I saw...

I woke up one afternoon almost 2 years ago and saw 2 eyes looking at me. 2 eyes not believing what they were looking at. 2 eyes that were convinced the man at the front of the room was asleep when he was trying to suggest he was awake. 2 eyes filled with judgment and wonder at the same time. 2 eyes that never seem to care for sunlight.

I sat by a window sill one day about a year ago and saw a baby kitten. Not sure how she got here and not sure if she wanted to be here. So many interesting toys and people in this house though. Maybe she could get used to this. She'll have to get familiar with the territory. Cute little baby kitten is scared of her own reflection, pawing away at her image. Watching herself in the mirror she tries to jump up the first stair in this big building but doesn't make it: Sore paw, going to have to sharpen those claws. She watches herself as she jumps again and again. Always just short. Ick, her fur is all tangled in a rut, better to keep it straight. How did that big nasty dog make the jump, she wonders? So I told her, 'Stop looking side-to-side while you're jumping, there'll be enough time to watch yourself when you're up there. If it's too high up you can come down later. But I think you'll like it up here.' She faced forward and jumped.

A couple weeks ago I saw a lion. Perched in her attack stance, with proud long fur and claws made for killing, she stands ready to capture any live pray that crosses her path. Roaring at other lions more senior than her in her own pride, giggling with unsuspecting hyenas over the phone who don't even know that she will be stealing their lunch. Guiding new baby kittens to find their direction and face it. Her eyes are always facing forward now with a ferocity that even scares a big dog such as myself. Eyes that turn hard when an old dog needs to be seen through but soft when an old dog just needs to be seen. The same eyes as before, still filled with judgment, a ton of knowledge, with just a little room to spare for wonder now.

I see 2 eyes that never seem to care for sunlight, because they already belong to a star.

Feliz Cumpleaños, Vata