A Catiful Morning at the Park (and the Kitty That Made it So)
Nikki texted me at 1:18am saying “let’s go somewhere in the morning!” Today is her day off work.
I saw her text when I woke up around 7am… knowing she’d probably sleep until 8:30 or so.
Nikki was up earlier than expected…
At 8:18am, I head down the street to pick her up. We make our usual stop for coffee and a brownie before we head to Mayor Roscoe Warren Municipal Park in Homestead Florida.
It’s another beautiful south Florida morning but we can feel the temperature rising.
I barely put the van in park when…
Nikki notices a lady across the way. She’s trying to walk the path when a random white cat runs up to her and circles around her legs with every… single… step.
We sit in the van and watch the comedy unfold. The cat is extra friendly but it’s obvious the cat does not belong to the lady.
The poor lady can’t take a step without the cat rubbing and circling around her legs and feet.
I can feel her exasperation as she attempts to move forward with a big white fur-ball wrapped around her feet.
Soon, Lady #2 comes onto the scene…
She has food. We assume she’s trying to catch the cat but we don’t know why.
Maybe it’s her cat, maybe she works for a shelter, or who knows why she’s trying to corral the cat. The fact is, she came prepared with food.
Lady #1 turns and quickly walks back toward Lady #2. But it took several seconds for the cat to realize Lady #1 changed course. To catch up to the lady, the happy cat leaps and bounces… as if there were springs on its feet 🤣
Lady #2 coaxes the cat with food but the furry kitty runs forwards, scampers away, and back again… as if playing a game.
This goes on for a brief while and, just as progress is being made, a bicycle rolls by.
The cat runs into the bushes and Lady #2 searches thru the greenery. But the cat is nowhere to be found.
It’s a nice day out and the windows of the van are wide open. Now that the entertainment is over, we ponder what to do next but… suddenly, I’m unable to safely exit the van.
The park is getting busy…
A group of ladies congregate at a nearby picnic table. Their perfume, lotion, or whatever is making me ill. Just an everyday hazard I navigate around as I co-exist with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
The toxic-to-me fumes wafting thru the air prevent me from getting out and enjoying the park.
So, we head out of the park and go for a drive…
The south Florida backroads and farmland crops are different than Illinois farms. You don’t see soybean fields here and it’s rare to see a cornfield. The one cornfield we saw looked a bit sparse compared to northern Illinois.
But the drive is always fun and the Mom-n-Daughter conversations are always interesting 🥰
Parting thoughts…
MCS may dictate the route I take in everyday life but I’m still in the drivers seat!
Our little MCS-required detour this morning just shows that it really is the simple things that matter and make a difference.
I shared a simple, pleasant morning with my daughter… and gained another fond memory to look back on.
As for the overly friendly, fluffy white fur-ball… I hope Lady #2 keeps trying and catches the cat.
So, how was your day?
Connie 🌼
❀ ❀ ❀
Life Right Now…
- My Whereabouts → Southeast Florida
- Home Base → An extended-stay hotel
- I’m Here Until → March 29
- Enjoying → The moment - this is a challenge for me but I’m getting better!
❀ ❀ ❀
📝 Send me a note
➰Previous • Next