Of Lost Cats and Communities

[Lorien]

On Monday around noon I was at work on my computer when I heard a knock at the door. I opened it to find a slender, petite young woman standing there nervously. She said "Hi, I'm Jill* and I just moved a few doors over from you a few days ago and I..." she stopped and tears welled up in her eyes. "Are you OK?" I asked and she held out a tiny 1.5 x 2.5" photo of a cat in her trembling hand. I squinted at the photo; it was old, dirty and scratched. The cat was beige and laying on a beige carpet, it's eyes brightly illuminated by a flash. "Is this your kitty?" I asked. She nodded and wiped away the tears, then blurted out "We were moving in and at the end of the day we couldn't find her and that was two days ago and she's 13 and she's never been outside and they sent me home from work because I'm a mess and nobody is home and my husband can't come and there's no one..." She was shaking all over now and the tears were streaming down her face. Our neighborhood is a bad one for cats; there's busy roads on three sides, so her distress was understandable. I asked her if I could make a scan of her photo so that we could make a "Lost Cat" poster. She gave me the photo and the information about her kitty, Jolie, and I made the scan, handing back the photo with my business card so she could email me and I could send her contact information for local shelters and rescue groups.

I doctored the photo considerably, printed out a set of 11x 17" posters and brought them to Jill along with a CD of the poster in three formats so that Kinko's could print up more when she'd posted the 20 or so that I'd given her. She was overwhelmed and kept thanking me. I searched the area for the kitty but there was no sign of any of the neighborhood cats during the heat of the day so I decided to look again once it cooled down. Near dusk I took my own cat, Puck, out for our evening stroll. We walked slowly and I looked around fences and under bushes the whole way. I ran into Jill who was on her bike and also searching. She was still crying "It sounds stupid" she said "but I feel like a bad mother who lost her child" I told her that her feelings were completely natural and she shouldn't be ashamed of them and gave her a hug. My cats have gone missing, so I knew just how she felt. As we were talking a huge, unfamiliar malamute/ shephard mix trotted across the street, locked it's eyes on Puck and came running over. I grabbed Puck and put her on my shoulder and the dog lunged at us. I asked Jill to help and she shooed the dog away. I then asked her to escort us back to my home since the dog was still eyeing Puck from a distance. She did, and we talked the whole way about the best places to put up more flyers. We stopped in my driveway and she started texting all of my suggestions to herself. As she was talking I heard a faint mew and asked Jill to be silent. I heard it again, and turned around to see a buff colored cat barely visible under my car. It was Jolie! Apparently Jill's voice had drawn her out from hiding. Jill rushed to her kitty, As she picked Jolie up she was sobbing tears of joy. The dog returned, so I put Puck back inside and helped Jill and Jolie safely home.

Later I received an email from Jill that read " Wow, how can I thank you enough? It's amazing to me that you did so much to help out a complete stranger. It's nice to be reminded that there are truly caring, helpful people out there! The signs you made were so big and awesome! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw them. I couldn't have made such big, colorful, eye-catching signs. And if that weren't enough, it was so sweet and thoughtful of you to send me the email letting me know of all the best places to post them. I felt so distraught today, I could barely think. You really helped me so much. How did Jolie know to go to the home of the person who did so much to help find her? If she hadn't been at your house, I know I would have had the best chance of getting her back because of your signs and advice. And thanks to you taking the time to talk to me in your driveway, Jolie heard my voice and we were reunited! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

While the email was very sweet and heartwarming on one hand, it's profoundly sad on another "It's amazing to me that you did so much to help out a complete stranger." Most here would do the same I'm sure. It SHOULDN'T be amazing. This woman was in her early 20's. She has never lived in pre-Reagan America, when caring about the welfare of others wasn't viewed as a weakness. When I was growing up in Ohio in the 70's most of my neighbors helped on another out. One elderly woman on our street was always ill, so my mom and others brought her food, took in her mail and took out the trash, and mowed her lawn...for years! That's what "community" was about. My neighbor Mark has mowed and edged my lawn when I was sick. I house and pet sit for my neighbors. None of us expect anything in return; it just THE RIGHT THING TO DO and we all know it. Helping Jill only cost me a few hours of time, and I can make up the lost hours of work throughout the week. A tiny price to pay for helping a frantic woman feel less alone and helpless. But the wealthy won't sacrifice a few hours worth of profits to keep their fellow Americans healthy, fed and sheltered when their own policies brought hard times to the rest of us. Teabaggers would sneer at Jill and shout at her about "personal responsibility", following it up with "it's only a cat!"

Today I got a card in the mail from Jill and her husband. Totally unnecessary, but a very nice gesture. It reads "Big ways, small ways. kindness always makes the world a better place. Thank you." That's exactly what the world is lacking in; kindness. From the entire GOP platform to the banks, the baggers, the bullies and the house that burned down. Kindness is so easy and yet is so undervalued; why does anyone WANT to live in a community without it? Overcoming the kindness deficit could go a long ways toward undoing 30 years of the disastrous effects of "me first" Reaganism. Young people like Jill should never be amazed by the kindness of strangers, and it's heartbreaking that she's grown up in a Country where it's increasingly rare. It's time that we changed that.






*Not her real name.

[Mimosa]

1. Wow...from this cat lover. n/t

[Warpy]

2. Cats are more attached to places than to people

so if you see her again, tell her to check at her old address. Cats who have been moved and gotten out have gone "home," usually with bad outcomes if no one looks for them.

You have to keep a cat confined for at least a couple of weeks until it realizes all the familiar stuff with the familiar smells is in a new place, along with food and water and laps.

[Lorien]

7. That's one of the first things I told her, that Jolie might be trying to go "home"

but fortunately that wasn't the case in the end. I was so relieved because the six year old who lives next door to me lost her tuxedo kitten last month and I found it dead on one of the busy streets (her mother instructed me not to tell her. The little girl still asks me if I've seen her kitten :-(). My stomach flip flopped when I heard that another neighbor's pet was missing . I'm so glad that this one had a happy ending!

[raccoon]

68. Kudos to you for helping Jill.

"her mother instructed me not to tell her"

I wish parents wouldn't do things like that. In fact, I'll start a thread on it.

[Lorien]

88. She said that her daughter's dad was in a very serious accident last year

she didn't say if he survived or not (she's currently single) so she didn't think that her daughter could handle more heartbreak. It kills me whenever the little girl asks me though, and I think that she knows that I'm lying. I suck at lying. :-(

[catbyte]

10. Great advice, Warpy

I had an orange marmalade-colored cat, Sal, who was a sweet guy, but dumber than a bag of hammers. Seriously. I've lived with cats since I was in utero(pictures to prove it) We moved about 10 blocks away in downtown Grand Rapids and he escaped out the front door. I was sure I'd never see his sweet face again. I kept walking over to our old house calling him to no avail. Finally, 7 days after he escaped, I went back to the old house and there he was, under the porch, hissing at me. I dragged his behind to our new home and he never wanted to escape again!

Diane
Anishnabe in MI

[maddiemom]

56. Moving w/ cats

Many years ago, we too were frantic thinking that a strictly indoor cat had gotten out during a move. Dogs are fairly easy to contain or board until a move is settled; cats always need more dealing with. Notifying our neighbors to be on the lookout, we fortunately discovered that Syd had been spotted through a glass sliding door. We still had great difficulty finding her in the empty house. She'd squeezed into an impossible space behind a built in sink in the utility room. Although she started crying when she heard our voices, she was very stubborn about coming out. A few more moves with other cats later, we've always made sure that they were in a secure environment beforehand.

[myrna minx]

3. Thank you. K&R n/t

[PDJane]

4. Thank you for the post and the actions.......

And yes, the world would be a much better place for some kindness....it's necessary, and it's important, and it makes the world and life better.

[katandmoon]

5. Sniff. So glad the story had a happy ending!

[aquart]

6. That was a good, good deed.

[femrap]

8. What a great story....thank

you for posting. Isn't it amazing that Jolie knew where to go? I think they have a sense about who is a cat lover...maybe Jolie had seen or smelled Puck and knew he was loved?

And then for Jill to send a card...I love getting cards.

Goddess, I miss my cat, Joe. Nearly 18 years old...I had him put down this past August 25. Not a day goes by without some tears.

I wish I lived in your community.

So glad this had a happy ending.

[Lorien]

11. I'm so sorry for your loss femrap

Joe was lucky to have you as his human :hug:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. "Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart." Anne Frank

I still believe that, however naive it may sound. Most people that I've encountered really do mean well and will do kind things even if there's no self interest involved. Certainly not all in a society that tells that "greed is good" but a good portion of most societies will lend a hand if asked or if they think it necessary.

[Lorien]

18. A friend of mine has two little boys, one of whom is rather cruel to animals and other

kids. My friend maintains that kids are naturally cruel and selfish and that kindness has to taught. I disagree; I think that aside from sociopaths (which her son, sadly, may be) children usually are naturally kind and are taught to be mean spirited and heartless by adults-or by other children who have been mistreated by adults. Ever since the fairness doctrine was revoked the Right Wing noise machine has been blaring out the "greed is good, every person for themselves" mantra. I think that so many people defend that ideology so strongly because they KNOW that it's wrong, but they still need to find a way to justify their actions. It certainly serves corporate America when the people believe that harm or bad times only comes to those who somehow brought it upon themselves, and that no one is "deserving" of anything that they can't pay cash for.

[SheilaT]

79. Since your friend believes

that kids are naturally cruel and selfish, is she doing everything possible to teach her son to be kind?

[Lorien]

89. Oh yes, she certainly encourages him to amend his ways at every opportunity

her other son is far kinder and better behaved without instruction. I haven't talked to her in a while; from last I heard the older boy was becoming increasingly difficult at school. The school councilor kept calling my friend in to talk about it, but she seems so in denial about his sociopathic behavior. I'm worried about what the teen years will bring. It's a very hard thing; trying to make a person care about others when they just don't.

[Vinca]

12. What a wonderful person you are! I'm relieved the kitty appeared

and how nice that she found her owner at your house.

[SoCalDem]

13. Thank goodness.. I love a happy ending for lost pets

I have rescued many pets, but our only lost pet event ended in the worst way:cry:

I know what you mean about community.. When we moved (a lot) , I would immediately join Welcome Wagon..(are they still around?) It was always the best way to meet other newbies and to meet people who joined & stayed in..

My neighbor and I were always the "nosy" ones in the neighborhood who would show up on moving day for new neighbors..with a pitcher of lemonade or a thermos of cocoa..followed by a pizza that evening..sometimes cookies or brownies.. Our unofficial motto was " We get to the new ones before the bad neighbors can get them":rofl:

You are pet-finder/welcome wagon lady par excellence :thumbsup:

[Lorien]

24. Thanks SoCalDem!

And I'm so sorry about your lost pet :hug:

I try to bring the new neighbors baked goods most of the time too. There are a lot of rentals in my area, so the neighbors change frequently in those homes. You can tell when they've moved here from a much less friendly neighborhood because they won't even answer their doors for a plate full of fresh baked cookies!

Welcome Wagon is really still around? My grandmother was a life long participant. I always thought that it was an excellent idea that should have endured.

[SoCalDem]

27. I don't know if it's still around, but I LOVED being in it

Of course I am of another era.. I got in on the tail end of it.. I had the easy life.. Bridge luncheons, a couples dining-in group , a couples dining out group, a great babysitting co-op with 30 moms to choose from, play groups for the kids & charity work as well. Every year we adopted a family & helped all year long.

[maddiemom]

55. welcome wagon

I sadly don't think Welcome Wagon is still around, but my mom (now 90) was the "Welcome Wagon Lady" in our hometown during the 1960's through 1970's. The idea was to collect gifts and coupons from local businesses and present them to newcomers in the community with "welcome" visits. Although advertising local businesses insured their cooperation, it was beneficial all around. Later there were Welcome Wagon/Newcomers clubs in many communities which often got involved with and sponsored a number of community activities. As a young corporate wife, moving around during the 1970's, I was active in several of these groups. I made many friends in several states, including established local residents who, at the time, were concerned with local progress.

[MinneapolisMatt]

14. Awww!

Thanks so much for sharing. I needed that today. :)

[AtomicKitten]

15. Brava! Glad to hear the excellent outcome.

Thank you so much for helping your new neighbor. You have forged a great beginning with them!

My story: I was in the process of moving and sequestered my kitties in an upstairs bedroom while the movers where doing their thing. I told my then 4-year-son not to open the door, and of course he opened the door and let them out. One in particular, a feral cat I adopted from the SPCA was terrified of the strangers in the house and jumped THROUGH a screened window in the kitchen.

I searched and searched and couldn't find him. My heart sank. I gathered up the kids and the balance of my pets and went to our new home. The next A.M. early I drove back to the house and there was my boy sitting on the fence, waiting. Needless to say I was soooooo relieved.

That was my only brush with losing a pet and that's close enough to last me a lifetime.

* edited for crappy spelling

[Bluenorthwest]

16. You are a finder of lost cats

A special kind of hero....

[stuntcat]

17. I'm so glad she got her back!!

omg it made me cry, lol. It looks like a very very nice kitty too.

[pnorman]

19. "She has never lived in pre-Reagan America,

when caring about the welfare of others wasn't viewed as a weakness."

Astute observation, and one that Reagan-idolizers will never acknowledge.

[GoCubsGo]

21. Yep. n/t

[Lorien]

23. I know that a lot of us have been feeling the effects of Reagan's impact

on our culture more and more of late, especially with many of the recent news stories. I think that it hits people over 35 or 40 especially hard. Jill seemed so...flabbergasted...that I would help her. She kept saying "I can't believe you would do this for me" when I gave her the posters. It felt good to help, of course, but her reactions also made me feel so sad for her whole generation. They expect no one to help them. That's a terrible reality to swallow.

[Scruffy1]

70. Strange, even here most miss the point

and seem more interested in the cat story than the point of the story. I like cats too and can't remember anytime of my life I haven't had at least one, but what I really miss is the community that existed when I was young. Maybe our pets have become a surrogate for a lost community.

[Lorien]

92. I think that they often are surrogates for family and friends, as there's such a

profound loss of connection between us these days. I know that I consider my pets members of my family. However, walking my cat Puck has helped me to get to know my neighbors like nothing else has. So many people go from their home to garage to their car to a parking garage to work without ever interacting with another soul or having any contact with the natural world every day.

The other point I was trying to make was about EVERYTHING having become a commodity these days-including a neighbor's time and offered (free) services. You can't put up a lost pet sign without offering a reward. Jill felt terribly guilty about accepting my help without paying for it because I was a stranger. That's probably not the kind of thing you would have found in your own community decades ago. It certainly wasn't what I encountered in my own. I think the loss of a family's home and pets over $75.00 really hit a lot of us from the pre-Reagan era hard, as this young woman's shocked reaction to an offer of help did for me. There's a lot of America's past that i don't want to revisit (pre-civil rights, women's rights, working without unions, slavery, etc.) But the lost sense of community-and actual belief that we SHOULD offer one another help when we can-IS something that needs to be brought back.

[GoCubsGo]

20. I was really afraid to click on that link.

Thank goodness Kitty is back home. Wish everyone had neighbors like you, Lorien. This country would be in so much better shape.

[TuxedoKat]

22. What a great story

and God bless you for helping your neighbor. This is how I met one of my best friends. I saw an ad in our local paper for a lost cat and since I had recently done alot of research on lost cats and successfully got mine back, I called the cat owner up and told her what I had learned. I helped her make posters too and little postcards to go door to door with and leave with the neighbors. Sadly her cat never came back. It had FeLV and we think it got sick and went off by itself. Anyway we got to be really good friends over the past five years and she would often come and pet sit for me when we went out of town. Tragically, she died unexpectedly last year. She was only 59 and a great liberal. We used to love talking politics. FYI, if you or your neighbor(s) ever need help with a lost cat again, there is a yahoogroup for lost cats which is where I learned a great deal of info. Interesting thing about cats, an indoor only cat like your neighbor's behaves very differently when it goes missing than an outdoor access cat does.

[Liberal_in_LA]

25. K&R WONDERFUL story

[smokey nj]

26. You are a beautiful person, Lorien.

:hug:

[Lorien]

93. Aw, thanks smokey nj

:blush: :hug:

[hamsterjill]

28. As usual, Lorien, you are 100% correct.

Yes, a little kindness, especially unexpected goes a long way. And it is a sad thing when showing that type of kindness is more a rarity these days than a common occurrence.

But I myself find animal lovers to be the very best of society! There's something about learning to care about a creature that cannot speak the same language that you do, but yet communicates just as clearly. Learning to be responsible for another living being, and learning to enjoy and benefit from that unconditional love that is returned. This experiences makes us better, more compassionate people.

We pay it forward!

[cliffordu]

29. I love you

For being you.

A cat owner all my life....

[dionysus]

30. u, no.. that would be "cat's slave" all your life.

i know, i am one myself
:D

[cliffordu]

43. Mine refer to me as 'the staff'

:rofl:

[Shireling]

31. It is sad that those who came of age during the 80s and beyond

had "Its your choice. Take responsibility for your life." crammed into their heads. Of course, we should do our best to make good choices and thus assume some control over our destiny, but the 80's philosophy became a way to blame others who were down, rather than having compassion and helping. Now we have mostly greed, meanness, and blame.

"He ain't heavy. He's my brother!" :hippie:

[Lorien]

33. Exactly! It was really disturbing that she kept saying to me "I should pay you"

!!!?? For what? Just acting like part of a society instead of a mercenary? Reaganism taught Americans that EVERYTHING has a price and there is no intrinsic worth to anything. That even simple kindness must be reimbursed with cold hard cash.It's sick. No wonder so many people (but still the minority) reject the idea of universal health care; life literally has a cash value to them.

[REP]

38. Not sick exactly; she may not think she has a skill with which to repay you in kind

You did provide your skills as an artist/graphic designer to her. Just because it was easy for an artist of your magnitude to do doesn't mean it wasn't time and skill; something she recognizes and thinks is worthy of payment. She wants to do something for you, but doesn't think she can match what you've done so the fallback position is cash. A nice if misguided gesture; I'm sure she wasn't trying to be offensive, but is merely so overwhelmed with relief and gratitude she feels the need to perform some ritual of sacrifice (ie, losing some money).

[Lorien]

41. Oh, I know she wasn't trying to be offensive. I probably would have offered the same

but I wish that the spirit of "doing good is it's own reward" were more prevalent today. It DOES feel nice to do something kind, unplanned and unexpected for others. We see it here on DU all the time when someone pays for a prescription that an elderly person in front of them can't afford at the pharmacy, or a poor DUer who takes some of their own food stamps and buys food for a homeless person with it. Simple acts of generosity make the giver feel good, and sadly often the receiver feels so guilty-as if they MUST reciprocate in some way. "Thank you" is often more than enough, and maybe if we celebrated generosity and much as we do greed in this Country people could feel better about accepting a kind gesture without beating themselves up for not being able to repay it right away. The card she left in my mailbox was really sweet and it sits on my mantle right now, but the look in her eyes when she was hugging Jolie...well, you can't put a price tag on that!

[Pooka Fey]

61. Kicking this important post - more valuable insight here!

I've recently started calling money "the coin". The coin or disk in a tarot deck represents effort and effort's result (money or things that hold value)and it is ONE part of the FOUR elements/energies that life holds, the other three elements represent passion/drive, feelings, and intellect.

In our time and culture, it seems like "THE COIN" has become the only culturally sanctioned energy, as in "everything has it's price". It's false and this falsehood is making our society and world sick.

On edit - I agree that in this particular case the young woman was offering to pay for your work as a graphic artist, and the CD to take to Kinkos. I would have offered to pay you too, Lorien.

[Lorien]

85. The "everything has it's price" thing is what bothers me so much

have you ever seen the PBS film "Affluenza"? It's about how the culture of consumerism is killing our planet, tearing apart families and causing general misery in our lives. It sounds really grim, but it's done with a balance of seriousness and humor. In it they talk about the three components of happiness: 1). contact with friends and family, 2). contact with nature, and 3). personal creativity (this can be art, music, writing, volunteering, anything that amounts to personal expression). Money is sometimes required for the third, but not always. Our culture of consumerism, however, makes all three much more difficult. We work so hard that we have no time for friends and family, and all our technology and entertainments can leave us alienated from one another. Nature is harder and harder for most people to come by, as is time for creative outlets. I think our culture also pushes the idea that if you aren't doing something for profit then it isn't worth doing, which is such a toxic concept that can't possibly lead to any kind of real happiness.

As for the signs; I didn't write this in the OP but when I asked for her kitty photo I said "I'll make a sign for you. It will only take a few minutes and I feel that it's the least that I can do to help. After that I'll help you search for her." So it was sort of stated as a gift up front. I know how she felt though; when I was severely ill years ago the wives of the animators I worked with- who I didn't even know- came over to take care of me during the day. I kept crying because I didn't know how to repay them for their kindness, but they assured me that helping was it's own reward. It was a really hard concept for me to grasp, too.

[Pooka Fey]

94. Sometimes it can be difficult to accept a kindness offered...

and sometimes even offering a kindness can get you into trouble. With certain people, it can set you up to be taken advantage of later. Kindness can be a very complex interaction in our modern world. Happily, when there are 2 animal lovers in the picture, the odds improve greatly.

"Affluenza" is vaguely ringing a bell for me. I went through a long documentary watching binge several years ago and many of the films are now kind of mixed up in my head.

I loved your post about naughty doggy turning you both around to find lost kitty. I'd call that synchronicity. Good times...:-)

[Beringia]

32. Very nice

I lost my cat a while back too, but he came back after about 1 month. I read that when a cat runs away, it is usually close by, but so scared of everything that it just hides out of instinct. That you should keep calling it and leave food if possible. And they were right in my case.

[Ikonoklast]

34. From one cat lover to another, thank you so much for your kindness.

Moving time is so stressful for kitties, they don't always understand what's going on. Getting loose and running away is so common during that time, and heartbreaking.

Bast the Protector was looking out for Jolie and her owner; she was just using you as her agent.

[Lorien]

35. And that naughty dog, I think

he drove us back to the house from a block and a half away. Bast was likely "hounding" him to go after Puck! ;-)

[Ikonoklast]

39. Each in our own way, we serve.

Good doggy.

[REP]

36. Not surprised by any of this, Lorien - not even Jolie coming to you

I'm happy for Jill, Jolie and you. I'll drop everything and help with a lost critter. My apartment is actually an unusual model of lost critter cooperation - it's a big complex, with corporate housing, so it's not really a community feeling until a cat (almost always a cat!) gets loose; then everyone seems to be looking and the found cat is stashed in someones place until the cat's caretakers can be notified.

Big hug to Puck and the other hairballs and you.

[Arugula Latte]

37. I can completely relate to that young woman; I'd be a basket case if one of my kitties went missing.

Thank you for helping the woman and her sweet kitty! Great post! :applause:

[BrklynLiberal]

40. I wish I could rec more than once, and I agree with you MORE than 100%!!

Random acts of kindness are just so rare, as are the kindnesses that people do for others with reasons.

It is sad that kindness has become such a rare commodity. But, what can one expect when "empathy" is considered a negative attribute for someone nominated for the Supreme Court?

"Greed is good" and "I've got mine. Screw you." have been promoted as the philosophy of survival....
What can one infer about a country in which a vice-president can even shoot a friend in the face, and get an apology from the victim!!!!!!!!!!!

Sad times....very sad times.

I happen to know that you are a truly kind and generous person....and that "Jill" and Jolie were very, very fortunate to have crossed paths with you. That would be true even if you had not been in a position to help her with finding Jolie.

[Lorien]

42. Wow, you make some excellent points! And let's not forget the term "compassion

fascist" and "bleeding heart liberal" (I'm proud to call myself the latter. The former is an oxymoron). Or Beck's sneers about the "evils" of Social Justice. Truly a bizarro world thing to claim! I'd forgotten about the Right's hatred of judges with "empathy" and the shooting victim's apology. Can you imagine some of the things we hear today being uttered 35 years ago? A guy like Beck would have been vilified and shunned by society, not given his own TV show and book deals! Heck, the other day a friend was talking to me about how Nixon-a President he once loathed- seems nearly as liberal as Kucinich today. We never could have imagined that way back when.

I don't think that we'll get much help from the MSM or our representatives, but we all need to reclaim not only the term "liberal", but "compassion" "empathy" "public welfare" "social justice" "good works" "altruism" and more. Jill's truly shocked and baffled reaction to an offer of help really brought that home for me and made me think about what the Country will be like when the grade school kids of today are adults. It's got to be scary enough for people of Jill's generation to know that there is no safety net for them, everything is "you're on your own; sink or swim." To an extent that has always been the case for every adult, of course, but I worry that if the new direction isn't headed off soon the young will someday end up in full survival "kill or be killed" mode, and there's no reason at all for it to be that way. The liberal way is easy, natural to our species and has always lead to a better life for everyone-even the repugs. The dirty f*cking hippies were right, after all. :D

[BrklynLiberal]

76. ...

:toast: :thumbsup: :hi: :hug: :loveya: :pals: :fistbump:

Dirty F*cking hippies shall rise again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lorien]

86. Amen Sista!!!!

:toast: :thumbsup: :hi: :hug: :loveya: :pals: :fistbump: :yourock:

[OneGrassRoot]

97. I'm creating something.....

in response to Glenn Beck recently dissing Wishadoo on his show...similar to how the teabagger types diss -- as you say -- the words "empathy" and "compassion."

I'll post here soon and explain the back story in more detail then. I'm getting a campaign together -- with a petition and everything -- as a response to their worldview, so full of fear and hate, and I'll be posting it here.

But I wanted to go ahead and jump in to give you a hug...:hug: Your post and this thread makes my heart smile.

Indeed, this thread is what Wishadoo is all about.



:grouphug:

[Jamastiene]

44. K&R

I think I have something in my eye.

[Scurrilous]

45. K & R

:thumbsup:

[mrs_p]

46. love love love

this story!

[BlueJazz]

47. Damn..Lorien, now I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes greatly moved by your kindness.

[Hekate]

48. That is so heartwarming. You just made 2 friends for life.

:grouphug:

[catrose]

49. I'm so glad for the happy ending

Our blue Balinese got out after we moved to another state. We didn't notice at first, because he was a champion hider. The end of our story was that Animal Control had picked up his body. Even though we soon adopted a wonderful kitty who gave us 15 wonderful years, I still tear up over lost cats and poor Mayflower. Bless you!

[Raster]

50. Thank you for posting AND Thank You for your kindness!

And boy, these words ring so true: "She has never lived in pre-Reagan America, when caring about the welfare of others wasn't viewed as a weakness." This country took a turn for the worse, far worse, with Ronald Reagan and the age of "greed is good" mentality.

[Patchuli]

51. I love you and Puck for that!

Thank you from the bottom of my cat-loving heart!

BTW, I hate dogs that go after cats. That one should not be loose...

[blue sky at night]

52. I belong to the United Church of Christ....

we are teaching this to our children, as parents and as role models. The power of association is everything, so if all a kid ever knows is competition at school and sports then I can believe they think that way. This me first, I am better than you, my team is better than yours, my house is bigger and better, my car is better bullshit is getting us nowhere as a society. if kids find out what is important...and it ain't things...then they will commit acts of kindness naturally.

So go be nice to someone everyday, say hi and smile.

[Lorien]

96. You make an excellent point. It likely all boils down to a culture of consumerism

where having more-or something "better"-than everyone else is the stated goal. Not happiness, friendship, a loving family, the beauty of nature, a passion for art, books, music or other creative outlet. Stuff. and as much stuff as can be amassed in a lifetime. I found that my desire to purchase what I did not need and shame of my less than perfect home pretty much vanished when I stopped watching TV and reading many mainstream magazines.We're bombarded with ads that say "you'll be a better you if you have product X" We think we're immune, but the propaganda is often very effective, especially on the young.

[blue sky at night]

99. thanks for the nice reply...

you know my wife and i think the same way, a big beautiful house is not important, in fact a couple we know were broken up after they purchased their 250k macmansion! keep on keeping on!

[Prophet 451]

53. You made me cry

We have two cats and it breaks our hearts at the thought of losing them.

[Mz Pip]

54. From one cat lover to another

:loveya: You did good.

I spend my volunteer hours at our local race track feeding the colonies of kitties that have grouped together because they've been dumped by shitty humans. It saddens me everytime I see a new one too scared to come out of the bushes.

Thanks for helping reunite this family.

[MsPithy]

57. Thank you so much for sharing this story.

I can't get over the story about the Cranick's house burning down because they didn't pay $75. There is a video of Glen Beck and his toady who agreed that the firefighters were correct to let the house burn with the pets inside because if they put out the fire, then---in unison, Beck and the toady exclaimed, "No one would pay!!!"

http://www.examiner.com/us-headlines-in-national/glenn-beck-fire-department-justified-to-watch-gene-cranick-house-burn-video-video

Beck and the toady are wrong! It is THEY who would not pay! I would pay. And, I bet everyone who reads DU would pay. It is our duty to pay for the fire department. Not only is the equipment expensive, but the firemen are our neighbors and they deserve to be paid. It would never occur to me that because the fire department would save my house anyway, I could weasel out of paying my fair share.

It seems to me that these two stories are the opposite of each other. I love what you wrote, "Most here would do the same I'm sure. It SHOULDN'T be amazing. This woman was in her early 20's. She has never lived in pre-Reagan America, when caring about the welfare of others wasn't viewed as a weakness."

Some smart person found this great quote from John Kenneth Galbraith, and I am repeating it as often as possible.


"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."

[phasma ex machina]

58. Purrfect! nt

[Pooka Fey]

59. Lorien, what a lovely story you have written

Thank you for sharing your experience, and the picture of the big sweet kitty. I personally know the anguish of searching for a lost feline friend.
I love your phrase "overcoming the kindness deficit". We are lucky to have you on DU. :hug:

[truedelphi]

60. Yur story and it's unexpected happy ending

Were the perfect end to my day.

Thank you for being there to help your new neighbor.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

62. What a great and inspiring story!

You are right. In today's psychopathic society, kindness is almost unheard of and more rare than it ought to be.

[Danmel]

63. As the mama of 3 cats (and 2 great almost grown up kids)

I say thanks to you for your kindness
and compassion. Your story made my day.

[Le Taz Hot]

64. Ah, you've got some good karma coming your way.

And I completely concur about the sense of community you tried to convey. It's the way we can all survive this predatory economy -- to rely on one another.

And just an FYI for those moving with felines. Keep them in their carrier while the move is going on. DO NOT let the cat out, even if they're outside cats, for at least 10-14 days. When you do let them out, you have to do it a little at a time and ALWAYS escort them. Over time you can extend their time out and they need less supervision. It' important that they can visually recognize the new residence from all sides and that they become familiar with the smells. Anyway, that's what' always worked for me.

[chemenger]

65. Your kindness and compassion are overwhelming

and I love happy endings!

:yourock:

[LWolf]

66. Having lost a few cats myself, I'm so relieved to know that

this one was found safely. You make a good point about those born since the Reagan era. It IS time we changed that. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Granny M]

67. Kindness does make the world a better place.

Thanks for doing what you could do. I'm so glad there was a happy ending for Jolie and her family.

[secondwind]

69. What a beautiful, heartwarming story, thanks so much for sharing!

[spooky3]

71. Thank you for putting into action what being a good person and a good Dem is all about.

And thank you for sharing this lovely story and the lovely photo of Jolie.

Makes my day!

[The Doctor.]

72. Such a reaction SHOULD be natural.

I have personally witnessed the selfish, paranoid insecurities of Paladino supporters in my area. When confronted with someone in distress like Jill's, it brings out feelings of helplessness. Their instinct is to cut off interaction immediately with whatever justification they can devise.

[Pathwalker]

73. I disagree - you are a VERY special person who did a remarkable thing.

You went way beyond what most people would even think about doing nowadays. Thank you so much for helping that woman find her beloved furry child. You are a wonderful person!
:hi:

[glitch]

74. Thank you Lorien, you cheered me up immensely with this post. :) nt

:hug:

[RufusTFirefly]

75. Chacun cherche son chat

Lorien, your insightful OP reminded me of a movie (whose title was disappointingly translated in English as When the Cat's Away) that dealt with how we have gradually lost touch with our neighbors and our neighborhoods. Only when a shy woman loses her cat does she discover the importance of community.

Your remark about pre-Reagan America was especially chilling but true.

[BrklynLiberal]

77. Before Television and air-conditioning, we all sat outside and talked to or played with our

neighbors. The advent of computers did not do anything to counter the tendency to isolate.

Nowadays, people do not have the faintest idea who lives in the next apartment, much less down the block...and "come to the aid of a neighbor"???? A rare thing, indeed.

One can drive thru neighborhoods, urban and suburban, and not see a soul in the street.

[Lorien]

91. That is so true, especially in most of the newer developments. Our neighborhood has a

few stark differences about it. There are beautiful lakes and parks within walking distance to the North, South, East and West. The homes were built between 1900 and this year, all different styles and sizes. The streets are all brick, which slows down traffic. Most homes have porches and the weather is nice most of the time, so people are outside frequently. The neighborhood has more liberals than conservatives in it, along with New Age types and a large GLBT community. Nearly all races, age and financial brackets are represented. Restaurants, bars, shops and both a grocery and farmer's market are all within walking or biking distance. The result is a more connected community. Some of the newer developments have a few of the same features, but most are just one beige Mcmansion after another; green lawn in front with one tiny tree in the yard. Little in the way of community green spaces or parks. Those areas are all about conformity and what's inside the house, not what's happening in the neighborhood.

[BrklynLiberal]

98. Wow..sounds like a throwback to a previous time and place...You are lucky

[Lorien]

90. Thanks RufusTFirefly! I'll have to look that one up.

in the last two apartment complexes I lived no one knew their neighbors...until one night one of our neighbors was assaulted and raped by her ex-boyfriend. We all heard her blood chilling screams and about five of us called 911 at the same time. I looked out of my window and saw her running nude down the sidewalk, covered in bloody bite marks (!!). I and other neighbors ran outside to help. One saw that she was naked and grabbed a blanket and wrapped her in it. As I came outside the boyfriend walked by me, glared, and jumped in her car and drove away. We all met with the police, and since I saw him take her car they were able to arrest him on auto theft right away. Here's the crazy part; the girl didn't know where his family lived, but a civilian doing a ride along with the cops that night knew the boyfriend's family and only lived a few doors down from them, so they were able to catch him within 20 minutes! It was a horrible thing to have happen, but my neighbors, all strangers, united because of what happened to the girl. I think the three hurricanes of 2003 brought everyone closer together too. It's sad that loss, crime or disaster is what it takes to unite us sometimes!

[DirkGently]

78. This is the kind of neighbor we all need, and all should be. Good on you, Lorien.

[virgdem]

80. As one cat lover to another...

thank you so much for helping your neighbor find her lost kitty. I would be devastated if I were in her place and you did a very good thing by helping her out. It is sad that the sense of community has been lost in this country. I remember a time when neighbors helped other neighbors without hesitation (and I grew up in suburban NYC). Sadly, those days are long gone. I do what I can for the neighborhood strays (I feed 3 strays and just took one to my Vet yesterday to go to a forever home - she was very friendly and I would have taken her but for the health and well-being of my 19 year old cat). What a great ending to a sad story!!!

[tblue37]

81. This cat lover (human companion to three adult girl kitties and one

3-month-old girl kitten) thanks you from the bottom of her heart!

[SheilaT]

82. What you did was wonderful,

and it's what (in my opinion) people should do for each other. I believe that we are all here to help each other out. Most of the time it's not hard to be nice to others.

I have two cats right now. A few weeks ago one of them wandered out of my yard and was gone for about thirty-six hours. I was heartbroken, thinking the worst, but a day and a half later (at about 3am) I heard her meowing outside the back door. She has not been too eager to go outside at all since.

I used to have a third cat, who showed up in my front yard about four years ago, starving, flea-infested, apparently having decided we were her last hope. We took her in, and it quickly became clear that she'd been a well taken care of pet before she somehow wound up on her own. I will always wonder how that happened, but I somewhat suspect it may have happened in a move (either she wandered away or was abandoned) because two years after she came to live with me, and I started packing up to move, she acted distressed. I did move her halfway across the country, and she passed away a little over a year ago. I think she was at least 15-18 years old by then. She was clearly older than my older cat who was 14 last year.

All of our companion animals are precious, and I just don't understand people who abuse or abandon them.

[ThomasQED]

83. Right before I read this

I returned a dog (with no tags, of course) to a home where I hope she lives, because she looks like the dog they had and the gate was open, but despite about 8 cars between that house and the neighbor's, no one answered either door. Other neighbors had seen the dog before me and ignored her.

This dog approached me while I was walking my two and "The Temp" - a 9-week-old puppy I took in the other day because his family's landlord said no to him, and the people they then gave him to found out they were not allowed either...

I hear you loud and clear. We lack community and these things often take little time yet many are not willing to do the basic little things that make us neighbors instead of just people who live close to each other.

[Lorien]

95. Thank you so much for looking out for our canine friends!

what with all the foreclosures and hard times the shelters are overflowing. I'm sure that "the Temp" is very relieved that he has you looking after him!

[AspenRose]

84. This is so awesome. YOU are awesome.

I am reminded of this book:
Born for Love: Why Empathy is Essential -- and Endangered
by Bruce D. Perry with Maia Szalavitz.

[ThatsMyBarack]

87. Glad Jolie got found okay.

She's gorgeous! :loveya: