Love Is Love

"You enter into a certain amount of madness when you marry a person with pets." -Nora Ephron

As some of you know, I live on a ranch. I have seen this vision for myself since I was a little girl. How it came to be, as my longest time friend Dawn Morris says, "Is sort of a Highway to Heaven through Hollywood." And as my dear friend Stephanie Loyd says, "a blessing will chase you down."

Even though I have always lived in big cities, I have raised many animals, even in Manhattan, where we had 3 dogs and 5 cats in an apartment. My dream of living on a ranch may have had to wait until later in my life when I met my husband Todd, but I’m glad it waited until I was ready for it.

God’s timing is impeccable.

Now that I live on a ranch, animals who need help seem to find me. I found my goose Buddy Boo as a hatchling on the side of the road, and he has grown up to be a magnificent bird with a family of his own and who has never left us.

Four weeks ago, one of my chickens was attacked by a pair of dogs and nearly died if not for the wonderful surgeon who put her back together with  stainless surgical steel rods, screws and stitches. She is now my bionic chicken, and has crossed over four states in a motorhome with us this Summer, and next we will go on my tour, me and my little chick-a-dee. Her favorite place is in my arms and truth be told, she is quite a good kisser.

Unfortunately, airlines will not allow my chick and me to fly, so I now will drive across the country so she can be with me. She makes me feel happy, she and I have become attached to each other.

I know she can never go back to the chicken coop, she is too much like a person, but that’s okay because I am committed to her for her life, and she is an easy pet. I never knew chickens were so smart or affectionate. They are easier than a cat or dog as far as feeding (they eat what we do) and as a bonus, you get a fresh egg every day. Now if I could just teach her to cook it, I’d really be set.

And what is it that makes me so happy? Why, it’s simple.

Love.

She loves me, and I love her.

Love is love. It doesn’t matter if it’s a man, woman, child, or chicken. When we commit ourselves to love, the world becomes a magical place. The lens through which we look at life is more gentle and beautiful.

Whether we fall in love with another being or ourselves, love is everything.

So if you’re lonely, get a chicken.

Have a Happy Fourth, and remember, I love you!

Cat… and Chicken,
XOX