Cat

When I first moved to northern Colorado, I saw some signs on the nearby river calling it the "Cashe De La Poudre River".  Since I was from Albuquerque, I mentally pronounced it with a Spanish inflection.  It sounded beautiful to me.

One day at work, one of my friends said "I took my wife up the pooder over the weekend."  I told him I did not want to hear that shit.  Consenting adults and all was fine, but don't tell me about it at work.  He looked confused, and then said "No, I took her for a drive up highway 14 up the river.  The Cash de la Pooder."

"Pooder?" I said.  "I wouldn't name a cat Pooder."

Two weeks later a black cat moved in with me.  I called him "Pooder".

I had him 20 years before he died.  I still miss him.

Earl