THE MOST THOUGHTFUL EUROPEANS

My coworker's small dog dragged her into the mud yesterday, in consequence of which her shoulder hurt like billy-o all day, and she moaned periodically. She did not have a good day. And while I sympathize oh my yes this is why sensible women should have a cat instead. If they want to slide through the mud like a ball player, the cat will look at them like they're crazy and abstain.

As you can tell, if I had a pet, it would not be a dog. This does not make me a bad person. Please remember that.

I'm just not overmuch into mud.


Still, I'm thinking I should have a tennis ball with me at all times in case I run into the coyote in this neighborhood, or the one who hunts in Portsmouth Square to the east of here, again. Let's see how instinctive certain behaviours actually are. A small stick will probably suffice.

Cats are not known for playing fetch.
Don't bother tossing the ball.

There are no wild cat species in this neck of the woods. No mountain lions, cougars, servals, or panthers. I need not have a ball of yarn with me at all times for protection and distraction.

Outside of San Francisco it's a different matter. The suburbs abound in carnivores of many different types, some of them feline.

Fortunately there are enough chihuahuas, yorkies, and little entitled brats running around that they need not mess with a sharp-clawed pissy Dutch American like myself. You will note that Holland does have wild canines (wolves), but no mountain lions. We also don't have mountains, so that's probably a good thing.

Still, we Dutch are quite fond of cats.
They suit our thoughtful nature.



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