Author: L.J. LaBree

I’ve owned cats my entire life.

In fact, I couldn’t even tell you a single memory without either having a cat there, or knowing I have a cranky fur-ball waiting for me at home with my parents.

But one thing I absolutely hate doing: brushing them.

Of course, it’s absolutely necessary for a cat to be brushed! Not only does it help decline their hair balls (which by the way are so gross!) but it also helps to stimulate the oils in their fur, this leaving a shiny coat!

And yet, brushing a cat is often one of the most grueling tasks I’ve ever had to do.

Imagine me with several different types of brushes in my hands, chasing a wide-eyed cat who wants absolutely NOTHING to do with getting their fur torn out of their follicles. Or worse, having a matted wad of hair yanked out with thin steel claws that scratch and scrape your already sensitive skin? Ouch!

Plus, it’s bad enough to have more than three brushes, each with only one specialty – and it can’t even do that well?!

Well, that was reality until I found the Hands On brush gloves!

They’re similar to the type of rubber gloves you find in the pet stores, only so, so, sooooo much better!

Not only is each finger separate and more form fitting to your hands, but the rubber grips are much more durable and magnet-like! Instead of having to go find the broom and sweep up the stray hairs flying in the air, (which was a lot!) most of the hairs actually stick to the gloves!

On top of that, instead of having only minimal results, I have to clean the gloves at least twice within the first five minutes! And it doesn’t take time to clean them, either! All I need is one good shake of the wrists, and the hair falls right off! Talk about easy!

I highly recommend these gloves to anyone who has an animal that sheds fur like snow in a snow storm! These gloves are definitely worth their price!

Family is one of the most important things to have in life, in my opinion.

They don’t even have to be related to you by blood; the only emotions required to bind and bring them all together is love, respect, and faith in one another.

That’s why this year… Instead of “going home for the holidays”, I’ve decided to stay away.

Hospital Reports have shown Covid cases are spiking. Again. And this time around, I believe it’s going to hit even harder.

Unfortunately, because cases have both risen in Maine and Massachusetts, both states have elected to take the other off their Exemption List. In other words, if I were to travel between the two states, I have to have a form filled out, a Covid test taken, or quarantine for 14 days in each state.

Yes, I could jump through those hoops and get everything done. It would certainly allow me to go see my parents (not to mention the kitties!)

But with the ever-growing possibility that I might be exposed, I’m not willing to take that risk. I love my family beyond logic. I want them to stay healthy during this crap.

So, I’m going to do what’s right (and smart!) by them: I’m going to stay home and share my own version of Thanksgiving Dinner with them over Zoom.

Of course it won’t be the same as all the other Thanksgivings in the past. But then again, this year hasn’t been the same as all the other years either. As the old adage goes, “Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

If staying away from my family is what it takes to spend future holidays with them in person, then dammit, I’m gonna take it!

I pray you all stay safe this holiday season. We’re gonna need it!

When I was little, my nana used to say, “animals are just people in little fur coats.”

Back then, that phrase made so much sense to me. It still does to this very day.

So much so, that I used to say it all the time at school. Which, unsurprisingly, was one of the reasons why I was bullied.

I saw cats, dogs, birds, even little fish, as intelligent voiceless people, not as stupid animals as others so often viewed them. It’s why I always try to take care of them. Even if the deed is as simple as filling up the bird feeders. If I can make their lives better, I’ll try whatever I can.

This brings me to the real reason why I’m writing this blog post.

This past weekend, as I was driving home to my parents home in Maine, I saw a little kitten on the side of the highway.

He was a beautiful little boy – not much older than 6 months. It was the pure white around his neck and hind legs that first caught my attention, but as I drove closer, I could see the striking tabby markings on his back and face. I could immediately tell he was scared – of course, I’d be terrified too if I were sitting in the middle of the grassy median in the middle of I295. It is no place for a kitten at all.

It was obvious he was dumped there.

Not being able to stop and pull over safely, I raced for the Gardiner exit, jumped on the I295 Southbound, and quickly made my way back up the Northbound, this time in the passing lane so I could pull over closer and not risk crossing the highway.

But I was too late.

From what I surmise, someone else saw him and got to him before I did.

Instead of stopping to grab him and take him to safety, this asshole (for lack of a more dignified term) decided it was best to just run the little kitten over.

When I got to the baby, his entire head was flatter than a pancake.

It was an instant death by Mercy’s hands.

Surprisingly, I didn’t cry when I got to the tiny body. Nor did I cry when I picked him up, gingerly placed him in a bag, and drove him to my parents house.

I did, however, cry when I called my dad and asked him to start digging a small hole in our pet cemetery.

When I arrived home, It was all I could do not to drop to my knees and sob my heart out. Not even questioning, my dad took the bag with the kitten’s body, placed him in a smaller, and better, box, and buried him next to our Mister.

Personally, I want to find the people who dumped him in such a dangerous place, as well as the person who ran him over, and show them just how painful their actions were. I want to curse their lives and make every action they take to be as painful and miserable as can be. Not only did they hurt a poor defenseless animal, they also took away countless memories of a little boy living in bliss, surrounded by family who love him dearly.

But for now, I will take solace in the fact I brought this baby boy to a home, where even in spirit, he will be loved and taken care of. His soul is surrounded by the other cats and dog we have had in our past. And I know at least some of them are with him, keeping an eye on him and letting him know how much he is loved.

I pray I am able to get to the next little boy or girl before another jack-ass tries to partake in another act of cruelty.

When you visit the grand ol’ state of Maine (also known affectionately as Vacationland), one activity you must try is four-wheeling.

There isn’t anything quite like it: The wind whipping your sweatshirt as you zip down the narrow dirt trail, dust flying behind you like a cloak billowing, and watching in quick-glanced awe at the sun-dappled nature surrounding you, wishing desperately how you wish you had brought your big camera.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to partake in all of this with my family.

Now, I will be the first to tell you – I am not the most experienced in riding solo, especially when it’s on a 400 lb machine that’s fully capable of throwing you off into a nearby ditch for hitting a shallow bump in the road wrong.

For the record, that hasn’t happened… yet. (God willing…)

Still, I do enjoy having the ability to drive said machine through the wilds of Maine. Funny as it is, when I’m on the four-wheeler, my worry settles into the “back seat”, as it were. Once I feel that mechanical beast growl to life, a calm sweeps through me, adding life to the small fire deep within my soul.

If I were asked to describe the feeling in one word, I would have to choose… elation. It’s the feeling of something deeeeeep inside, almost snuffed out by the gloom and despairs of the current world turmoils, and as you drive through canopies of dense woodland, seeing small patches of sun filter through as if you were literarily driving through a fantasy novel, you feel that small something rise and grow, ballooning into something brighter, stronger, happier. And the farther you are driving, the more this thing grows, until there’s very little gloom and despair left inside you to drag you down.

Of course, I managed to find one mud puddle, and yes, I did ramp up my speed just to create a giant brown wave to crash upon me and splatter everything possible. A wheeling ride through the woods just wouldn’t be complete without any mud!

Would this be a good trip for everyone? Probably not. I can imagine a few people who wouldn’t dare step within 10 feet of a forest of any size, let alone an entire wilderness. And I definitely cannot imagine someone wanting to get dusty and muddy on a ride.

But, if there is some part of you that is willing to try the experience, I highly encourage you to do so.

That being said, if it’s your first time being on the ATV trails, I suggest being a ride-along on a two-person machine with someone who is more experienced.

Plus, you’ll get to take more pictures.

Just be sure to bring lots of bug dope!