животные.

Well, we all knew this was coming. Wait, maybe you didn't. Maybe you don't know me at all. In the off chance that you're reading this and you don't know me, then it's possible that you're unaware of my love of animals. At any rate, I find this relevant because for the next week, I have sole custody of five beasts while my parents are in NY.

There are many different types of pets -- some that live in cages, some roam freely through your house, some are confined to a bowl, and some even come and go from your property as they please. My family has always had a cat since I was born, but the responsibilities are quite different when it is a family pet. A year ago, I inherited a cat after my grandpa passed away, brought her to Gainesville with me, and quickly realized that while I had cared for cats during my 21 years, I had never been the sole person in charge of one's care. I was the only person to provide the necessary materials for survival, as well as attention and emotional support (which, as some of you may know, is not the most fun thing at 5am). One thing that goes along with having many animals is numerous trips to the vet, which I was very familiar with... I always used to tag along when my parents went. It's an entirely different story, however, when you're alone with your animal in the exam room, standing over the cold metal table with your best friend peering up at you with wide eyes, waiting for whatever comes next. You know that blood tests, shots, other invasive events are necessary, yet you still look away when they put the needle in (this could, of course, be due to my aversion to needles). I had to take my cat to the vet several times over the course of senior year for different things -- blood tests, boarding, a cold -- but every time I sat in the waiting room with the carrier between my feet, I felt the same. My worry for my animal overshadowed everything else that happened to be going on in my life at the time -- when I was in that office, it was suddenly like all the other roles I played gracefully bowed out... student, daughter, friend... and all I was left with was a nervous girl with her elderly cat between her feet.

When the exam is over and the doctor tells you -- and only you -- the directions for administering medication and you drive home, you realize the kind of responsibility you've taken on. For some, I guess it could be overwhelming. But for me, it seems almost... natural. I can't imagine myself without some kind of creature to take care of, and I hope that's never the case. While animals can be a great deal of work, I wouldn't be myself without their company.

Next time, I will attempt to create controversy regarding the superiority of non-Romance languages to that of Romance languages. Should be fun, although I have a feeling I'm going to have to do some research on this one...

R.