My Cat Just Saved Christmas
By: L.A. Strucke
Tags: Pets, Loneliness, Cats, Love, Christmas

My Cat Just Saved Christmas

Rumi under the Christmas tree Photo Credit: L.A. Strucke

I wasn’t going to put up a Christmas tree this year. All that decorating just for me? I know many people can relate.

Let’s face it, Covid has ruined everything. Families can’t visit each other unless they quarantine, take tests, and wear masks. So it’s going to be an awful, lonely holiday for a lot of people before a vaccine becomes widely available.

When you’re spending the holiday alone, it seems kind of foolish to do all that work decorating, for only you. That’s honestly how I felt this year. I’d been moping around, with not much energy, and it seemed too much effort to get out the decorations and hang them up. Besides, it feels like I just put them away!

When you think about it, that’s kind of a poor reason. Because the truth is — we are worth it. We are worth sitting in a living room bathed in lovely colored lights and hearing inspiring music, that brings back happy memories with our families. We each deserve to enjoy baking and eating Christmas cookies, singing songs, opening gifts, and celebrating a savior’s birth. Even if it’s just us there.

There are so many people all alone.

After a stressful year recovering from illness, my cousin decided she didn’t have the energy to decorate. So her wonderful daughter surprised her, and came over with her whole family, and decorated her entire house inside and out. They hung lights, put up the tree — everything. My cousin loved it. It was the nicest gift. And best of all, they’re going to come back and take down all the decorations and put them all away after Christmas. She won’t have to do anything!

I’ve decided that if anyone wants to give someone a nice gift for Christmas, consider that. A lot of people are ill or depressed, or too old to decorate, and they would appreciate the thoughtful gift of decorating. It could mean a brighter Christmas for them.

Well, unlike my cousin, I have no excuses for not decorating. I am able enough to put up a tree, but I figured, what’s the point — it’s just me. Well, that’s not really true. It’s me — and the cat.

I’ve written about Rumi before — and he really loves the Christmas tree. I thought about how he was going to miss all his shenanigans, and how much fun he has every year commandeering the tree. He loves nothing more than to swat at an ornament and curl up on the skirt under the tree. Who am I to ruin all of his fun this Christmas? How selfish of me!

So because of a silly tuxedo cat, who thinks he’s an acrobat and likes to dive up in the air to attack a toy and do flips — I got up off my lazy behind, trekked down to storage, and brought up the tree. It’s still not up yet, but Rumi looks very hopeful. He found the tree skirt and took a cozy nap on it. That’s how I know he’s pleased.

While I’m at it, I decided to get him some amazing new cat toys. He is going to be so excited when we open them up! It’s almost like having a child in the house again. I couldn’t disappoint him.

Rumi thinking about pouncing on the tree. Photo Credit: L.A. Strucke

So in a way, my cat has saved Christmas. Because of him, I started singing Christmas carols while washing the dishes. I bought some Christmas cards. My goodness, I think I even may have the Christmas spirit! I thought I was going to be alone this Christmas, but I’m not. No one can be truly lonely with a large and beloved family facetiming and a cute tuxedo cat dashing around the house. Thanks, Rumi, for all your Christmas spirit!

My cousin’s gift was really nice, but there’s another gift that some people may like even more. Somewhere there’s a lonely kitten, puppy, or aging dog or cat, sitting sadly in an animal shelter dreaming of a new home. That sweet pet may be just the thing, to cheer up a lonely person, and give them a beautiful Christmas.