I woke up yesterday and texted a few people to wish them Happy Valentine’s Day.  I got one response, an emoticon smiley.  My friends are largely heartless.  Then I logged onto my blog and found several Valentine’s greetings there.  My readers make up for so much of what goes on here in the sticks. Jan left me a bag of candy and a Valentine’s Card which was also very sweet.  More Valentine’s gifts from parents… It seems to be a reoccurring theme in my life.

I spent the day just hanging around the house alone. Stephanie, Jan’s daughter, went to town to hang out with some friends so I sat around writing and playing Ruzzle on my phone.  As it neared dinner time I decided I better cook something for Stephanie and I.  I made a pan of cheese enchiladas and turned on the television for background noise.

A while later Stephanie came back to the house.  I told her about the enchiladas and she went to make herself a plate.  After a few minutes of lingering the doorway of the kitchen chatting with me she stepped into the kitchen and let out a little yelp.  “What?” I asked rising to go into the kitchen.  As I entered the kitchen she pointed to a dead mouse lying on the floor near the refrigerator.  Steph was leaning against the kitchen counter trying to put as much distance between herself and the dead rodent as possible, about three feet.

As I scanned the kitchen I realized there were blood and mouse guts everywhere.  My stomach began to churn as took in the carnage. My cat, Buddha had torn into that little mouse like a mafia hit man trying to send a message.

Steph swept the mouse onto a dust pan while I cleaned the crime scene. While I was doing so it occurred to me that my sweet kitty, Buddha, apparently felt she needed to get me a gift for Valentine’s Day. It may have been the grossest gift I ever got but at least I got a present.