No, not a major catastrophe. Just an unexpected little mortal drama at the end of the day.
Started snowing just after dark last night. Such a pretty and Christmassy snow.
This morning there was a couple of inches of new snow to scoop in town, which was a nice bit of exercise. Out in the country the beauty was breathtaking.
Cows had to wait patiently for me to chop ice so they could drink this morning. There was also the mystery of an odor of smoke and a two-alarm fire department call out to puzzle over.
I chased smoke that turned out not to be smoke and never did find the fire.
When I headed back to town Eastbound I-80 was closed. I put two and two together and decided the FD call out may have been for an MVA. So did I really smell smoke? Your guess is as good as mine.
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This evening not long after sunset I was heading home from the ranch. It was fairly dark but there was still a bit of light in the sky to the west and the temperature was plunging as it does around here in mid-December when the sun sets.
From out of nowhere a ratty old feral cat darted into the road right in front of me. I hoped against hope but a wheel thump told me I had hit the damme thing.
I backed up, got out, picked the cat up and put her in the passenger seat. She was still breathing but obviously on her way out. So I petted her and told her I was sorry and then she died.
Broke my heart and made me cry.
Just a stinky, ratty old feral cat. She didn't die alone in the dark and cold, so there's that.
Be well and enjoy the blessings of liberty. And remember that there can be no true joy in the world unless there is also true sorrow from time to time. It's just the way the thing works.
Beautiful day out there, sad ending. Kinda breaks my heart that happened but she didn't die alone.
ReplyDeleteI'm a sucker for cats, have two of my own. Or perhaps they have me.
Sorrow on a beautiful day, it happens...
Thanks Sarge.
DeleteNo guarantees for any of us, feline, human, or otherwise. hurts my heart that it happened, but it did.
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Thank you for giving me hope for humanity. As long as a human stops to give comfort to a "stinky, ratty old feral cat" in it's last moments, I believe there's hope for us.
ReplyDeleteThanks drjim.
Delete"All of life’s miseries had been let out into the world; greed, envy, hatred, pain, disease, hunger, poverty, war, and death. In the jar one remained, a timid sprite named Elpis -- Hope."
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I feel sad for the cat, but I feel very sorry for you, because, although there was nothing you could do to avoid running over her, you will carry a bit of guilt for a long time. It is one thing to take a life because you need to; another thing when it happens because of circumstances beyond your control. In any kind of decent human being, there is a small feeling of " if only " that haunts us for a long time. To do what you can when such misfortune happens is all that can be expected of anyone. You are a good person and your reaction to this event comes as no surprise to me.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts and best wishes are with you.
Paul L. Quandt
Thanks Paul, that's very kind.
DeleteLife is full of misery and delight, and there's nothing we can do to change that. If we are blessed to stick around the neighborhood long enough we learn to navigate the rocks and shoals, and if we are very blessed we can share our charts with others. Or something like that.
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I would have cried, too. I don't handle death well. When Lazarus, my Norwegian Forest Cat died in my arms, I cried all afternoon. Badger positive waves headed your way, to make you feel better.
ReplyDeleteThanks Scott. The Badger positive waves are working.
DeleteThanks for stopping by and commenting!
If there was a fire at the crash, I bet you did smell smoke, some of the stuff in burning cars has a potent smell! But a burning car doesn't stand a chance against a charged 2 1/2" line, does it?
ReplyDeleteAs with many things, the proper tool for the job makes all the difference in the world.
DeleteYou are a decent human being, stopping for that cat. It triggered a memory, a bad one.
ReplyDeleteI was driving along a semi-rural road that was a minor artery feeding another busier road. A man was letting his German Shepard run free. Suddenly the dog ran in front of me. Despite my best effort I hit it square on, 40 mph, with a solid truck bumper. This happened right in front of the owner. I did not stop! I was immediately enraged at that person's carelessness and I probably would have assaulted him. Right decision? I don't know, but it was the one I lived with.
That's a tough one. Life comes with tough ones. All we can ever do is the best we can.
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You're a good man with a good heart, and it shows.
ReplyDeleteThat's very kind Brig, thank you very much.
DeleteThanks for stopping by and commenting. It's always so great to see your comments pop up!
You are a good person. Thank you. Like Sarge, I am partial to cats. I love dogs as well. We have always lived with at least one cat with dogs in the mix along the way.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark, that very kind of you to say.
DeleteDogs and cats and their symbiotic relationship with us is endlessly fascinating. I would have regretted running over a rabbit or a squirrel or (were it not winter) even a snake. But a cat is very different for me, and I don't know exactly why. Of course I don't have to know why, it's just a reality.
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