Lessons from an Old Lady Cat

Day whatever of isolation. My cat is now firmly established in her Overlord position. Not that anyone ever doubted her position as head of household before, but the fact that I’m not even leaving for groceries these days, let alone anything else, it’s become abundantly clear to me who owns whom. (Hint: it’s not me.)

In a fit of boredom last week, I decided to introduce Kitty to the Great Outdoors, the Great Outdoors in this case being my fenced-in cement patio. To say she loved it would be an understatement. Perhaps the Greatest Understatement of All Times.

Kitty loves being outside. So much so that she thinks she needs to be outside All The Time. 6:00 a.m. and barely above freezing? “Let’s go outside!” she yells to me. Sleeting and windy? “Let’s go outside!” she orders. I’m in my nighttime pajamas at 11:00 p.m. (because when you work from home it’s well known that you have both a daytime and a nighttime set of pajamas, it’s fact) and I forgot something in the kitchen, which is near the patio doors. “Must mean it’s time to go outside!” she shouts enthusiastically at the top of her lungs.

It just doesn’t matter to Kitty. She loved being outside. That’s what she knows and that’s what matters. So that’s what she asks for. Over and over and over again.

As a quick but related aside, Kitty knows several words, “no” being one of them (the others are mostly related to food, which isn’t surprising). This means when I tell her no, she understands that she’s not going outside *at that moment.*

See, that’s the catch. I have, on two occasions, said yes, it’s nice enough to go outside so let’s go. And so she keeps asking, knowing that, eventually, I’m going to say yes.

With all the extra time I have to contemplate the Ways of the Universe thanks to the lack of pressing obligations (other than write my books, yes, yes, I know, I’m working on them, I promise), I’ve realized something. Besides being incredibly annoying in her persistence, Kitty is actually teaching me (and now you, since I am sharing) an important lesson.

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want.

Because the worst that will happen is that they say no. They might also say yes. But if you fail to ask, the answer will never—ever—be yes. You’ll have defaulted to “no” without ever really exploring your possibilities.

So take a page from Kitty’s Book of Wisdom and Annoyance (TM) and ask for what you want. Even if it seems like bad timing. Even if you don’t think you have a snowball’s chance in the Colorado Spring Time of getting it. Ask.

Maybe they’ll say yes.