After The Rain

The rain last night cooled things down. It is now cloudy and calm and more rain is in the forecast. We have taken in a new litter of kittens, and are keeping them on the back porch until we can acclimate them to the rest of the gang, or until we can find homes for them. It saddens me that so many animals are without homes these days. People are in dire straits and can't afford to feed them, and are barely able to feed themselves and their families. Still, there is nothing like the love of a pet, and the enjoyment they can bring to a family. I have been fortunate to have always had animals in my life. From that first German Shepard pup who got run over. To my first real friend Pooch, a gangly Dalmatian who followed me everywhere, even to school. He would sleep outside the school (I was in the 1st grade) and follow the bus home at the end of the day. Luckily we lived about a quarter mile from the school, and it wasn't a long walk for him. But I think he would have followed me anywhere. I guess in some way I always measured my friendships and human relationships against this model. Devoted, true, dependable and steadfast. Not too many have measured up, but that has been just fine with me.