Frazz by Jef Mallett for July 02, 2023

It’s been a year last month since we lost our tuxie, Zebra. RIP, old friend.

We have buried (in a sunny spot with a view) very many cats who were much loved. And one more who’s starting to get pretty slow and creaky.

And yes, learning my “times tables” to the point that I don’t even think about 11 * 14 being 154 etc meant that it was a lot easier for me to figure out quadratics… which is a tiny little bit of calculus. Not because that actually helps with REAL quadratics, but because at least in the 60s, the texts all had almost entirely integral solutions to all the problems. And then they taught us the generic quadratic solution. (sighs).

…which is already in progress…

You might not always remember the Pythagorean Theorem but you’ll always remember your pet.

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colours,

He made their tiny wings.

The purple headed mountain,

The river running by,

The sunset, and the morning,

That brightens up the sky.

The cold wind in the winter,

The pleasent summer sun,

The ripe fruit in the garden,

He made them every one.

He gave us eyes to see them,

And lips that we might tell,

How great is God Almighty,

Who has made all things well.”

― Cecil Frances Alexander

She sees the future through prismatic glasses – always a different view.

As though I needed to be reminded of the short span of feline lives and the resulting heartbreak. Cherish them while you can.

Jeff, tough but true comic. Heartfelt. So touching I had to add it to my favorites. “OUCH” but in such a thoughtful, meaningful manner.

They believe that pets

have no concept of death,

and that’s a blessing.

but that awful certainty lurks like a

dark cloud in the back of the minds

of all true pet lovers.

And that is our only curse.

― William Thomas

That is one cute cat!!!!!

It must be sweet-pet-love day. Pearls Before Swine has one with a dog. I didn’t need all these tears.

Agreed. The more math I took, the less I understood it, espec when I got on the multivariate calculus bus.

Does the abacus on the cat’s back help with the math homework?

It’s not just cats and math, darling.

it’s abacus cat – Abacat! Love the artwork!

I have always wondered about Mallett’s employment of the kid pointing at the person to whom they’re talking. Have you actually seen anyone do that? Ever?

Cats are easy to understand. Whatever you’ll expect them to do, they’ll do the exact opposite. And because you expect them to do the exact opposite, they’ll do whatever they want.

But it’s also integral to the story that we must learn to differentiate those experiences. Burying (or better yet burning!) that calculus textbook once the dreaded final has been passed can be an immensely satisfying experience! :)

Shellie, our 4th & last cat has a message for you:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0liWES6qgxjUmt3SHQxaEkwQWc/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-olH7FOZwblNVnZl9XCZ3_A

Halfway to 88 & primary care giver for my homebound wife 86, we miss the 9 recued dogs we had when married in 1960, & later 4 rescue cats. But memories are forever!

is her cat called Abacus

Feces

Nothing more than feces

Trying to forget my sense of smell

Teardrops

Rolling down on my face

Trying to collect my feces of love

Feces

Wo-o-o feces

Wo-o-o feces

Again in the box

Mr Mallett draws wonderful dogs . . . rather stylized, but they capture dogginess to a T. Cats not so much, it’s an OK cat, but only OK.

So, long story short: a whole lot of work for a disappointing payoff

Lost our beautiful boy to a vet’s negligence 10 months ago.

The more you know, the more you know there’s more you don’t know.