We supplement the forced-air heat in our bathroom with a small electric space heater when we shower--it's so nice to get out of the shower into a toasty warm room.

It used to be that Spicy would accompany me into the bathroom at shower time, basking in front of the heater while she waited for me, then obligingly allowing me to dry my feet on her when I emerged. Drying my feet used to take a very long time! Then Thistle discovered what we were up to and started beating Spicy to the bathroom for shower duty. Spicy won't come in if Thistle is already there. So now it's Thistle and me, only Thistle sits there looking into the shower, whining the whole time I'm in there. It's just not as peaceful as it was with Spicy.

Usually, however, when I make a quick trip to the bathroom for other necessary purposes, I get to do it alone. It's a nice quiet interlude, a few minutes away from the demands of the three cats. This afternoon I entered and absentmindedly unbuttoned my slacks as I gazed out the window (looking for the flock of turkeys I'd seen earlier). As I lowered my body onto the seat, there was a loud shriek: Raowwwwwww! I jumped about two feet in the air as I saw Thistle streaking from the room. She had entered the bathroom with me, unseen and unheard, and placed herself between my legs and the toilet, her tail curled over the seat, and I had sat on her tail.

So much for my peace and quiet that trip.

Copyright © Lynda Goldsmith
January 22, 2001