The Dude and the Tree
The past few Christmases, my wife and I did not bother putting up a tree. Not because we weren’t feeling festive, but because we happened to be vacationing during the previous holiday seasons. Couple this with the fact that my lovely wife is allergic to pine trees, and you can see that it really wasn’t worth the bother. This year, my mother-in-law donated her six-foot something tall artificial tree to us, as we would be home for the Holidays. My wife set it up and decorated it very tastefully, as is her way.
Even though I enjoyed the addition of the faux fir, I was concerned with how our cat and dog would react to it. In my previous experience with this issue, I have known cats to break ornaments, or attempt to climb to the tree’s peak and look up the dress of the lighted angel.
Our cat, Rudy, proved me wrong. Apparently the tree triggered something genetic in The Dude, and he began channeling his ancient North African ancestors. Everyday since its erection, the cat has kept stone-faced sentry in front of the tree, like some guardian Sphinx. As far as I could tell, he did no harm to it. In fact, we only know of him actually touching it one time. When my wife did not make her way to his food bowl fast enough, Rudy rang one of the bells hanging on the low branches to get her attention. As for the dog, Zeus, he pretty much just made a habit of sniffing the tree, and facing the repercussions for these actions from my wife.
As for me, I was a little concerned Rudy would be heartbroken when we took the tree down for the year.
Before we could get the chance to explore the consequences of tree removal, Zeus violated the tree with a healthy stream of urine (no BPH for him). Obviously, my wife was more than a little displeased; more interestingly though, the cat decided to ambush the infidel jackal of a Boston Terrier for the performance of his dirty deed. The cat came out swinging combinations like Leon Sphinx, and chased the dog into hiding. Actually, it was the roar of my wife that sent the dog into hiding, but let us not deflate the cat’s ego. Even so, Zeus is lucky Rudy was missing his front claws when we got him.
I’m still debating if setting up a tree is worth the hassle next year, but I do know it’s worth the entertainment.
Even though I enjoyed the addition of the faux fir, I was concerned with how our cat and dog would react to it. In my previous experience with this issue, I have known cats to break ornaments, or attempt to climb to the tree’s peak and look up the dress of the lighted angel.
Our cat, Rudy, proved me wrong. Apparently the tree triggered something genetic in The Dude, and he began channeling his ancient North African ancestors. Everyday since its erection, the cat has kept stone-faced sentry in front of the tree, like some guardian Sphinx. As far as I could tell, he did no harm to it. In fact, we only know of him actually touching it one time. When my wife did not make her way to his food bowl fast enough, Rudy rang one of the bells hanging on the low branches to get her attention. As for the dog, Zeus, he pretty much just made a habit of sniffing the tree, and facing the repercussions for these actions from my wife.
As for me, I was a little concerned Rudy would be heartbroken when we took the tree down for the year.
Before we could get the chance to explore the consequences of tree removal, Zeus violated the tree with a healthy stream of urine (no BPH for him). Obviously, my wife was more than a little displeased; more interestingly though, the cat decided to ambush the infidel jackal of a Boston Terrier for the performance of his dirty deed. The cat came out swinging combinations like Leon Sphinx, and chased the dog into hiding. Actually, it was the roar of my wife that sent the dog into hiding, but let us not deflate the cat’s ego. Even so, Zeus is lucky Rudy was missing his front claws when we got him.
I’m still debating if setting up a tree is worth the hassle next year, but I do know it’s worth the entertainment.
posted by TGB at
6:36 AM
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