Out on a Limb

 

 

Last night our little Ling Ling found herself out on a limb.

 

I was sure she was in the house, safely sleeping someplace warm and cozy.

 

I know I let her in right before the sun set.

 

But she must have escaped and right before midnight, Hubby heard the most pitiful cries.

 

He called me out onto the deck to listen.

 

Yes, it was Ling Ling. And after stumbling around in the pitch black trying to call her in, we realized

 

She was out on a limb.

 

In a 60 foot maple tree.

 

At midnight.

 

 

Now this little diva has not so much as gotten her feet wet walking across the lawn.

 

How she managed to get herself halfway up a giant tree in the middle of the night, I'll never know.

 

We would have discovered her missing, as we do a head count before bed.

 

But she must have been in this tree for quite some time.

 

And lucky for her, we have Hubby in our lives to do rescue work.

 

I can't even tell you how many times he has had to do this important and much appreciated type of work.

 

Flat tires. Car trouble. Keys locked in ignitions. Broken this and broken that. Children and pets in precarious places. Life's turmoils. The list goes on.  

 

Now, you would think that he would start complaining. He was in his PJ's. He had turned down the covers. He had to get up really, really early after working really, really late.

 

But there was no complaining, just a sigh of resignation as he got dressed and in the dark of night, went up to the scary place behind the shed and retrieved his big ladder. The heavy one. The one that is so tall, it threatens to fall over backwards as he wobbles it into place among ferns and underbrush and in between branches.

 

And then my gruff, tough man of few words climbed to the top of the ladder in the dark and gently coaxed a frightened little cat to trust him enough to let him carry her down.

 

 

This is our girl today. Certainly exhausted and unwilling to venture very far, basking in the morning sun.

 

While poor Hubby had to get up early and go off to work.

 

Without one complaint.

 

Just a little smile as he walked by her this morning. And a little scratch behind the ears.

 

He thought I wasn't looking.

 

But that is one of the things I love about him.

 

He is willing to go out on a limb for us.

 

Just don't expect him to talk about it.

 

xx