Being Alone By Choice

WHEN A STRAY CAT walks into one's back or front yard, and lingers, seeking to adopt a human being as a pet and provider, nothing has taken place which anyone might really find of interest. Except for the fact that surveys indicate that at least ten percent of the american people prefer dogs and cats to other humans. Most folks I talk to seem to think that the percentage of cat n dog preferers is actually much greater.

I love my new kitten, and she loves me. I love my country and my countrymen; almost as much as I love my new kitten.

About thirty years ago I befriended a man my age who had newly arrived in the states from shanghai china. After several weeks in america, he started catching on. He made the remark "you americans are the loneliest people in the world. You care more about your dogs and cats than you do each other."

To which I replied: "you got that right. You catch on fast, for a chimaman". Of course he was quite right. It doesn't require much observation to see firsthand that we americans care more about our pets than we do each other. One of my fellow americans said to me "hell yes we prefer our pets. Look how many american people are complete shitheads".

Its not that we americans don't like each other. Its just that our liking  has limitations, and we all need and prefer our space. We tend to live alone, or nearly alone, we tint our windshields, stick music in our ears, and avoid community activities.

Bowling leagues, parent teacher organizatins, church activities, forget it. All declining in participation. Cable television and electronic devices are much preferrable. The average american has one friend fewer than the average american a generation ago, harvard survey says.

So when a cute female kitten walked onto my front porch, stayed, and kidnapped me, I protested not. My fellow humans, though infinitely beautiful, are simply not quite as interested in me. They like me, but there's just too much going on in front of their big screen flat screen high def surround sound entertainment systems.

Thirty years ago a new friend from india confided to me: "if american television were available in india, nobody in my country would ever leave their house." Well, now, thirty years later, something like american televisin and cinema have indeed penetrated india, and millions of indians are swarming to acquire television sets.

Indians already regard rats as harmless creatures. Before you know it, our chinese and indian brothers and sisters will be sitting alone in small apartments, watching the kardashians, with cats on their laps. Just like the rest of us.