"On the internet, everyone is famous for 15 people"

Indoors just yesterday -- like her brother last spring -- Tiny caught a mouse in the house. Outdoors last fall on his tether her brother managed to bag a squirrel, and untethered down Goomp's both Tiny and Baby are in their element, the scourge of small mammals and birds far and wide.

"On the internet, everyone is famous for 15 people," Brit blogger Adriana Cronin of Samizdata is quoted in a Guardian article on "The new commentariat: A new wave of political bloggers is challenging Britain's old media pundit," a fun read that turns the profile tables on our blogfriend Norm Geras. We were thrilled to be profiled by Norm a few weeks back, and now the rest of the blogosphere gets a glimpse at the man behind the profiles. Be sure to check it out.  Meanwhile, we love that quotation about every blogger's 15 people of fame.  In our case, catblogging seems to bring our most loyal readers out of the woodwork, as in our recent breaking-news series on Goomp's lost Lucie, who showed up at the door only after he'd brought home the new cat in town, Mr. Perkins, from the shelter:

"Speaking as a longtime (lifelong) cat owner/ownee, the indoor/outdoor thing is a trade-off:  longer lifespan and better health vs. a shorter but more exciting existence," comments reader Scott re our recent post rejoicing at the return last Saturday of Goomp's beloved outdoor feline companion, Lucie:

I recall my wife's late cat Bunny who enjoyed regular outdoor access, and I have to say it was enchanting to watch how "alive" she became when she got outside, so I can see why people do let their cats out.

But when all is said and done I choose to keep our furry kids indoors; this is basically driven by selfishness and the feeling that even a "long" feline lifespan of 15-20 years is woefully insufficient -- I'll guard every day of that like an overprotective miser. :)

We second all of that, with its unresolvable internal contradictions, and hope Goomp -- who is starting to feel overwhelmed with the hisses and growls and bad appetites of this period of adjustment between Lucie and Purrky -- will take heart from Scott's postscript:

An extra bravo to Goomp for keeping Purrky after Lucie's return! That kind of thing really brightens my day.

In our reply to Scott in the comments, we quoted Thoreau's words -- often cited here -- "The most alive is the wildest. Not yet subdued to man, its presence refreshes him."

There is nothing to take your breath away like the sudden joy that overtakes Tiny and Baby when they jump out of the car at Goomp's and realize they are free once again to be all they can be.

And not just for them, but for us. As Thoreau wrote, "The most alive is the wildest. Not yet subdued to man, its presence refreshes him."

And yet, and yet. I totally understand your "selfish" desire to keep them inside. Not to mention my sympathy for the moles and voles and birds who fall prey to their tooth and claw when they are free to roam outdoors. Tiny actually caught and killed -- and tried to eat before I snatched it away -- a tiny mouse in the kitchen the other night. They are true to their natures whatever their circumstances.

Let's hope -- not a strategy -- the two puddies can work it out between them. And thanks again to our "15 people of fame" for your heartfelt support.

Update:  Hey, Goomp. Check out Scott's latest comments here.

Comments

[MartiniPundit]

Can't say what it's about. I was too taken with that incredibly sharp cat pic. Whew!