So every one say hello to Rosie (feline edition):
Apparently the god heard me last night saying I was lucky and could handle a disaster tomorrow and it took about 12 hours for the cat distribution system to set into motion. This morning my sister Devon texted me about her best friend from growing up whom we have both known since we were born, and her friend has a long, long history with mental illness and substance abuse. She currently was going through a psychotic break of some sort, had lost her job, and was homeless living in a patch of woods behind a Lowes about four hours from me in Frederick, Maryland, with a cat. Her friend needed help and wouldn’t go because she had nothing to do with the cat, her father is dead, her mother and one sister have basically written her off, and Devon couldn’t go because she is currently in Salt Lake City on a business trip.
I groaned, took off my workout clothes (I was heading to the pool), gassed up the car and set off for lovely Frederick, Md. Got there, finally found her in the woods, collected up the cat and got it in the car, and then spent 90 minutes listening to her friend sobbing and fighting me (she wanted to come back to Bethany with me and that was NOT happening- she needs professional help), and finally I got her in the car and dropped her off at the hospital after reaching out to the mental health professionals in the area. She refused to go in, so I told her that Devon and I are done with her until she gets help. If she does that, we will be glad to do anything she needs. But for now this is above our pay grade and expertise. I finally just left. My sister informed me that her friend texted her about 20 minutes after I left and said she went into the hospital and checked in. So that is good. And I will keep my word and so will Devon, and we’ll help her pick up the pieces once she has been diagnosed, dried out, and is back on meds and can function again.
Rosie is a very, very sweet cat. At some point in the ride she figured out how to get out of the cat carrier, and climbed up into the front seat with me and sat on my lap for two hours. While I was driving home I called Gerald and he sent Breyana over to cat proof one of the spare bedrooms, put down litter and a food and water bowl, so when I got back I just had to whisk her upstairs. She got a little hissy when she saw Maxwell, who was very interested in her, and Steve looked at her and did a “whatever” and went back to being the chillest cat who ever fucking lived.
I know absolutely nothing about this cat other than that when her friend was more stable a few months ago, the cat was kept in a kennel, so I am reasonably sure it does not have feline leukemia. Regardless, Rosie is currently sequestered in the room, and will stay there until I can get her to the vet and do bloodwork, stool samples, get her chipped, all her shots, and all that stuff in order. Then I will worry about integrating her and trying to find her a forever home and paying off the vet. It’s always something, isn’t it.
At any rate, I feel good the cat is safe, she is in the hospital, and nothing terrible happened to anyone or anything. I was very good friends with her father, who was a gentle, decent man and a political science teacher at a local university for 40 years, but he has since passed. I feel like he would have done the same thing for one of my sisters, so what comes around goes around, right?
On the way down I had a ton of time so decided it was time for me to finally give a listen to Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan because my “ignore it and maybe it will go away” gambit did not work and it looks like they are going to be a cultural force for some time, so I better figure out what the kids see in them. I listened to Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess and Sabrina Carpenter’s Emails I Can’t Send and Short and Sweet.
I regret to inform you, dear reader, that I enjoyed them. It’s obviously not designed for me, but they were easy listens and had great lyrics and many of them had really catchy beats. What really caught my eye and, as I noted on twitter, what kinda pissed me off, is that these ladies and Taylor Swift have basically written how to manuals for guys to meet and keep a girl. If you listen to the lyrics, they literally did everything but sit boys down and teach them to sew green flags. When I was kid all the girls I was interested in where listening to was the Cure or the Smiths and let me tell you that was no fucking help to me whatsoever. I mean Hot to Go is pretty self explanatory and a polite way of saying DTF, Dumb and Poetic is telling you not to be a fucking poser and pretend to be something you are not, be real, Please Please Please is telling you “look all my friends think you’re bad news and I am already making excuses for you don’t fuck this up and hurt me and make me look like an asshole,” Lie to Girls is telling you that look I have already lowered my standards to be with you cut the fucking lying and bullshit out and show some respect I’m not fucking stupid.” And on and on and that’s just off the top of my head from one listen.
Beyond that, I can see why they are so popular.
I am pooped. I will talk to you all tomorrow.
War for Ukraine Day 917: Kharkiv Remains Under the Russian Guns
Avalie
Absolutely beautiful cat and you are absolutely lovely for taking her in and making sure all are taken care of.
WaterGirl
Rosie is a beautiful girl! How old is she?
John Cole
@WaterGirl: No idea.
Auntie Anne
Please don’t hesitate to pass the hat for the little girl. We’d be happy to help you get her taken care of. And you’re a good man, Mr. Cole.
SpaceUnit
I hope your sister’s friend gets the help she needs. It’s awful seeing someone we care about falling into a spiral.
twbrandt
You are a good man, John Cole.
mrmoshpotato
I hope Devon’s friend gets the help she needs and is able to get back on track.
KrackenJack
A mensch as always, JC. Glad it went as well as could be hoped. Let us know if we can chip in for the necessaries.
jackmac
Good on you for leaping into action to help your sister’s friend. I hope she gets the help she needs.
Also, that’s an adorable cat.
lamh47
You’re a good egg John Cole…but you won’t make me listen to no new pop artists…I’ll stick to my ole skool!
lalalalalalalalal…LOL
eclare
I hope your friend gets the help that she needs. Thank you for stepping up for her and her cat. I’m sure the kitty thanks you, too.
SiubhanDuinne
I would be glad to contribute to Rosie’s veterinary expenses. And — can’t speak for other jackals, of course — I doubt I’m the only one.
Gonna assume “Rosie” was already her name.
ETA: That’s a very pretty cat. I love her colouring. And meant to say above, I do hope your friend gets the help she needs. You and Devon are good people.
May
You are always again and again a good man. Thank you. That music is good too. You got this.
Suzanne,
Rosie is lovely. That was a very kind thing you did.
Sfinny
You did a wonderful thing. I almost had an emergency guest cat recently, and thinking about the logistics with my 2 cats was an exercise. But then again, I managed a guest rat for a week earlier this year, so maybe it would have been OK. Best of luck.
TS
You are truly an amazing person JC – too many people obviously know who to call in any emergency. And the kitty is lovely too.
Sister Golden Bear
Rosie is adorable, and you’re approaching Tim Walz levels of being a Good Man(tm). I’m sure it’ll help Devon’s best friend’s recovery knowing that Rosie is in such good hands.
Another Scott
Thanks for the story and for doing well for Devon’s friend and Rosie.
Best of luck to them, and to you.
Let us know if we can help.
Best wishes to everyone,
Scott.
Andrya
Please don’t hesitate to pass the hat. BJ animal rescue is a group project.
columbusqueen
You are a good man, John.
Sister Golden Bear
As an aside, I think conservative white cis het men find Tim Walz so threatening is he’s showing that it’s not hard to be a mensch.
Also too, I’m happy to contribute if we’re gonna pass the hat around.
BruceFromOhio
Chappelle Roan is the real deal.
Dropping some shekels in the tip jar, hth
banditqueen
Hmmm, John reminds me of a great vice president candidate we’ve come to love because he’s a good man! I hope your friend starts feeling better about herself–so glad there was room for her at the hospital–and that she has support when she gets out. And that Rosie…
hueyplong
@Sister Golden Bear: Cole seems to be showing it too.
Grover Gardner
What a day!!!
TaMara
I’m all in on Olivia Rodrigo right now. I’ll look into those two eventually.
Agree on passing the hat, that’s what we are here for.. she’s a lovely calico (from what I can see).
Gloria DryGarden
Beautiful cat.
how incredible of you to spend 10 hours today to drive so far, listen to a bunch of distressed sobbing, set firm boundaries, and rescue both a human and a cat. All in all, a hard day’ work, and a huge massive act of kindness. Hope the cat and your sister’s friend land where they can get their needs met and can thrive.
what if you fall in love with this cat yourself?
John Cole
@TaMara: I’ll always take donations but I really have no idea how much this will cost if anything.
TaMara
I know now is not the time, but in my experience, most boy cats need a nice, strong female cat to boss them around. Once you know she’s healthy and able to integrate.
West of the Rockies
Roan and Carpenter are both quite talented!
And you are a very good man, JC.
Eric S.
You are a good and honorable man, JC.
Sheldon Vogt
You’re a mensch, John. Love you, man.
Trivia Man
“I’ll always take donations” and you know for damn sure he will use it wisely. On this cat or any of the other noble causes he is into. See, we do have role models.
SpaceUnit
Apropos of nothing, here’s Kamala and Tim being very cool and relatable and friendly and likable and totally not weird in a Savannah, GA BBQ shop for nearly eight minutes. They’re so gonna win.
Harris and Walz in a BBQ Shop
Jackie
John, it’s lucky for you that I’m old enough to be your mom. Otherwise I’d give Joelle a run for her money!
You’re a special human being.
Gvg
Emotional support animal. You sisters friend was I think “self medicating”. She may want to hear how the cat is doing. It’s sad for her. Take lots of pictures. You did good.
Above our pay grade is the way most of us feel about mental illness. Totally helpless, nothing we know helps and we are afraid of making things worse.
Binky
If you haven’t checked out Sierra Ferrell from Charleston WV you definitely should. Different vibe, more like a hillbilly x Gogol bordello x Regina Spektor.
EarthWindFire
If the hat gets passed for Rosie, count me in! She’s a beauty.
You and Devon are good folk who are in for the long haul. That’s rare.
Kayla Rudbek
You’re a much better person than I am, John Cole. I hope that Devon’s friend recovers thoroughly.
Kristine
What Everyone Else Said. You’re a good man, Cole, and I am in for donations.
kindness
New foster cat! Good man John.
middlelee
I’m in for helping with the vet bills.
Here in California, what you are doing at the vet would be close to $500. Or more.
You are such a good man, John Cole.
H.E.Wolf
What everybody said. :)
Dan B
Rosie has that look of, “I guess I can trust you.” Or maybe, “You do good lap.” She looks very young to me maybe a year or two old at most.
Nelle
She looks so much like our car, Tony, who lived to the age of 21, that I’m thinking it’s reincatation .
Villago Delenda Est
Rosie is simply darling. A worthy successor to her canine predecessor of blessed memory. Hi there, Rosie!
cain
@columbusqueen:
Good doesn’t adequately describe John. I know that he will demure. But I’ve been on this blog for 2 decades. I’m here because of him, his sense of empathy, his fairness, his sense of equity. That comes from the “conservative” side of him, so to speak. But he’s just an empathetic human, as is his sister and his family.
Abandoned by her family, but not by Cole’s sister and by extension, John himself.
I’m glad she forced herself to go to the hospital. Living in the woods, by herself, and now without her support animal.
She needs help. I hope she gets it.
Rosie was the name of the first cat I was ever attached to. Rosy was this ferocious female cat in Bombay. Family had 3 generations of cats. She was the last. But for 19 years, she was the fixture of my life when I went there and why I have 4 cats now. :D
cain
@Jackie:
Joelle is gonna fight you, girl. :) She knows, and she wants that line of cocktails :D
I always felt it was a fucking tragedy that John hasn’t had a meaningful relationship in a long while. HIs deep sense of empathy and fairness should be enough to attract any woman. It has to be the right woman, of course and Joelle is it.
CaseyL
My good lord, John, is there some way we can clone you? You are a mensch of high degree. We need many more men like you and Tim Walz.
I’m very happy to see a mention of Steve. There had been no mention of him – but lots about Maxwell – I was afraid something had happened to him. I like TaMara’s idea that boy cats need a girl cat to keep them in line, but it’s probably best to have no plans or expectations at this point.
Hope all goes well with Rosie at the vet!
anitamargarita
Good job on the cat rescue and the human intervention. Holding good thoughts for all
Yutsano
@TaMara: So we are taking bets on whether he keeps Rosie?
Also: hi! I’m alive!
Joey Maloney
Hi Rosie!
John, you’re a mensch for doing all of that.
Westyny
I’ve said it before, and on this thread I’m just chiming in: you’re a good man, Cole. Wish you were our neighbor. Happy to pitch in if a link is put up.
tam1MI
You drove all that way in the nude? ;)
Seriously, good on you for helping a fellow human and a kitty in need. The world needs more people like you!
sab
@lamh47: “Good egg” was my late mother’s ultimate compliment.
Rose Weiss
I agree with CaseyL – we need to clone you, JC. I’ve been reading this blog since you were a Republican, and a lot of the reason has been because of the pure-hearted person you are.
KrackenJack
@Yutsano: Glad to that!
kbid
Thanks for just being the fallible and effective human you are John Cole. Always an inspiration. Reading your diaries have helped keep me sober (most of the time) and focused. Every day is better.
ceece
this cat looks just like my rosie, down to the bicolor face and white paws. Wish I knew how to post a photo to prove it! Hope this girl is just as cuddly and sweet as mine!
you’re a good ‘un John.
Msb
God bless you, John.
Rosie is gorgeous.
Antonius
You are a saint walking the earth, John.
May a thousand blessings attend your every step.
Booger
@Binky: “Dollar Bill Bar” blew me away. Her voice, the lyrics, the musicianship…wow. And I generally detest anything country or country-adjacent, but damn. I’m a convert.
Obligatory plug for WNRN, where I heard Dollar Bill Bar and all the other new/old/great music I’ve learned about since March.
JeanneT
Love you, John Cole. I wish I were more like you!
David_C
Good for you, John! Glad you could come to my adopted (for 27 years) home town. Come back any time.
TerryC
I love you!
Manyakitty
Beautiful. You might have saved 2 lives yesterday.
terraformer
You are a good man, John.
BellaPea
Good on ya, John, for picking up that precious little kitty. My sweet Callie has similar coloring and she is quite the feisty cat! Hope it all works out in the long run for everyone.
Paul in KY
@BruceFromOhio: I saw her & band at Hangout back in May. She played on main stage at around 4 or 5 PM. She was wearing some kind of Mad Max football attire. Most of band also had some kind of costumes on. Her set was fine. Saw some meh acts that day, but she wasn’t one of them. Hope to catch her again somewhere.
Paul in KY
@Binky: That’s quite a combination!
JustRuss
I also haz a Rosie kittie. Welcome to the club, she’s adurrable.
rikyrah
I am just seeing this post today.
John Cole….you are good people.
You prove that..over and over.
Gloria DryGarden
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OO6QUgGMp2A&pp=ygUOc2llcnJhIGZlcnJlbGw%3D
i found this npr tiny desk concert w sierra Ferrell, includes her dollar bill bar song. Wow, great lyrics, nice instrumental stuff., 4 songs, 18 minutes. Thanks for the recommendation y’all