Meeting Charlie
I thought I’d share a typical day in Charlie’s life. But first, a little history. Charlie spent his first 7 months surviving somewhere else before we met him at the Brevard County Humane Society. We looked at each other, Charlie and I. He opened his mouth with a soundless “Choose Me, Please”. I picked him up which he seemed to enjoy and I discovered that he was very heavy. That was all we needed to know so we brought big ole Charlie home. He quickly became a source of joy and wonder.
Now, 10 years later, Charlie hasn’t changed much. He likes to start his day with a little wrestling. We don’t always see him in the act. What we do see are a series of crumpled throw-rugs. Not sure why he’s a rug killer but possibly it has something to do with those first 7 months. After he’s finished his murder patrol, Charlie can be found sleeping belly up in the middle of a room or hugging a baseboard.
Charlie’s Special
Charlie has a few quirks. Concerning his litter box, if he has used it to poo, he will not use it again until his humans have cleaned it. Instead he’ll use one of the rugs he likes to murder. Or he’ll just pee on a piece of clothing that mysteriously ended up on the floor.
Another Charlie ‘Speciality’ has to do with entering and exiting through a door. He needs time to decide. A lot of time. He looks around and sniffs the air. When he finally makes up his mind he leaps over the welcome mat to get inside. We believe he dislikes the way the mat feels on his paws.
Forever playful, Charlie’s funniest eccentricity is his love for helping me change the sheets. He chases the movement of the fabric like it’s an underwater serpent. Many times I have tucked him into said sheets where it takes him a while to find his way out.
A Reluctant Tourist
Charlie’s also an experienced traveler, although somewhat reticent. He manages the 8 hour drive to our mountain cabin with little fuss. This is something we do several times a year. Of course, we keep him locked up in his carrier for the whole drive. When we arrive, we open the carrier and he jumps out (after some thought, of course) and makes himself at home. Beware the braided rugs.
Charlie also accompanies us in our Motorhome where we are often out for a couple of months at a time. On these excursions he gets plenty of attention from fellow campers. He loves people and will get close to anyone who visits. He especially loves dinner guests where he will put his paws on the table and peak over the top. He’s always ready to try out human delicacies.
Regarding the motorhome, Charlie is in tune with our human behaviors. He can tell when we are packing up to leave a campsite. To Charlie, this means driving, which he hates. On a couple of occasions, Charlie went missing just as we were ready to leave. He’s usually hiding under the coach. This has not been a big issue because Charlie cannot resist a wiggling drawstring, something we also keep on hand. It’s just another quirk that makes Charlie special.
At Day’s End
Charlie ends each day by snuggling up between our heads on the bed. His belly-up posture is usually the first thing we see in the morning. Big ole Charlie remains a joy and sense of wonder.
Note: This blog is sponsored by me, Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.
Unpublished work © 2024 Karen J Adams
