Your favorite tuxedo and I hope your 2015 is off to a glorious start, and that it only gets better.
It would seem that Brielle has set a New Year’s resolution of her own this year: to love more.
You may rightly ask how this is possible. After all, Brielle is already a connoisseur of love, gifted at both giving and receiving affection in lavish measure. How could she ever love more?
It seems that even Brielle’s vast goodness can grow to new proportions. Trust me on this one: since the start of 2015, Brielle is striving to love her enemies, and to do good even to those who persecute her.
Enemies? Surely a girl like Brielle doesn’t have enemies…
Well, perhaps “enemy” is a strong word. But as you know, dear sponsors, Brielle and her roommate Queen are not exactly soul sisters. In their time sharing the Community Room, they’ve exchanged more snarls and swipes than a couple of Real Housewives.
This year, however, there are serious signs of change — all initiated by Brielle.
Right at the start of January, the usually healthy Queen developed a beast of an upper respiratory infection. The little black cat took to moping and hiding, snorting and whining in growing discomfort.
Ultimately, poor Queen required a few days in our in-house hospital, where she was treated with IV fluid therapy and antibiotics before returning to the Community Room.
It would be unfortunate, but understandable, if Queen’s various victims should take advantage of her weakened state. Over the years, feisty Queen has irked — OK, attempted to annihilate — every cat within ten feet. So could you really blame Brielle if she took the opportunity to turn the tables?
You couldn’t…but that’s not our classy girl’s style.
To my pride and amazement, Brielle clearly realized that Queen was sick, and chose gentleness rather than revenge. As Queen slept in the very triangle bed that Brielle prefers, Brielle softly sniffed Queen’s snoring self, then peacefully walked on by. Throughout Queen’s sickness, Brielle gave her longtime nemesis a wide birth, choosing the path of peace every time. Never one to back down, Brielle even averted her eyes from Queen’s gaze when they walked past one another — clear cat body language for “I mean you no harm.”
I’m grateful to report that Queen is feeling better now. I’m less grateful to report that she’s again nettling her neighbors, including our little peacemaker. But, I truly do see a new serenity in Brielle. Even when Queen rages, Brielle no longer lets it rile her up the way it once did. What would once disintegrate into a slap-fest is now a brief exchange of growls and a peaceful parting.
Maybe New Year’s resolutions really can stick, if you’re feline.
Wonderful sponsors, thank you for resolving, every month of the year, to love our Brielle so generously. She is blessed to enter another year happy, healthy and cherished by you. Have a delightful rest of the month!