I’ve done it again: I got cats. I went catless for about a year and then I saw a movie with a cat and realized how much I miss having those strange little animals in the house, animals with such strong opinions, such utter gracefulness, and such amazing ears.

I love dogs just as much but have decided I have picked up my last bag of warm dog poop. So cats it is. Cats it are.

I have two now, brother and sister. Joey is super active and interested in everything. Sister Phoebe has spent nearly the full first three weeks hiding, only coming out just often enough that I know she is okay. Gives me something to look forward to: more Phoebe.

Lots of people don’t like cats; lots of people are allergic to them. When people get pissy with me about loving cats I refer them to Ernest Hemingway who was a certified Tough Guy Cat Lover.

You can’t bring a wild raccoon into your house and try to ask it what it is like to be a raccoon. And you can’t get an answer to a question like that from raccoon or cat. But at least with the cat it can curl up in your lap and you get to ask the question.