Buster the Beloved Pussycat
"Dogs have owners; cats have staff," and I have worked for some wonderful cats in my time. The one I loved best was named Buster. Buster had an unusual mind. He didn't think like other cats; he didn't act like other cats. Maybe that's why I loved him so.
We got Buster from the county animal shelter. We usually get our cats from the county animal shelter. That way we save a life -- and we've gotten some great cats that way. One fall, after our cat had died and left a big hole in our lives, we went to the animal shelter for a kitten. There were no kittens.
I was about to give up, but my husband Bill kept saying, "That one over there looks good." And he did. He was about three-quarters grown, grey and white, and had a sweet, hopeful expression on his little face. Also, he was scheduled to be killed the next day. There was no time for us to go home and meditate on the matter.
We went to the people in charge and said, "We'll take that one."
As we and the cat rode home, Bill picked out his name. We take turns naming our cats, and it was Bill's turn. "We'll call him Buster," he said.
"Buster?"
"When you're mad at me, you say, 'See here, Buster,' and I'd like to have someone else around named Buster."
When we got Buster home, he of course had to inspect the house. After a brief look around, he went into my mother's bedroom, where the sun was shining warmly on her pink bedspread. He jumped onto the bed and promptly went to sleep in a patch of sunlight, sprawled out on his back, paws up, the way a cat sprawls when he's feeling completely safe and happy.
"Home at last," he was saying. "Home at last."
"Buster Is Welcomed To The Neighborhood"
At our house Buster had food available around the clock, but he must have been hungry as a kitten, because he didn't think of the other houses in our neighborhood as unfriendly. He thought of them as snack bars.
I later discovered that he got a slice of bologna from Pearl Cesare every morning around ten. He got milk from Bert Pigge shortly thereafter. Then he jumped onto a chair -- Bert had an especially desirable one -- and had a nap.
Buster was a successful entrepreneur from the start.
The other cats welcomed Buster to the neighborhood by hissing and snarling and letting him know he was in THEIR territory and he'd better get out. Well, Buster didn't get out. He didn't even get worried. I don't know why; he just didn't.
Then came the heavy artillery: the neighborhood's reigning tomcat.
I heard a noise like a furious air-raid siren coming from the back yard. I looked out the window to see the huge reigning black-and-white tom crouched a few feet from Buster, making one of the world's most menacing sounds. But Buster didn't seem worried. He listened politely. Then he noticed an autumn leaf spinning down toward him. The wind blew the leaf around the corner of the house, and Buster followed after it, leaping and pawing the leaf as it spun.
The bewildered tom sent a few more air-raid siren noises into empty air. Then he fell silent. At last he wandered off in another direction.
After that Buster was accepted as a neighborhood cat in good standing.
"Buster and I Rise and Shine"
Buster woke me in the morning by bouncing on my waterbed. I would dream I was in a small boat in a choppy sea. And gradually wake to find Buster leaping straight up in the air and briskly landing on all fours on the waterbed. KER-THUMP, KER-SLOSH. KER-THUMP, KER-SLOSH. The waterbed waves grew higher and higher as Buster briskly bounced . . . until, groggy and seasick, I rolled onto solid ground.
"Buster And The Essential Kindness of Automobiles"
Buster believed in the essential kindness of people and automobiles. When summer arrived, I began hearing cars honk in front of the house. And looked out to see Buster waking from a nap, which nap was taking place in the middle of the street: he found the sun-warmed black pavement ideal for that purpose. Fortunately ours was not a through street; drivers were honking at Buster and waiting for him to leisurely wake up and move out of their way. But how long could that last?
Whenever I saw Buster napping in the street, I yelled at him to get out. To which he paid no attention. I had to go into the street, pick up his warm, luxuriously limp body, and carry him indoors.
And the next day I'd hear a car honking again.
"Why didn't you keep him indoors, you idiot?" you are thinking.
Well, with 20/20 hindsight I know I should have. But I hoped that the honking cars would teach Buster not to sleep in the street. They would have taught any other cat.
And, while I dithered, came the heartbreaking day when Buster didn't return from his happy neighborhood rounds.
I of course made inquiries -- and learned about his tours of the home snack bars.
But he hadn't been to any of them that day.
I asked a group of kids if they had seen Buster.
"Is he the cat who chases cars?" they asked.
And then I recalled a half-forgotten memory: that of a little grey and white figure bounding joyously in the wake of an automobile.
"That's him," I said.
But they had not seen him lately either.
I will never know for certain what happened to Buster, but clearly he trusted in the essential kindness of people and automobiles one time too many.
About The Author
Find Janette Blackwell's hilarious cookbook, "Steamin' Down the Tracks with Viola Hockenberry," at foodandfiction.com
 Google News Updated : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:51:55 GMT Rangers Prospect Cherepanov Dies After Collapsing During Game - New York Times
New York Times - By Stu Hackel Nineteen-year-old Russian forward Alexei Cherepanov, who was a Rangers first-round draft choice in 2007 and considered one of the organization’s top prospects, died on Monday after collapsing near the end of a game between his KHL team ... Cherepanov collapses on bench during game, dies at 19 Rangers prospect dies during game in Russia Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:37:16 GMT North Korea Reopens Yongbyon Nuclear Reactor to UN Inspectors - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Bill Varner Oct. 13 (Bloomberg) -- The United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency was given access today to North Korea's plutonium- producing plant at Yongbyon, a reaction to the US decision to remove the nation from its list of states sponsoring ... NKorea grants UN nuclear watchdog access to Yongbyon: IAEA North Korea allows back nuclear inspectors Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:38:19 GMT Caffeine Consumption Doesn't Raise Overall Breast Cancer Risk - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Alan Mozes MONDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Drinking coffee or consuming other caffeine-laden foods does not appear to boost breast cancer risk, new research indicates. Caffeine, Breast Cancer Link Minimal Caffeine 'can increase breast cancer risk' Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:00:13 GMT Romo Out For a Month - Washington Post
Washington Post - The Dallas Cowboys will be without quarterback Tony Romo for as long as a month because of a broken finger on his throwing hand. Romo suffered a broken right pinkie on the first play of overtime of the Cowboys' loss Sunday at Arizona, according to a ... Romo sidelined with broken finger Cowboys' Romo has broken finger, may miss 4 weeks Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:10:26 GMT Palin: We can't let 'leftist groups…steal this election' - CNN Political Ticker
CNN Political Ticker - “The truth is that far-left groups in this country will do anything to help the Obama-Biden Democrats win the White House and maintain their majorities in Congress,” Alaska Gov. Voter registration boom favors Obama NC elections broad probes ACORN forms Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:39:24 GMT Stocks Soar on Wall Street as Markets Bounce Back from Worst Rout ... - Voice of America
Voice of America - By Barry Wood The Dow Jones Industrial Average Monday registered its biggest daily point gain ever, gaining 936 points or 11 percent. Wall Street explodes, marks biggest 1-day gain Dow Surges On Global Bailout Plans Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:09:50 GMT Britain withdraws terror detention law after defeat - AFP
AFP - LONDON (AFP) - The British government on Monday withdrew a plan to extend the time suspected violent extremists can be held without charge after the House of Lords voted against it. House of Lords deals fatal blow to 42-day terror detention plans Ministers drop 42-day detention Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:01:32 GMT Increase Website Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... As our horses enjoy a longer life and many live... Read More Training CollarsTraining collars are a tool many pet owners utilize... Read More The numbers will make any pet lover blanch with disgust,... Read More A German Shepherd puppy can become a very welcome member... Read More Teaching your dog to heel is one of the most... Read More IntroductionA long time ago, before evolution turned the primate into... Read More When I had a Toy Poodle, I used a small... Read More Ozzie, my four-month old Rottweiler peered up at me with... Read More Why use a crate:When used properly and not abused, crates... Read More Every day, people by the millions pour food from a... Read More Lonely, bored, tired of eating that same old stick, then... Read More HistoryThroughout the US and in many parts of the world,... Read More If you are seriously considering keeping fish as pets or... Read More For realistic tips for humans who are moving with cats,... Read More Are you irritated by your dog's drooping ears or your... Read More Is your dog due for a makeover? Has she been... Read More The act of offering Christmas gifts is always enhanced if... Read More Many dogs today suffer from itchy skin caused by a... Read More Making our lives better includes protecting our families, and also... Read More What's the best food for your Goldfish?Goldfish need food that... Read More Animal welfare organizations and humane societies have been very successful... Read More Even a cat that compulsively cleans itself can benefit from... Read More If you have a dog or cat that is an... Read More Dog food is very important for the health of dogs.... Read More For the first 8,000 years of their relationship with humans,... Read More
Adsense
websites
Cushings Disease
Training Collars: Teaching Your Dog Basic Obedience and Breaking Bad Habits
Breed Success in Your Puppy Search
A German Shepherd Puppy May Be Just What Your Family Needs!
Teaching Your Dog to Heel
Animal Ethics
Indoor Dogfishing ? Fun Way To Exercise A Small Or Medium Size Dog
Love Your Animal Companion? Spay or Neuter
Dog Crate Buyers Guide - How to Choose the Right Crate and Accessories
The Myth of 100% Complete Processed Pet Foods
My Dog Won?t Stop Digging - What Can I Do?
Greyhound Adoption ? Great Dogs, Great Cause
Aquarium Supplies Part 2 -- My First Experience With Goldfish
Ten Tips for Cats Who are Forced to Relocate with Their Owners
Ears Stand Corrected: Cosmetic Surgery and Pets
Brushing Up On Dog Grooming
Christmas Gifts For Cat Lovers
Have an Itchy Dog? Consider These Grooming Tips Before Turning To Chemical Treatments
RecoveryPets.Com Helps Recover Lost Pets
Goldfish Feeding Tips
Safety in the Fresh Air and the Outdoors for Your Cat - How To Build a Cattery
How to Keep Your Cat Free from Diseases with Your Quick Guide to Cat Grooming
GPS Pet Tracking
Quality Dog Food Is Essential For The Health Of Dogs
Your Guide to Cat Breeds
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Agility Training For Dogs
Without agility, the most muscular person in the world couldn't... Read More
Stop Your Dog From Pulling You Down The Street
From the first day of life on a leash, most... Read More
Ten Important Things Your Dog Wants You To Know
If your dog could talk, these are some of most... Read More
Housebreaking Your Dog-Potty Training Canine Style
Puppies are a bundle of newfound joy. You've prepared the... Read More
Does Your Dog Have Fleas?
Itch, itch. Scratch, scratch, scratch. Does that sound familiar? Hopefully... Read More
Problem Barking-What to Do When Your Dogs Barking is The Neighborhood Nuisance
Puppies and dogs, as mentioned, are social creatures. When they... Read More
Here?s a Way To Make Your Dog Love Its Dog Crate!
A dog crate is a necessity for your dog, through... Read More
Parvo in Dogs
What Is ParvoParvo is a serious viral disease that can... Read More
Decorative Bird Cages
Whether purely for looks or for a bird's home, bird... Read More
The Top Five Reasons to Rescue a Boxer
What if you want a Boxer, but cannot stomach the... Read More
Facts You Need To Know About Adopting A Dog
Mum, dad, can we get a puppy? Its a plea... Read More
Dog Safety: How to Keep Your Pups Safe From Loss or Theft
According to the American Humane Society, just 15% of dogs... Read More
Is A Boxer Dog The Right Pet For You?
Having a boxer dog as a pet, although low-maintenance, require... Read More
Defend Your Dog and Stop that Hurting Paw!
Of course, we humans use shoes to protect our feet.... Read More
Five Fast Facts About the Cavalier King Charlies Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not cheap. On average you... Read More
Tips For Keeping Your Pug Happy And Healthy
Bringing home a Pug can change our life, but it... Read More
Did You Know?
German Shepherds were among the first dogs trained for police... Read More
The Basics of Dog Obedience Training for Your New Pet
Dog obedience training starts even before you get your puppy... Read More
RecoveryPets.Com Dispels The Myths
In a recent discussion about pet safety, the services provided... Read More
Protecting Your Child from a Dog Bite
Dogs make great loyal pets and are always pleased to... Read More
Train Your Dog With Respect
Proper training of your dog should begin when he is... Read More
Build A Better Mousetrap, And People Will Buy It
This is an old saying that many of us have... Read More
Love Your Animal Companion? Spay or Neuter
Ozzie, my four-month old Rottweiler peered up at me with... Read More
5 Tips For Feeding A Happy, Healthy Dog
Do you really know all there is to know about... Read More
Preparing for Your New Pet
Getting a new pet can be a lot of fun.... Read More
Pet |