Say, Jerry, What's a Cat House?

JOE SENT ME.

I went for a walk the other day and met a cat hanging out in a window. As I approached, he sleepily stretched and assessed me. A marking on his face made it look like he had a shiner. Thinking of a San Geraldo story from the past, I wondered if he was the bouncer at this particular "house."

Innocence
In 1982, San Geraldo and I drove with our friend Susan from Boston to New York for the weekend. On the way back, we stopped at a McDonald's on the Connecticut Turnpike. While in the parking lot sipping our chocolate shakes, I noticed a veterinary clinic on the other side of the fence. There were two entrances. One read "DOGS" and the other, "CATS."

I facetiously said, "Ha. They don't fool me. That's just a cover for a cathouse."

San Geraldo, the young and innocent, said, "Huh? Is that like a kennel, only for cats?"

Susan and I looked at him incredulously. As you have probably learned, San Geraldo often gets incredulous looks.

"You really don't know what a cathouse is?" I asked.

"Yeah, like a kennel, right?" he replied.

I explained, "Jerry, a cathouse is a whorehouse."

"No it's not. You're making that up."

"I am not. It's where you would go to... well, not you... uh... It's where you go for pussy!

"Oh, stop it. It is not."

Susan reached her hand to his cheek, nodded, and said, "It is."

"Really?!?"

In unison, "Really."

"Well, that's just here. My mother won't know what it is!"

"Trust me," I assured him, "your mother will know."

When we got home, San Geraldo immediately phoned his mother in Minnesota. I stood close so I could hear her response. "Mom, what's a cathouse?"

She laughed and then, when he didn't respond, asked, "Is this a joke?"

"No," he muttered. "Do you know what a cathouse is?"

"Well, of course. Don't you remember Lulu's when we lived in Huron [South Dakota]?"

Stunned silence.

The next night, the phone was ringing when we got home from dinner. San Geraldo grabbed it. It was his Aunt Mildred (his mother's oldest sister). I could hear her cackle all the way from Oregon, "Say, Jerry, what's a cathouse?"

Our Spanish Cathouse

Click the photos. Some will get bigger. Some won't. The cats are in control.

DOWN IN FRONT! DUDO IS A LINDA HUNT FAN.

MOOSE HAS TWO SLEEPING SPOTS ON SAN GERALDO'S DESK. NOT MUCH ROOM TO WORK.

THE BEAUTIFUL BLANKET I WON... APPARENTLY FOR DUDO.
(CLICK HERE FOR THAT STORY.)

I AM REQUIRED TO SET A CHAIR IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM SO THEY CAN SEE OUTSIDE.

MOOSE ENTANGLED IN HIS OWN PERSONAL SUN BED.
(IT DOES FORCE SAN GERALDO TO KEEP HIS DESK A LITTLE NEATER.)

TRYING TO GET SOME PHOTOS OF THEIR NEW HOUSE. I WAS SUPERVISED.
AND YES, DOWAGER DUCHESS, THEY'RE ON THE TABLE.
I'VE GIVEN UP. THEY GO WHEREVER THEY WANT ... WITH NO APOLOGIES.