Shall I write about the cat from outer space that landed on earth right in our front yard? That’s a good news story.
As it happened, a hungry, howling kitten looking to be about two weeks old suddenly appeared in the grass, just inches in front of the roaring lawn tractor. Quick stop! Her dark fur stuck out all over, her stubby tail stuck straight back, and she was crying and crawling frantically. But going nowhere. She was still blind.
Where she came from was a complete mystery. She was clearly too far from the road to have been dropped off. We could find no sign of siblings or mother. A quick trip to the Fromagerie Caitya for some goat milk, then endless hours suckling the kitten with an eyedropper and wiping her behind.
Early on, she showed a propensity for swallowing the eyedropper whole. Other oddities: If we tried to pick her up by the nape of the neck, she would not curl up for the trip like kittens are wont to do; she’d writhe and scream in pain.

Today, as an adult, her black fur has resolves itself into striking stripes known as a black tabby pattern, the same that European wildcats have. Does she have some wildness in her? She distains the call to the supper dish. She bites and licks us affectionately, but barely tolerates being petted unless she’s in a very special mood curled up in the middle of the bed. Then and only then does she purr.
Going outside with us, she accompanies us like a dog, running back and forth and all around. She often chases invisible creatures and stares at things we cannot see. She chases her long black tail only when she’s in a window frame about eight feet above the ground. Fearlessly. She seems to be full of some mysterious and boundless energy.

Then by chance we heard an interview with Brad Steiger from April 26, 1983, on CBC’s As It Happens, and all became clear.
Steiger advanced the theory that alien life forms have been visiting our planet for generations, and can be «absorbed into other life forms that already exist on this planet, and that can even extend to our household pets.» How can you tell? You can see, he said, «a different kind of awareness,» especially in small, very active animals. In short, he says a bodiless, multidimensional intelligence can take over a cat.
I looked at Shakti (for that had become her name – Shakti, meaning a mysterious psychospiritual force in Hinduism, the active feminine energy of Shiva). She was staring at me intently.
Suddenly, the scales fell from my eyes! That explains all her strangeness! It goes far beyond her distainful glare that says she will never forgive us for no longer worshiping cats the way they used to in Ancient Egypt. It’s that she is an alien life form!

Shakti of the many stripes, how many laughs you have given us, how much life. Speculating where you came from could fill a book, or maybe 170 books, which is how many Brad Steiger wrote before he died last May. One of them was entitled Cat Miracles. I haven’t read it, but I suspect it’s about Shakti.
But Steiger warns us that the alien life forms visiting us could leave at any time. Nothing is forever. We can only enjoy where we are and who we are with, while we can. Especially this holiday season! Give your cat a choice bit of turkey or ham, bow down before her and purr.
May you have a really happy holiday season!

COLOUR CAFÉ IN BURY, Dec. 14
Colour Café: Friday, December 14, at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Eaton Valley Community Learning Centre, 523 Stokes, Bury. Info: Townshippers’ Association at 819-566-5717 or ml@townshippers.org.

STAMMTISCH IN ST-ISIDORE, Dec. 15
A Stammtisch soirée and supper is planned at the Auckland Atelier on Saturday, December 15. The invited artists are Adèle Blais, creator of striking mixed media portraits of equally striking women, and Nathalie Plaat, author of La Pliure de l’être. By reservation only. Info: https://atelierauckland.com/stammtisch-du-15-decembre/

CHURCH SERVICES
Anglican. On December 16, services are at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s in Bury, and 11 a.m. in Cookshire. No services on December 23 except in North Hatley at 9 a.m. On December 24 is a Christmas Eve Service at St. Paul’s in Bury at 2 p.m. and St. Peter’s in Cookshire at 4 p.m. On December 30, no services except in North Hatley at 9 a.m. On January 6, services are at 9:30 a.m. in Bury, and 11 a.m. in Cookshire in the theatre in the Manoir de l’Eau Vive. Info: 819-887-6802.
United. On December 16 at 9:30 a.m. at Trinity Cookshire, and 11 a.m. at Sawyerville, is the Sunday of Joy. On Wednesday, December 19, at 7 p.m. at Trinity Cookshire is a Blue Christmas Service. December 23: No Service. On Monday, December 24 at 2 p.m. at Trinity Cookshire is a Christmas Eve Service with Holy Communion. On December 30 at 10:30 a.m. is a service in Sawyerville. On January 6 at 9:30 a.m. at Trinity Cookshire and at 11 a.m. in Sawyerville is an Epiphany service. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message) or Rev. Tami Spires 819-452-3685.
Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. On Sunday, December 23, at 10:30 a.m. is a Christmas service with music and testimonies followed by a potluck meal. All are welcome. On December 24 at 7 p.m. is a Christmas Eve service. Info: 819-239-8818.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by December 17 for publication January 9.