Hang on, Kirby. Hang on.

What brought him to this? So few options when clinging to a ledge. See life going down the drain. Go ahead. Leap that 30 feet to the ground. Be done with it. Toss fate to the winds amid the rush hour traffic.

Some sneering bystander was sure to yell: “Hey, make like a cat! Land on your feet. Nine lives, dude. Nine lives. Jump. Jump.”

The noise. Not just in his head. All around.

He sunk into the recess’ shadow.

Maybe getting out of the sun’s glare – the scorching heat – maybe that would let him think.

All of a sudden, there were arms and faces. Voices. Getting frighteningly close.

He pressed back. Too much confusion.  

Swung at them – to grab rescue or swat them away.

It no longer mattered which.

Decision had been made. Not by him. The police.

There. He moved. You can catch a glimpse him out on the ledge. (khou)

How did it get to this point?

Pitched or toddled out the window of a passing vehicle?

Bad choice during a game of hide and seek with potential dinner?

Unable to take selfies, so attempting a portrait by cop?

They didn’t know, but they did know he wasn’t going to end up as road kill.

Harness with webbing and determination, they tackled, cuddled, and crated the small, terrified, sometimes uncooperative tabby kitten hanging on the ledge of the 610/Kirby overpass during peak afternoon traffic. Later after reaching the safety of the Houston SPCA, the four-month old cat, now called Kirby, purred his thanks to HPD Officer Howze, the Animal Cruelty Investigator, and the Injured Animal Technicians of the Houston SPCA.

If you arrived at this post seeking info concerning Kirby Dr. road construction, you understand the crushing capacity of Houston’s traffic.

Nightmare is an understatement at times – like if you have a doctor’s appointment or tickets to the game.

Attempting to manuever the Rice Village shopping/entertainment area along Kirby Drive? Good luck with that…Fill up the tank and pack a lunch.

Traffic’s frantic frenzy often brings out the worst in people: aggressive driving or road rage.

How about a video as a tutorial for Houston freeway survival skills?

The Honda Civic driver does get a tad annoyed at that white car in front…But who wouldn’t? It’s driving erratically and is all over the road.

Then once he gets around that, then there’s the black Nissan GTR equally irritating him. Take that!

Seriously, though, suggesting being cautious about the hand gestures around here these days…

Never underestimate the little guys: cars or cats. 

Both may the guts to hang on, finish as the winner, and possibly kick you to the curb in the process.

Steering with care,

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.

This is the post that was supposed to be published Monday, but ankle gash by disorderly beer bottle while checking supplies in anticipation of Tropical Depression/storm Bill ended up grabbing the stage.

So just consider this Wednesday’s post as it’s very likely we will lose power from wind/fallen trees (The ground is so soggy from Memorial Day’s floods, trees may find roots are grabbing onto mush.) Lots of rain expected from now until maybe even Thurs.

The storm looks like it will head into Matagorda Bay area, TX on Tues and then picked up and tossed north on Wed by some weather coming across from Mexico and circling around big high pressure that is currently over Alabama and Georgia that is headed east.

What? More than you ever wanted to know about tropical weather and the gulf coast?

OK. How about watching a video of Kirby’s rescue? 

That ought to be worth a smile.

Scary, but worth it. The next thing on his To Do List is a Forever Home…and to stay out of traffic (Houston SPCA FB)

 

 

 

 

 

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