My football friends

The Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills on Monday night in one of the most important football games of the year.

I’m not complaining, but Elysha decided not to watch the game with me. Granted, I was teaching a workshop until after 10:00 PM that night, so I was forced to watch the game on tape delay, meaning that instead of running in its customary 8:15 PM until 11:30 PM time slot, I finished watching the game closer to 2:00 AM.

I guess that was a little late for her, especially given that we had to work the next day.

Or technically the same day.

And yes, if the Patriots had lost, the three hours of sleep that I enjoyed that night might’ve made the next day hard, but happily, the good guys won, in spectacular fashion, so I popped out of bed at my usual 5:00 AM with a spring in my step.

It’s amazing what a victory can do for the spirit.

But since I was watching on tape delay, I wasn’t even able to text with friends during the game, as I usually would. Text messages were piling up on my phone all night, but not wanting to spoil the outcome, I had to put my phone in the other room and ignored it completely.

Watching a football game late at night, all alone, isolated from the world, isn’t the best way to enjoy the action.

Happily, I had my cats.

I know it sounds silly, but having Tobi and Pluto with me all night, sometimes on my lap, sometimes flanking me, and sometimes wrapped around my neck, was so much better than watching alone. Granted, they didn’t get quite as animated as me on that ridiculous unnecessary roughness call. They didn’t respond to my joyous remarks about the Bills’ inability to stop the run even though they knew it was coming. I’m not even sure if they were aware of the score at all times.

But they were with me. Squeezing their little bodies up against mine. Purring incessantly. Dozing off at times. Most importantly, desiring to be with me until late into the night. Sitting alongside me as they are right now as I write these words:

Tobi to my right, about a foot away, asleep on the radiator, and Pluto lying across my forearms, making it harder than necessary to type.

I’d much rather have Elysha sitting alongside me. I’d be thrilled if Charlie – who loves football – could’ve been watching the game with me. I’d even take Clara – not a football fan and prone to off-topic comments at the worst moments.

But cats are pretty great, too. It’s so odd that a species of animal so unlike us in so many ways has not only learned to coexist with human beings but genuinely prefers spending time with us.

My cats could’ve been doing anything while I watched that football game, but they chose me.

It’s good to have such faithful companions. They may not understand the complexities of a zone defense or the risks inherent in blitzing the safety. but they sit quietly and let you know that you’re loved, which is at least on par with a Patriots victory.