Not your normal crush

Remember what it's like to have a crush on someone. You wait for the moment to see him. It always brings a smile to your face when you think of him. And one little bit of attention from that special someone can keep your heart soaring for days. Of course, that's how it always was for me.

I thought crushes were relegated to high school. But I guess they can extend into your adult life too. Although, my crushes now are a lot different from the silly ones I had back then.

I now have the same silly high school crushes on animals. I just love seeing the different neighborhood animals out and about. For example, one of my neighbors has this very cute little dog named Dolla. I've never had any interaction with her until this week. This week she came running up to me after I got out of my car after work. She begged to be petted, and when I sat down on the sidewalk, she jumped happily into my lap. I was hooked. What a sweet dog! I almost couldn't bear to take her back to her family because I just wanted to scoop her up for myself. But of course, I carried her back and reluctantly gave her to her mommy. Since that interaction, I've been looking for her in the parking lot. Just being around such a happy little creature is enough to buoy my spirits.

Misser Kitty, my gorgeous orange kitty, started as a stray. He would come up to us and talk to us with sweet little cat meows. It wasn't long before I started feeding the sweet little guy. And the more I was around MK, the more I wanted him to be my cat. Since he was a stray, I didn't feel so bad just scooping him up and letting him stay with me. He still roams the outside and visits the neighbors, but I have such a sense of pride when he comes running to me when I get home from work and leads me to our home.

And I can't forget little Chloe. Chloe is one of my friend's dogs who lives in my neighborhood. She reminds me so much of Piper, like a little Mini-Me for him. She used to bark a lot at me, but since she has gotten used to me and Cliff, she now happily wags her tail when we approach. And sometimes she gives me little Chloe kisses on my hand. I love seeing my friend and chatting with her, but I have to admit that I can't help but chase her down in the parking lot when Chloe is by her side. The little dancing bundle does make me smile.

I don't know why I get like this about animals. There are some cats that roam our neighborhood that are quite skittish. Obviously, since they haven't warmed up to me, I haven't warmed up to them. But when there is a truly sweet animal who will just trust you, a stranger, enough to run up to you and give you kisses...well, it just gives my heart a little pitter-patter.