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There’s nothing like being gored in the neck by a cat a week before your wedding day! Unless, of course, it’s being gored in the neck by a dog or some other loving pet.
Thoughts of Ginger still bring tears to my eyes, not because of the neck-goring, mind you, but because she was an exceptional cat. She stands out from all of the other felines who shared their lives with me over the decades. So, why did she strike me after many years of not even laying a toe or tooth on me?
Ten years ago in June, Michael and I moved into a new place the weekend before our wedding day. Crazy, I know, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. When it was time to put our three cats into their kitty carriers, I was a bit hasty in putting Ginger into hers. I picked her up to flip her over like I usually do, and I heard a strange shriek. That was me. Ginger had freaked out and accidentally clawed me. A single claw on a front paw had gone in one side and out the other side of some skin on the front of my neck. I froze and so did Ginger.
I am not surprised that Ginger became motionless. She and I had formed an unusually tight bond and trust over 10 years. So, while Ginger froze, I started to freak out. Michael was running up the stairs to find out what happened. Trying not to panic, I calmly whisper shouted, “Stop!” One wrong move from Ginger and my neck could’ve been in ruins. She was a cat, after all. Luckily, Michael stopped. Maybe he read my saucer-sized eyes filled with terror and the words DON’T MOVE.
I gently eased Ginger’s claw out of my neck, and to my amazement there was no blood. In fact, there was no scar, no swelling, and no pain. There was no sign that a goring had ever taken place.
As if Ginger turning into Freddy Krueger wasn’t enough, our king-sized, wood and iron sleigh bed collapsed on one side—wood pieces flew everywhere—when I got on top of the mattress while Mom helped me put sheets on it in the new house.
This was the last straw. The moving, the goring, the bed collapsing, and the wedding a week away was just a bit much. My whole body, mind, and spirit came to a halt. I walked slowly downstairs; Mom followed. We sat down in the living room … and sat … and sat. No talking, no thinking, just sitting.
Allowing ourselves to be still is important for our health and well-being. Whether we find ourselves in a frightening situation, or we’re just overwhelmed by life, being still can bring about balance, and at least a momentary peace, to give our minds, bodies, and spirits a much-needed break, allowing us to reboot, refocus, and get in touch with the things that really matter before we move on.
That week in June was one of the best weeks of my life. Things could’ve been much worse overall, so I feel grateful. Plus, it ended with marrying my best friend and two-legged love of my life.
Photo (Flickr CC) by Gary Winfield
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Shawn Krumm
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