HI everyone. I guess I will have to be like everyone else. Even though I am a cat. Christmas is coming. Thanksgiving is tomorrow. You will have had your turkey by the time you read this.

I have been getting into trouble. I go for a walk each day, as you know. And, the other day? I did something really bad! I slipped out of my harness. I knew what I was doing.

First...I looked really innocent and sat down in the ivy so it covered my body and my harness...I sat quietly looking up at the sky. Mama relaxed for a minute. I planned it. I plotted it. I am clever and wily. Wily is a good word. Well. I did it quickly. I squiggled and squirmed. I was like that magician of old...whatshisname? I read about things like this. Oh, yeah, his name was Houdini.

When I got out, Mama screamed. She gets hysterical. Poor thing. I should not have done this, but I was already committed, so I sprinted. I jumped in the air - did a wheeley - and ran toward the brick wall. I knew I could not climb it, but it was the only direction to run in. The other direction was toward the cars and I am not stupid!

About that time? What should happen but Shotsky came out for her daily walk. She is the little dog I made friends with. I ran up to her and she almost peed in her pants...she had no pants...but she almost peed.

She ran in a circle and since I was free? I ran in a circle with her. Mama was trying to catch me. She was saying ‘here Calliepoo...come to mama, baby”. Which was humiliating. Mama began to run in a circle too. She can’t run, but she tries. And we all looked pretty silly, I tell you.

So. I decided to break free again and I ran and hid behind the BBQ. I peeked out at her and she was coming after me. I should have been nicer to her, but the thrill of freedom surged through my body like a hot flash. It was wonderful. I felt so devilish. So bad. I am tired of being good. Sometimes, we like to be bad, don’t we?

Then, mama began to cry. She was scared. She thought I might get killed by a car. My heart stopped. I felt SO bad. I had to let her catch me. I love her. She waddled toward me and I pretended to be looking in the other direction so she would feel like she caught me.

She grabbed me. She began to kiss me. I tried to struggle, but she had me clutched to her. She loves me so much. Then? She slapped me on the butt! Not hard at ALL. Just to let me know how frustrated she was. And, how scared.

Well? We are having turkey and dressing for Thanksgiving. And all the trimmings. I don’t eat trimmings. But, I DO eat turkey! I like the white meat. And, mama gives me some on TG day and Christmas.

I am going to be serious. And wish you lots of love and joy as you celebrate with your loved ones. Humans love to do this. Gather together and celebrate. They celebrate anything they can think of. And, it is nice.

Families enjoy each other as they should do the whole year round. And so...a special greeting to Tom and David of the Newspaper. And to Lisa. I met Lisa and just loved her. Thanks to all of you for giving me the space to write my column. Love to all of you.