We Were Jonathan Binged



For those who don’t know the poem read below:



Jonathan Bing

Beatrice Curtis Brown





Poor old Jonathan Bing

Went out in his carriage to visit the King,

But everyone pointed and said, "Look at that!

Jonathan Bing has forgotten his hat!"

(He'd forgotten his hat!)



Poor old Jonathan Bing

Went home and put on a new hat for the King,

But by the palace the soldier said, "Hi!

You can't see the King; you've forgotten your tie!"

(He'd forgotten his tie!)



Poor old Jonathan Bing,

He put on a beautiful tie for the King,

But when he arrived, and Archbishop said, "Ho!

You can't come to court in pajamas, you know!"



Poor old Jonathan Bing

Went home and addressed a short note to the King:

"If you please will excuse me, I won't come to tea;

For home's the best place for all people like me!"





Just like poor old Bing, husband and I went out on Saturday to a pet adoption fair. We came with our checkbook, pictures of our pets and a good attitude.



We left with a pretty bad attitude as we were told we weren’t fit pet parents!



First, it seemed to bother the animal do-gooders that we already had three animals. How could we adopt a cat if we had dogs. I let them know that our dogs came into our home when we had three cats. The dogs learned from puppyhood that cats are kings in our house and all five animals, three cats and two dogs, lived very happily together, even snuggling up to each other by the fire – a lump of furry purry bodies intermixed with two tail wagging pooches.

Would the cats be near little children? Little children didn't know how to handle cats. I assured them that any little children near my animals quickly learned how to respect and be gentle to our animal family. Miss Prim Pet-Protector looked doubtful.



Then they had numerous questions about our current cat. Was he friendly to other cats? I replied yes, he loves the cats across the street, two females, and spends most of the day hanging out with them.



That response appalled the you-can’t-adopt-my-cats woman. You let your cat outside?



Yes, he loves the outside.

You let him outside without a harness and leash? Terrible!



She let me know then that she would never allow me to adopt one of her cats as they had to be inside cats.



I told her that as kittens, they always started out as indoor cats, but eventually, they’d get interested in the outside and sneak out the door – once out, they were even more fervent about finding a way out again.



I told her we live on a cul de sac, the second to the last house.



She told me that hawks and foxes and coyotes could eat my cats.



I said that we lived on a very manicured ¼ acre of land in suburbia and didn’t even have poison ivy in our yard never mind foxes and coyotes.



But the damage was done. Just like poor old Jonathan Bing, we were sent packing.



I feel sorry for the kitty we might have adopted. He would have had one wonderful home, warm and cozy in the winter and ACd in the summer. He would have dined on Fancy Feast and Friskies, slept in our bed and would have had two big dogs and one big brother cat to play with.



Hope he fares as well in his new home.

Sign me both Bummed and Binged