Mama's Gonna Make All Your Nightmares Come True

Having no children to mother, I can't say that I fully understand the whole motherly instinct thing...and trust me, the ol' bio clock is not ticking. I repeat, NOT ticking. But once in a while, I ponder the idea of this instinctive, protective love.

Driving home one night, I saw in the headlights a mother raccoon and her herd of five babies crossing the highway...I honked my horn in hopes of motivating her to hurry across. I mean, come on now, this is a busy road my dear.

Instead, she stops dead in her tracks in the middle of the road and positions herself in front of her adorable family, arms outstretched as if to say "Back off lady, back the fuck off!"

As I drive by, she moves to keep sheltering her crew all the while staring me down. Of course, she was probably scared out of her wits of this huge loud blinding beast barrelling towards her, so why wouldn't she jump to protect her loved ones?

Still, it was such a beautiful, yet terrifying sight as I attempted to photograph it to my mind in between frantic checks for oncoming traffic. I cursed myself, for my reaction to save them could have in fact sealed their fate. Silly women do silly things at times.

A gal I know recently gave birth. The other day, the scene turned violent as a stranger...yes a STRANGER, decided they would take the baby out of the carseat, without a word. Is that not one of the strangest thing a stranger could do? It was a 'harmless' event, kind of like those funny people coochiecooing a baby in a cart at the grocery market or when that crazy senior greets you by pinching your cheeks. But to the mother, as the maternal instinct kicks in, she is genetically programmed to protect and defend at all costs. Luckily, everyone survived.

Last night, somebody decided it would be a good idea to hang my cat upside down. It took every ounce of strength to stop me from pummeling the sob. I mean, what are you trying to do - kill my cat? All the blood is rushing to his small head and his enlarged pupils clearly indicate he is very afraid. I don't care if you thought it would be funny, or that it was something to do on a Monday night. Clearly, you are in need of a hobby and my cat is in need of some bodyguards. Or perhaps I overreacted. It happens.

I just really love my cat.

So I understand, at least a little bit... what goes on when you feel as though your "baby" is threatened, even when he, she or they may not be.

After the fact, it is at least mildly amusing.