Karma and cats

Every once in a while life has a way of knocking you upside the head as if to say, "Don't get too uppity."

Kind of like what my grandma used to warn about wishing bad things on someone: whatever you wish for that person will instead happen to you.

Call it karma. Call it whatever you want to call it. I've been upbraided.

A while ago I was regaling anyone who'd listen with stories of my tomcat, Arthur, who lives with me and his sister Cleopatra. Cleo is clearly the smarter of the two, but then again, she's female. Of course she's smarter.

Both cats like it sit by the screen door in the living room that leads to a balcony and watch the birds that visit the feeder I put there. Some may say it's sadistic to put a bird feeder so close to where cats live, but a screen door separates them. The cats can't hurt the birds, and the birds get to chow down on seed, suet and peanut butter. Arthur and Cleopatra enjoy the entertainment. The birds ignore the cats. What you'd call a win/win situation.

Occasionally, though, some of the birds that like to pick up the seed that falls on the floor of the balcony get a little too close to the door, and Arthur lunges thinking he's going to get a little in-between meal with feathers. He always hits the screen door head-on.

It was funny the first time it happened. He lunged. Hit the door. Swore in feline, and backed up and resumed the crouching position. It became funnier when he did it again. You'd think he'd learn. Cause and effect. Lunge for the bird you're gonna hit the screen door. Nope. Arthur, ever hopeful, keeps hitting the door. You gotta admire his perserverence, but then again you'd think he'd figure it out and give up. After all, Cleo doesn't do that. She's smarter.

Females of all species are smarter.

So here's where I get upbraided. A few months ago I ordered some nail polish from the Avon representative. One of the shades I ordered was too dark. It didn't look dark on the catalog page, but when I got it home and applied it, I didn't like it.

So some time later I saw some nail polish on special, saw a shade that looked pretty and ordered it.

You guessed it. Same shade.

And as much as I hate to admit it, I did that three times!

And you know, I really don't think Arthur would laugh at me the way I laughed at his hitting the screen door continuously.

His karma no doubt is better than mine will ever be.