Karen Jo: I am sorry, Herman. I have had a lot going on lately. I did get my taxes checked and mailed in time. I had to take care of you, too.
Take care of me? You took me to the vet to be tortured. Easter Sunday, Mom took away my food at ten o'clock in the evening. That's dinner time. She had given me my dinner at eight, but I didn't eat much of it. I didn't know she was going to take it away. I woke her up at 1:00 am demanding breakfast, but I didn't get it. I woke her up again just before dawn and just after dawn and I still didn't get any food. Then she got up way early for her and popped me in my stroller and whisked my off to the vet and left me. They stole some of my blood and put me in a cage. A little while later they came and got me and put something over my face and I went to sleep. When I woke up, I was back in the cage and they had stolen one of my teeth and some fur on my foreleg and snipped off the tips of my nice, sharp claws. I had to stay in that cage forever until Mom came and picked me up. They did give me a little food, but it was yucky and I didn't eat much of it.
Karen Jo: You needed to have your teeth cleaned. They trimmed your claws because you are known to be a bit feisty. They told me you got a little sassy with them.
Of course I did. They were being very mean to me.
Karen Jo: They told me to give you just a little bit of food when you got home, but you were starving, so I gave you your regular amount and you scarfed it all up. They gave me some medicine for you, too.
I took the medicine without any trouble. It was a liquid that Mom squirted into my mouth and it wasn't too nasty. I got some treats for taking it, so it wasn't worth making a fuss over. I didn't feel too good the rest of last Monday and most of Tuesday.
Karen Jo: They told me you might be a bit groggy for a couple of days. I wasn't surprised when you didn't come to bed with me on Monday, but you stayed away Tuesday night, too. You didn't join me in bed until early Wednesday morning.
Your bed is way high and I didn't trust my jumping ability until then. I practiced Tuesday by jumping up on the couch and Wednesday by jumping up on the table in the living room.
Karen Jo: They also told me that you have a couple of cavities and you might have to go to the cat dentist in Santa Fe. Your vet will do a follow-up check on your mouth next month and we'll see.
I don't want to go to any cat dentist.
Karen Jo: Would you rather lose more teeth?
No. Man, the stuff I have to go through to stay healthy. Medicine, vets, brushing and mat pulling or shaving. Sheesh! I guess it's all worth it, though.
Karen Jo: I think it is. I want to keep you around for a loooong time.
