MITTENS IS THANKFUL
© 2000 Lorraine Dahl
Dear Kenny,
Oh, my, Kenny! We have an E-M-E-R-G-E-N-C-Y!! It is poor Linda! She has been hurting for over a week with a very sore and tender back, neck and shoulder. Poor girl! She goes to the chiropractor and then to work where the magic of the doctor disintegrates as her shift wears on and by the time she comes back home she is right back in pain again.
It is a cycle that must be broken. Last night she cried herself to sleep. I did not sleep a wink myself. (Well, maybe a catnap.)
This morning Lin went to the doctor and then left a tearful message on her Mom’s answering machine that she was in too much pain to go to work and had called in sick. Lorraine checked in on Linda to be sure she was comfortable and then did what she always does in times of crisis. She made Jello.
Just the evening prior as I lay in Lorraine’s lap while she watched TV she had told me that she didn’t think Linda should be working as it only seems to aggravate her condition.
Again the following morning after Linda saw the doctor she left another message for her Mom.
“I’m in TERRIBLE pain! Please come upstairs as soon as you get up.” Lorraine was up those stairs in a flash. Lin was lying in bed crying and sobbing and told her Mother the pain had spread to her neck and her arm and no pain killer she had would even touch it.
She couldn’t sit up, lie down, pace the floor or do anything without the pain overcoming her and make her sob even harder.
That fat old dog, Brigette, who is NEVER out from under Lorraine’s feet, lay on the stair landing behaving herself. (For once.)
I wished I could have been a heroine and eased Lin’s suffering, but what could I do? I lay close to her to show that I care, but really, what else could I do? I’m only a cat.
I truly love Linda and Lorraine and I am so thankful to you, Kenny, for leaving me in a home with such love. Their love for each other is so evident and obvious you can feel it in the air. This love spills over to Brigette and me. I am so thankful for a happy home.
Lin moved constantly from the bed to the couch and each time her Mom had to carry the bedding. This went on all night. Hot towels, heating pad and hot baths and none of them soothed her. She finally fell asleep at four AM. Her friend Tami came at 8:30 for her next doctor’s appointment.
Lorraine was sleeping peacefully on the floor beside Lin’s couch. The crisis was over, at I east for now.
Kenny, thanks for my wonderful life. They couldn’t have made it without me.
Your faithful (and somewhat heroic) cat,
Mittens
