A little PSA for those that don’t know me.

In person, if I become Formal and using ‘Polite language ‘, you are standing near ground zero. When I switch to formalilty, I am in full restraint of the beast. Barely.

The corollary of this being, If you are meeting me and your ultimate impression is ‘he is a very polite and civil person’, the reality is you were NOT permitted into MY inner circle and my impressions of you are likely negative.

On the other hand, if I come off as a goof and talkative, you were ‘welcomed’ into my inner sphere. Dogs help this immensely, kittehs too though they are likely more ‘independent’ and aloof.

Example: when I first met my Ex and was invited over to her place for the first time, her kittehs both greeted me like I was family. One such was the supposed ‘ghost cat’ that ‘ never shows her face to strangers’, and yet, said cat was a buzzy lump in my lap within 5 minutes. My Ex swore that she knew we were an item right then and there.

But its the pets that help me let my walls down. Well loved pups n kittehs are instant wall droppers for me and you get to see my ‘big softy’ side, right quick. The fourfooted babies don’t ‘get’ the wall because they can’t hurt me like people can (and have).

And I am not alone on this. I’ve seen hardcore Marines turn to absolute mush with a stray kitten or pup in a combat theater.

My vet could tell you how Grizz has me wrapped around one of his paws. Even she was amazed at the truckloads of affection he dumped on me when she brought him back into the exam room. And his purr could be heard across busy rooms. The fuzzbutt loves his daddy,,,

Its very few in count, the number of people that get that from me, but those that do, KNOW I would fight at the gates of Hell for them if they had need.

And not all of them are ‘kin’. Bruddersbyanuddermuther sorts.

Betcha a nickle that there are few in politics that could claim friends like that. Hired hands, maybe, but friends? Doubt it.