Hopes and Wishes Large and Small

by Mewsette

I had lots of hopes and few wishes when I was young, but now it's the other way around.

In long ago days, I spent my days doing anything I wanted to. And now? Hmmmm. Well, actually, I spend them doing anything I want to. In days to come, I would only wish to be safe and happy, well cared for and loved. And now? Hmmmm. Well. honestly, I am safe and happy, well cared for and loved.

Okay, it seems that my wishes are taken care of already. So I'll think about my few hopes.

Hope seems to turn outward more than wishes do. I hope my human family has as safe a world to live in as I do personally, in years to come when I'm not here. I don't know how they'll manage that when, for one thing, they are nowhere near as wise as cats are; and for another, a lot of them spend their time hating and threatening all the rest. Not very admirable, are they? Peace for the world is a very nice hope I have, too. But realistically, nothing comes to the world unless everybody wants it. So I'll turn my hope to my own species. Aaah, that feels better.

In the year 2003, we cats still have a great division. Some of us are more loved and pampered than cats ever were. And some of us live in as much danger and hopelessness as cats ever did. But my hopes go to all of us.

I hope to see laws passed, not only against abuse, but against the wholesale slaughter of homeless cats; laws like they have in Europe. Yes, that's a tough one all right. I hope to see honest and well publicized research done into the causes of the human-type diseases we cats have an epidemic of, so a beginning can be made to wipe them out. Yes, that's a tough one, too.

And those are enough to wear me out. Except, oh, except, I still hope to get another sardine someday. Hope really must spring eternal!