Thankful

My furry family members are all rescues. They come from places and circumstances that I don't even like to think about. I am forever grateful to the many folks who helped Lilah, Jasper, Tucker, Dawn,  Athena, and Elsa Clair and Calvin on their various journeys toward my home and my heart. I am thankful for time I was able to share with those gentle souls who are no longer on this earth. And I truly appreciate the special people who continue to work toward sparing lives and finding homes for dogs and cats and other species, and who tenderly care for their health and well being.

I am thankful for

taut, furry stretchy bellies
irresistably touchable
speaking volumes about trust and love

moist, cool doggy noses
leaving splotchy memories
on my car windows

sloppy, shlorby kisses
droobly, dribbly muzzles
snouts nudging my hands

furry waggy tails
curled joyfully aloft
while bodies squirm with joy

whisper woofs and barks of attention
moans and groans and murgly mumbles
soft sighs and loud yawns

the quick ffft ffft ffft of floppity ears
thunk thunk of tails against walls
jangley clang of collar tags heading my way

warm soulful eyes
watching me with care
caring where I go--and following me

feet that talk to me
paws for attention
touching acknowledgement of their presence

morning back rolls
caught with legs pointing at the ceiling
and undignified upside down grins

heads laid gently on my lap
eyes beseeching mine
radiating solace

warm snuggly bodies
pouring out heat and contentment
and sharing fur souvenirs

balletic leaps that pull frisbees out of the air
anticipatory moments before a ball is thrown
rear-in-the-air excitement of a good chase

pure and simple joy
that we humans rarely attain
yet are privileged to experience just by being there

contentment without expectations
acceptance without questions
love without boundaries

I am thankful for sharing my life with dogs.

Lilah, Jasper and Tucker

I am thankful for

jellybean paws
treading softly
and landing gently
except when they don't

plaintive mews and meows
meps, merps and owels
meaning exchanged without words

twitchy excited tales
bumper car verticals, pointing up
or curvey, sensuous question marks

silky head rubs
figure eights among my feet
warm soft strokable fur

little pink noses
from stretched-out necks
drawing in my scent

intensity contained in stares
anticipation constrained
and leaps into action

serious silliness
contradictions of existence
chasing feathers and nothing
followed by instant nonchalance

welcome slow blinks
a slight turning of heads
and panther walks of greeting

the sputtering contentment of purr
spreading a zen acceptance
of here, now, warmth

I am thankful for sharing my life with cats.

Athena and Dawn

Calvin and Elsa Clair