Warning - by Jenny Joseph
When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other peoples' gardens
And learn to spit.
​

​You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickles for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.
 
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.


But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

What's this got to do with the real world? Read on.... 
A bit of whimsy to start off a rather dismal day – good news I saw some bird tracks the other day (they know) – stay warm! Spring will come!

Why ‘The Wonder Cat’?

• I often wonder where she is - this is the ultimate hider. She will come out when ready – and find the most intriguing of places to hide.
• I wonder what she means. She has her own language. – which she challenges we humans to decipher. For instance, I now know that ‘Meh’ means pay attention -or fill my bowl, or let me out…  When the sound is elongated OK you have waited too long to fill the bowl, or do something – up to you to figure out what… or you get ‘the look’
• The Yowl – usually in the middle of the night waking you from a sound sleep – this is the signal to be on the lookout when you get out of bed – for ‘presents’ left during the night. (Also, a sign of something wrong) This actually happened earlier this week meaning a trip to the vet emerg. - scary, but she is I OK – whew!
• I wonder why she makes me stand like a statue with the back door open (not allowed to look at her) – when she wants out. I wonder why I play this game – she is in total control… LOL
• The wonder cat, because at 18 and counting (19 this spring!) she still is, most days pretty spry (don’t ask me to translate that into human years – I don’t do that kinda math)
• Do Enjoy her whimsy – she has earned her ‘curmudgeon’ badge. Hope this cheered you on a chilly morning.
• As you can tell from the caption, she abhors the cold – and blames it on me of course!

 
How could we survive this ordeal we have all been through without the aid of our pet companions or friends for that matter - they keep us amused and wondering… and Wonder is good – it means something to look forward to… 
 
Humans tell us also in many ways behaviorally and outright that they hurt. Pay attention and wonder at the resilience of spirit that will carry us all through this global crisis, and our personal ones as well. We can learn from what we ‘wonder’ at… STAY STRONG! Lucy is hanging in there with us…