We have to help Mom.

What’s wrong?

Mom’s depressed.

What’s that?

I’m not sure.  As you can see, I’ve been lying here thinking about it.  I know Mom told us one time that her Grandma used to say she was going to press things and that meant she was going to get the wrinkles out of clothes with a hot thing she called an iron.

Does Mom have an iron?

Yes, but she doesn’t use it much and I know we wouldn’t be allowed to touch it.

Well, if that’s pressing, then maybe depressing is when you put the wrinkles back in.  I know Mom doesn’t want more wrinkles.  She says those things make her look old.

That’s true.  I’ve heard them talk about being depressed on TV and they seem to be sad.  Maybe that’s it.

Why is she sad?

She says the world thinks she’s too old and wants to put her out to pasture.

Is the pasture like the back yard?  That sounds like lots of fun!

I’m kind of thinking we’re on the wrong track ‘cuz that wouldn’t make Mom sad.  Sometimes trying to figure out humans is so hard.

That’s why I go outside and think.  Here’s a picture of me doing that.

Well, I still don’t know what we should do.  Maybe we should bring her some pretty flowers.  Did you see these outside?  Maybe she would like to have one.  I know it makes her happy to see pretty flowers, birds and butterflies.  I also know she doesn’t want me bringing her any birds or butterflies so maybe flowers will be ok.

I heard Mom say something about this time of year being the dog days of summer.  Man, that’s enough to depress any human or fur person!  Dogs get all the attention.

I think what we need to do is go crawl up in Mom’s lap, start purring and tell her that we don’t think she’s too old.   After all, she wasn’t too old to adopt us and we’re very thankful.

We should also tell her that if the world thinks she’s too old then we think the world is STUPID!

Good idea.  Mom needs to know we love her and need her ‘cuz it would be too scary for us fur people in the human world if she didn’t teach us things.