GW, Bon Wier, Tx.


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