Mads (they/them)

Today is Monday, and I should be at work. However, I am extremely burnt out (public defender life y’all) so I decided to call out for a mental health day for myself. One of my favorite things to do in Philadelphia is to take long walks and take in the small beauties in my South Philly neighborhood—and by small beauties I mean the cats in the windows. So I decided to do just that.

10AM

I leave my house and start my stroll to my first (and only) obligation of the day. I quickly spot this friend staring at me out the window!

Such a beautiful flower box too, what a lucky fellow. I continue my stroll, eyes peeled for more feline residents of Philadelphia. I then see this familiar face in the window:

This chilled out man is a regular sight on my walks. I’m envious of his couch. I continue onwards….==

I barely catch a glimpse of this guy:

His back is to the window—how rude. I guess he wasn’t feeling particularly friendly this morning.

11AM

I finally reach my only obligation of my relaxing day off: catsitting for my friend Ari!

This is Herman, her cat named of course for the iconic shop Herman’s. He is the sweetest guy and the only being I’d want to spend my time off with. We cuddle on the couch and watch TV for several hours while I psychically heal from the horrors of my day job. Nothing some animal time can’t fix.

4PM

I finally leave Herman’s home to return to my own feline companions. On the way back, of course my eyes are peeled for other South Philly residents, and I soon spot…

A handsome orange cat enjoying the breeze! Oh to be a cat on a windowsill, no cares in the world. I keep walking onwards and then see,

Another orange cat, this time back to me….again, rude. But nevertheless I persist. I spot one final feline before I return home…

A bit anticlimactic, but the real showstoppers await in my house.

5PM

Back home and surrounded by my sleeping sons, Bert and Ernie.

The rest of my mental health day is spent with them (and my fiancée Eleanor) relaxing and watching reality TV. This may not have been the most exciting day in my life, but the peace was much needed.

Mads is a tired public defender who finds joy in their community, long walks, and of course cats.