Callie is filling in again for Spencer this week as he is at Boy Scout camp. When asked to turn in yet another column, she wrote the following back in an email: Mama sent you a column as you requested in her last email.

Just wanted to let you know that I am always honored to fill in when needed. Since I am a new and budding writer, and privileged to appear in your paper, you can count on me to ALWAYS have a column ready and waiting for you when and if you need it.

As I said, I am so honored to appear in your publication. I have saved all my columns and mama is going to put them in an album to save for her children to have ... in her 'estate'...so I will be there for posterity. Thank you again for the opportunity. I really love this part of my life...writing. It makes me grow and brings me closer to Humans.
Love, Callie

MY FAVORITE PLACES

You know where my favorite place in the world is? I have a lot of favorite places. One is the computer desk. Where I am right now.

You see, mama has a big desk. On the left, she has a large Tiffany lamp. This wonderful lamp has three whole places to put the warmest electric lights. I am weird, but I actually stretch my body up the base of the lamp and put my nose right up to the lights to feel the warmth. I also play with the chains and turn the lights on and off when I feel like being mischievous. Which is often.

I sleep here. I also watch her type and sometimes, grab her fingers and refuse to let her type. Cause I want love. And attention. I do my typing here also.

The reason I love this desk is because of the positions I can get into. I have the whole half of the desk. Can you have a ‘whole half?‘ That sounds strange, doesn’t it. I ramble.

I have half the desk to myself. With the lamp. First, I get a lot of love here because my darling, little, cute face is turned up for mama to see while she is typing. And, I put on my cutest face. I am cute. I lay on my back with my feet up in the air and my head right down by the keyboard. And, I snore. When I snore, I am adorable. She stops typing and kisses me.

I stretch. I cuddle. Isn’t this disgusting? My bragging this way? And, being such a spoiled, spoiled brat cat? But, I am. And I love life. Back to the desk.

There are books on this desk and sometimes, I climb up on the second deck (there are two three little stories to this desk with little shelves filled with papers and stuff for me to play with.

I have a mean streak in me. I love to knock things on the floor. Books, pill bottles with vitamins in them, combs, brushes, all those things. They make a nice sound when they hit the floor. Mama gets mad.

So, I wander around on the top floor of this desk. I sit on top of the computer and start at mama while she is typing. That is what I am doing right now. Just staring at her.

Sometimes, I leap on the keyboard. Without warning, I leap. You probably wonder why mama lets me do such bad things? Because she thinks I am cute. And, she laughs when I do these things. Except when I throw glasses on the floor and break them. Sometimes I do this. I admit it. I just flip those glasses right in the air. Flying through the air until they hit the floor and break. Now, this is bad. I should not do this. But, I do it.

I am not a good girl. I am a bad girl. There is no doubt. But, my cuteness outweighs the bad. My sweet little whiskers and my chubby little face with my cheeks kind of puffed out like a little baby is just so compelling. And, my tail. I have a great tail. It is so straight up in the air that is curls back sometimes. I am so happy. A straight tail in a cat is a sign of contentment, you know.

I know how to melt mama. When I curl up or put all fours up in the air, she just smiles and forgives. I also know how to blink my eyes. I do it slowly. Like Bambi. I watched Bambi on DVD you know. Remember how Bambi blinked those eyes so slowly? Cute.

Other favorite places. I almost forgot what I was writing about! In mama’s lap at night while she quilts and watches Larry King. I love to sit in her lap and get the daily news, also. We watch different news stations.

The quilt is so warm and pretty. And, I watch the thread go in and out. Sometimes, I grab it and play with it and she waits for me. Then, I fall asleep. So safe. There is no place so safe as my mama’s lap. In the evening. Quilting. I love it.

Finally, The courtyard mama takes me to each morning at this new apartment. It is an enclosed courtyard with trees and flowers and ivy. I go in my spiffy new harness. It is red and covers almost my entire fat little body. She puts me in the cat carrier and takes me down the elevator every morning. And, since there is only one door, she lets me loose with my leash dragging. I love it! I waddle. I strut. I roll in the ivy. I fall down on the concrete and put all fours in the air. I pretend I am a queen and this is my castle. People come and see me and I walk up to them and they are thrilled to see a cat in a harness.

I am the darling of the apartment. I even walk through the lobby sometimes and see the people there. I am really beginning to like it here! The moral of this story?

Enjoy the little things. The favorite places in your lives. Enjoy them.