written by Kim Matheson
Ok, ok. Keep your boots on. What d’ya want from me anyway. I’m an old man. I’ll do things when I’m good and ready.
So, Sasquatch here. You think my name’s real funny, do ya? Well, I have big feet and a heavy walk. I have what they call “plantigrade gait” that came on because I’ diabetic and until now, no one did anything to help me with my diabetes. It doesn’t help that I have hairy feet with no claws, and stuff can build up between my toes creating little pebbles that I have to walk on – something else no one helped me with. So much for universal health care.
Not much in life phases me. I’m 13 years old now, and I’ve pretty much seen everything. I got dumped. Imagine me. An old, declawed man put out in the streets. Do you know what it feels like to hobble around in the streets, wondering how you’re going to find your next meal? Well, ya steal it. You knock over garbage cans that smell like crap that might be edible. You rip the bag open with your teeth. And you grab what you can. Scream like a banshee if any other young buck of a cat comes around and chase them away yowling before they figure out you got no claws to fight. I hate young, good-for-nothing, know-it-all bucks. Yeah, I hate lots.
So one day I’m in a backyard scouting it out, and someone sneaks up behind me, scoops me up and sticks me in a cage. Brings me to someplace where I can hear lots of other sad sack cats and yappy dogs. I hear them say “he’s a beauty, but he’s old and can’t walk. No-one wants a cat like that”.
Well you’d think they’d have the decency to shove off and let me go. But noooo. Next thing I know I’m being poked and prodded. “Yup, he’s diabetic. No-one will want him. See if any rescue will take him, but he’s on the list”. What g-d list would that be?!
Long story short, now here I am. What they call a ‘rescue’. Yeah ok, the person who feeds me is ok. Food is crap. And she keeps pricking me in the neck right in the middle of a meal. Says it’s for my own good. Right. What a…. well, I won’t go there. Sits there all day playing on a tap-tap board, and just try to lie across it for a little attention. Ok. Sometimes it works, and I get some goooooood ear scratches.
Then the rug rats showed up. The only thing worse than a young buck is a
He’s a beauty, but he’s old and can’t walk. No-one wants a cat like that.
rug rat. I mean look at these pathetic little fellows. Where’s their mom? Who’s going to teach them manners? OMG they keep putting their dirty little faces in my food bowls. And I’m already on limited rations. Rats. They look scrawny. Ok, I’ll just leave them to it. I’ll just pick at these dried-up kibbles. Another meal will come.
Oh. Oh. Now this is going too far. Little guy, go find your mom! Run and play with a rock or something. Get yourself off me! I’m not your pillow. Oh man! What’s an old man supposed to do? I can’t even move with him lying on top of me. Oh, little one. Darn it. Well, sweet dreams little rat.
Anyway, have a day.
Sasquatch
The Science of Kindness
We can all think of some, usually older male, who we would describe as a curmudgeon. There is even a scientific body of research assessing the “curmudgeonly personality,” which essentially is someone who can see both positive and negative in the world, but weighs the negative much more heavily in their emotions, beliefs, and actions. A classic example is Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge.
But even Scrooge was much more complicated. As Sasquatch shows us, as grumpy as he appears, he demonstrates compassion, kindness, and cares about the little ones in his space – and Ninja the kitten inherently knows this about Sasquatch. Individuals perceived as grumpy are capable of kind acts, even though their expressions of kindness may favour practical or understated gestures rather than overt emotional displays.
Kindness is an effective way of reducing stress and promoting positive well-being both in the giver and receiver. Kindness can be demonstrated among people, animals, and across species. Something that clearly resonated for grumpy old Sasquatch.
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