Scary Cat People

Monday, May 25, 2009.....

On Saturday we went to an Open House/House Warming party for a couple we know. B & D purchased their home late in 2008 and spent several months renovating the place. Hubby & I like B & D and were curious about the finished outcome.

We met B & D through a close friend, but I really don't know much about their friends. I know they are passionate about politics and D had run for local office in their town.

We got there late in the afternoon and I understood that swarms of people had come and gone, but unfortunately one couple was just arriving.

The 'Crazy Cat People' misunderstood the definition of Open House and confused it with London's Speaker Corner. Their mission to have everyone race down to Yonkers Pet Smart and adopt a stray cat or dog (I got the feeling they weren't too keen on dog people).

As a group of us were sitting and chatting in B & D's family room, B gathered everyone else into the room. B asked if we wouldn't mind listening to Mrs. Crazy Cat Lady (MCCL) for a MOMENT and we said sure.

MCCL & her husband (whom we thought was her son) took the floor. She went around in a circle and asked every person if they had a child. If you said no, then the next question of 'do you have a pet?' was asked. It was as though you were excused not to have a pet if you had a child. I have to tell you, I haven't felt this much pressure since my first marriage when bombarded with the question of 'when are you planning on having kids?'.

Of course everyone in the room had responded they had a kid, cat or both.

Except me.

When I responded I had neither, MCCL just stared at me. I quickly responded my cat, Static, passed away after 18 years and my husband and I were looking into getting a Beagle (I want a rescue, short-legged puppy and know my order is tall). I believe I barely redeemed myself because we showed promise. I think we were her perfect target audience because we were looking for a pet.

Don't get me wrong, I know everyone is passionate about something and if I choose to go hear you speak about it, well, I know what is going to happen. However, I HATE when people shove their beliefs down your throat when it is not appropriate. Her mission to inform us about the Pet Smart adoption in Yonkers went on far too long.

We heard about the animals they are bringing up from the South, we heard how she gives to WWF and any organization that protects the big cat and forced us to take directions to the Yonker's Pet Smart location. MCCL was scary and didn't know when to shut up.

When new people arrived, she got their names from the host and stalked them down.

We left the Open House knowing we weren't racing to Yonkers today, but asking each other the only real question: Do you really think she's his wife? We both thought she was old enough to be his mother.