A number of people have asked how Ladybug is doing; they noticed that she hadn’t posted anything for some time. I caught up with her as she was walking down the hall; she kindly sat down and agreed to dictate a post to her many admirers.
Sr. Susanna
Thank you for asking about me. I am fine.
In fact, I am more than fine. I am wonderful.
I have been very busy. At this time of the year, it’s important to stay on top of things.
Bookcases, cabinets, my cat tree…
Higher is the way to go in winter. It’s warmer up there.
I am also busy training the sisters. Yes, still. Clearly, this is going to be a long-term project. They haven’t caught on as quickly as I expected; cats pick things right up, but human beings frequently drop the ball. (A little feline humor, there.)
Speaking of balls (my favorite toys), there are some sisters who cannot throw a ball properly. I don’t understand this. Kittens instinctively know how to catch and bat balls; why doesn’t every human being know how to throw? They speak of “higher education,” but I don’t see any evidence that they learned anything. They can’t throw a ball properly; they continue to rest on “beds” a mere three feet off the ground. “Higher education,” my paw.
You wouldn’t believe it, but this monastery is the loudest place I’ve ever been. Yes, really. I am the quietest sister in the house. The sisters make the strangest, most annoying noises! Several times a day, they do this thing called “singing.” I hate it. It hurts my ears and offends my sensibilities. I am never quite sure when they are going to do it. Sometimes, they’ll be gathered in the community room, and I will join them. (There is no “community” without a cat, is there?) I’ll find a nice lap to settle in, and there I will be, cosy and half-asleep, when all of a sudden… the sisters start to sing! I am OUT of there. Gone!
Why do they continue to do this when they see that I don’t like it?
There is something louder and more alarming than the singing, though: an actual alarm. They call it a fire alarm. I have only heard it a few times, but it is the worst sound ever! When it goes off, lights flash, and I hide as quickly as I can. That is one instance where “low-to-the-ground” is best. I try to hide behind furniture, but then some sisters will come after me, try to grab me, and attempt to put me in a cat carrier. Awful, awful, awful all around! The noise! The lights! The indignity! It would be too much for any feline.
I still don’t understand why it goes off. Fortunately, it’s not a regular thing; I can count on one paw the number of times it has gone off since I’ve been here. Unfortunately, it went off at 2 am the day after Christmas. That was no silent night for sure! It eventually stopped, to everyone’s relief. The sisters talked briefly about sprinklers and a fault (not mine, certainly) and praised not me, as they usually do, but the men with deep voices who came from the fire department. Then the sisters went back to sleep. I, on the other hand, had to take a feline anti-anxiety pill.
For several days afterwards, I hid under beds. I also demanded and received much attention, extra treats, room service for all my meals, and special privileges and exceptions from my normal schedule. Well, why not?
So you see, I have been extremely busy. There is always a lot going on here.
I want to wish a very happy New Year to all my fans. May it peace-filled and un-alarming for us all!
Love, Ladybug