There’s a wonderful expression I’m hearing more and more: “I love that for you.”
People say it when life smiles on somebody else.
People say it when a friend is excited about something (e.g., nachos, leather pants, existentialism), regardless of whether or not they share the excitement.
Ruchi has been saying it all along.
If there is gladness happening anywhere at Tabby’s Place, Ruchi is glad. Your gladness doubles his gladness.
The gladness in Ruchi is so large, the universe is expanding faster than Lornadoone’s midsection to accommodate the surplus gladness.
Ruchi can’t help himself. He is a glutton for gladness, and yours is as delicious as his own.
Perhaps this is why Ruchi is so slim, a long grey scarf of a cat trying to wrap his heart around the world twice.
He’ll welcome gravy and giblets as much as anyone else. But Ruchi’s comfort food is comfort itself. If anyone feels safe, sparkly, or slaphappy (and cats excel at this hat trick), Ruchi’s old heart rests easy.
Although he is older than the median Rolling Stone, Ruchi is still pretty new to this “gladness” business. He has diabetes, a wounded eye from a dog attack, and a rare condition in which infinite hugs are insufficient.
You can help treat this the next time you visit. Ruchi would love that for you.
But if you hug Corduroy first, Ruchi will love that for Corduroy. If you only have eyes for Luna, Ruchi’s green peepers will fill with light. If you walk into the lobby, do the Carlton Dance, and then depart, Ruchi will love that for you.
No matter who is enthused, Ruchi exults. This is just the kind of cat he is, equal parts genius and grandfather.
Ruchi loves it for Willow when the teenager enters warp-drive, whirling through the lobby like a skateboard without wheels. Ruchi loves watching the little cat turn into a spiral galaxy, a blur of bliss and stardust. Ruchi loves that Willow is unafraid, unhinged, and unimpressed by the rumor that her legs “don’t work.”
The gladness in Ruchi sees the gladness in Willow, and they are working together on something significant.
Ruchi loves it for Berry when Berry loves Berry. Berry loves Berry more than the ocean loves the moon. Berry loves Berry more than crackers love cheese. Berry loves Berry more than Berry loves cheese. Berry is sorry for Prince, David Bowie, and Elvis that they failed to achieve the coolness level of Berry. Other cats roll their eyes a little, but Ruchi rejoices in Berry ‘s Berrycentricism.
Berry feels at home in the world, and that makes Ruchi feel more at home in the world.
Ruchi even loves it for Deku when Deku commands all the cuddles in the cosmos. With military precision, Deku takes beachheads of love by barreling his forehead — and shoulders, nose, and soul — into human shins and feet and faces. Of course, Ruchi would appreciate some rations from his wriggly neighbor’s plate. If a few kisses should slide down Deku’s shoulder, Ruchi will receive them with bliss.
But Ruchi does not put off rejoicing. Ruchi believes in pre-joicing. All joicing adds to the sum total of Ruchi’s joy.
If you are glad to be alive in this moment, Ruchi loves that for you.
Ruchi would love for you to love all things for all beings, too.
We are wise to say “I love that for you” when we catch someone in act of aliveness.
If the middle-aged woman at the stoplight is singing along with the Backstreet Boys so loud you can hear it from the next lane, or the quiet kid on the bus just had a breakthrough in his Dungeons and Dragons campaign, or your cat is kissing the sun with every hair on her belly, you can celebrate, and you should, because you will help make the world safe for happiness.
But, as rich as it is to be glad for someone else’s gladness, it takes a Ruchi to love you for you even before you do.
And that is where we need to do Ruchi a favor.
Your “thing” may be basketball, or Big Band music, or giant taffeta hats. Ruchi loves that for you. But Ruchi’s thing is you. Ruchi hopes you will love that for him.
This part is important. Even if you’re not so into you, Ruchi is hoping you will love yourself on his behalf.
If you exist in Ruchi’s general direction, you are one of the best things that ever happened to him.
The least you can do is be happy for him.
Just be advised. If you let Ruchi rejoice over you, you may catch yourself feeling safe, sparkly, and slaphappy.
Your old heart may even rest easy.
I would love that for you.