Pazuzu

In March of 2007, I went with my friend Rain to the San Francisco ASPCA. I was in a transition period in a lot of ways; for the first time since I’d graduated college, I suddenly found myself without a full-time job or contract. The loss of a social circle from work, big changes in my personal life, and uncertainty about what I was going to do next meant that I was lonely and had too much time with my own thoughts. This was an exploratory trip to maybe consider someday getting a pet cat. Going through the facility past all the cages was almost too much for me, and I almost had to leave. Even knowing the SF ASPCA’s outstanding reputation, and knowing that everyone inside was extremely well taken care of, it was overwhelming to see so many animals that needed my attention and needed me, specifically, to take them home with me. Except for one. One cage had a beautiful gray and brown cat, with an immaculate coat and big fluffy ear tufts. According to the post-it on his cage, he was about…