Meet Sparky

After writing a Pet of the Week column for a year, I finally adopted a cat. I thought about the best cat for me, and one day, when I was at the Contra Costa Animal Services featuring cats, I met him: friendly, easy-going, chatty, a character. I wasn’t ready, so I asked about his review date and it was that day, so I adopted him. His name is Sparky and it fits him. He’s all black with green eyes, and just adorable. It’s been hard getting used to each other, but the real surprise was how happy I’ve been now that I have someone to love.

Adopting a pet during the holidays has been perfect for me. The holidays are a natural time to share love. Growing up, the holidays were the loneliest time of the year for me. Sparky has brought a bright light to this season. Another reason I thought he was perfect for me was his name. The week before I adopted him I submitted an essay to a writing contest about spreading the light, and then I met a cat named “Sparky.” He has truly spread the light in my world. It’s sad that people don’t like to adopt black cats because they think they are bad luck. They are a living being. I call Sparky “My Beautiful Boy” as in John Lennon’s song “Beautiful Boy.”

He’s brought lots of changes to my life. He is programmed to wake up at 5:25am every day. I have no such program and could sleep until 11:00am if given the chance. I have found if I ignore him, he eventually lets me sleep. Today I woke up at 8:00am and watched Meet the Press featuring Michelle Buchanan. She strikes me as a living Stepford Wife with her blank stares and repetitive answers. She talked about how the president should take the power to throw out the supreme court’s decisions. I can imagine what she’d over turn. However, I’d like to see a candidate stand for something, not against something. In this holiday season there are so many children and families who go without. There are young adults living in their cars because they can’t afford to rent. Why doesn’t a single candidate stand up for the people? How about supporting the middle class and the poor? What could be more important than helping the people, the children of our great nation?

Having a cat has also helped me deal with some of the darker issues in the news, like the 18 month boy who was killed by gunfire. Just writing that fills me with grief. When Sparky comes up and starts purring in my lap, I can focus on him and caring for someone who needs me. Before I adopted him I joined Match.com, but it’s not fun. I sent emails to two guys and both of them wrote back telling me that we are not a match. They weren’t nice, they told me in a way as if they had to let the universe know that they were not interested in me. Oh joy. Another guy looked like my ideal match, and we had a lot in common, but when I talked to him on the phone he had an unpleasant, high-pitched voice – higher than mine. And every guy I get on the phone with thinks I just want to hear him talk. It's like they think "Why would you want to talk and worry your blond little head?" I’m sure they are nervous, but don’t they think that asking me questions might help him to get to know me? It’s like everything good and right about them is locked between the HTML code holding their online profile together.  It feels like a cruel game sometimes. I want to be hopeful, but I’m always disappointed. The more disappointed I get, the less I want to try to meet anyone.

In comes the cat pouncing on his toy mouse. He rolls from side to side on his back, holding the mouse in his mouth with complete bliss. He reminds me that you find happiness when you turn toward something. Choose love and turn toward love. And if you don’t have love, love yourself. I recommend adopting a pet. They are beautiful, loving, and bring unconditional love. They will light up your world in ways you could never imagine.