The Trigger
by carolynholm
Dear Elsa,
The vet’s office sent me a text reminding me that it is time for you and Charlie to come in for your annual visit.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Mum,
What did you tell them?
Love, Elsa
Dear Elsa,
I made an appointment for Charlie, and told them I’d see what I can do about you. We’ve already cancelled two appointments because I couldn’t pick you up to put you in a carrier.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Mum,
We’re not going there.
Love, Elsa
Dear Elsa,
Honey, what are we going to do with you?
Love, Carolyn
Dear Mum,
Not going to happen.
Love, Elsa
Dear Elsa,
We went there last year.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Mum,
I was a baby KITTEN then. I’m an adult now, and NO ONE is allowed to pick me up.
Love, Elsa
Dear Elsa,
I understand. It’s not a choice, it’s a feral trigger. You won’t even let me pick you up for a loving cuddle! I can’t carry you into the room where I take your pictures. I’m not even allowed to reach out to you with both hands.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Mum,
Two hands means picking up.
Love, Elsa
Dear Elsa,
I get that. But it’s sad. Because you are such a love bug! You even let me rub your belly. Most cats I’ve lived with considered the belly to be off limits. You are so trusting, there’s not a spot on your body that I’m not allowed to touch. It’s all very frustrating, because you are so hungry for affection.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Mom,
I’m not doing this on purpose!
Love, Elsa
Dear Elsa,
I get it. So, I told the vet that you are triggered from your feral babyhood, and that I’d need a tranquilizer dart to be able to pick you up, let alone get you into a carrier. And then she suggested that I leave the carrier out all the time so that you can get used to it. That just made me laugh.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Mom,
The carrier has been sitting right here for months.
Love, Elsa
Dear Elsa,
She was trying to be helpful, but I told her the carrier isn’t the problem. The trigger is the problem. She was very sympathetic, but said she can’t prescribe gabapentin without weighing you first. But that if you were to have a health issue, she knows a vet who makes house calls.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Mom,
You mean a stranger would come into our house?!!!
Love, Elsa
Dear Elsa,
Good point. That would mean having to somehow extricate you out from under the bed.
Love, Carolyn
Dear Mom,
I’m in charge of my life.
Love, Elsa
Dear Elsa,
Ouf. I respect that attitude, but you sure make things difficult.
Love, Carolyn
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