There’s an expression you hear around Independence Day: “Land of the Free because of the brave.”
It’s a reminder not to take liberty for granted.
It’s a nudge to give thanks for the courageous ones who have given greatly.
It’s a sentiment Dawn appreciates.
Dawn lives in Suite E, where there are many ways to be brave.
Shaggy is the sort of “brave” that sprints after the ice cream truck and asks if there’s a discount when you buy all the Chipwiches. (Leave no Chipwich behind.)
Soul Patch is the sort of “brave” that writes love letters to the lifeguard and signs his full name. Juel is the sort of “brave” that sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” in front of the whole sixth grade.
Dawn is the sort of “brave” that looks for the light, even when life forgets the fireworks.
Dawn has been at Tabby’s Place a year this month. She came to us in the humid hurly-burly of the great colony rescue: 140+ cats across two challenging situations. You might say she did not come of her own volition.
But she was brave enough to enter that drop-trap willingly, and see where the chips would fall.
While some of her neighbors might hope the chips would fall directly into queso, Dawn had few expectations. She had been strong for so long, it was enough just to rest awhile.
Let other cats clown around and cannonball. Dawn was glad for a still, quiet lake where she could tread water.
You have all the time you need to catch your breath at Tabby’s Place. There is no calendar for “coming around.” We will not call your parents if you refuse to go to Arts and Crafts. We kind of are your parents. That means, if sadness wants to mess with you, it has to go through us.
Good luck with that one, sadness.
But for all we do for the cats, we cannot force them to hear love’s anthem. They each have a personal path into the light. And the bravest thing they can do is let someone be brave on their behalf.
After a full year, Dawn is free because of the brave.
Nirvana has been brave for Dawn. Wriggling up like a pool noodle, he declares his full dependence on her delightfulness. When someone looks at you like Nirvana looks at Dawn, you know every night will end with a morning. When someone looks at you like Nirvana looks at Dawn, you know you are where you belong in the world.
Magda has been brave for Dawn. Magda believes her solarium and strength are meant to be shared. In Magda’s eyes, every cat is a sibling. There is room in the cuddle pile for the” in-progress” and the uncertain. It takes courage to be quiet together. When the stars come out over the skylight, they can also do funny imitations of their parents. (That’s us.)
But no one has been braver for Dawn than her BFFs.
Like all timid Tabby’s Place cats, Dawn has been matched with volunteers in our Befriending Fearful Felines (BFF) program.
Like all other cats, Dawn is unlike any other cat.
Her BFFs have learned to read the light in her eyes and the cadence of her breath. They have held their hands outstretched without tiring. They have tasted the victory of Dawn licking treats from their fingers. They have patted her until she bursts into fireworks, arching her back in exultation.
This time last year, Dawn was intensely independent.
But this Fourth of July, she has become brave. It takes courage to depend on cats and people. It takes courage to walk into the day.
Dawn is surrounded by good light, brave and burly. Dare we imagine how her banner will unfurl by this time next July?