[I Was Naked]

HAPPY MOTHER"S DAY

Why My Lips Stay Chapped

Our 10-year-old cat, Jack, just recently died.  Jack was great with kids.  Our three carried him around and even sat on him, but nothing ever bothered him.  He used to hang out all day and nap on the mat in our bathroom.

When the kids were 4, 3, and 1 year old, our middle child, Eli, really loved Chapstick.  LOVED it! He kept asking to use my chapstick and then would lose it.  Finally, I showed him where I kept my Chapstick in the bathroom drawer.  I said he could use it whenever he liked, but was to put it back in the drawer when he was done.

That year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush-around to get ready for Church, with everyone crying and carrying on.  Eli and the oldest were fighting over the toy in the cereal box.  I was trying to nurse the little one and put on my make-up at the same time.  Everything was a mess and no one remembered that this was the special day to honor Mom.  

We got the oldest and the baby loaded in the car, then couldn't find Eli. I searched everywhere and finally rounded the corner to go into the bathroom.  There was Eli.  Applying my Chapstick very carefully to Jack the Cat's  . . . rear end.

Eli looked right into my eyes and said "chapped."  If you have a cat, you know Eli was right -- their rears do look pretty chapped.  And, Jack didn't seem to mind.  The only question at that point was whether it was the FIRST time Eli had done that or the HUNDREDTH.

That Mother's Day moment reminds us that no matter how hard you try to civilize those glorious little creatures, there may come a day you are shocked to learn you've been sharing your Chapstick with the cat.