superhero day

on a day where we ran a story about self-styled "superheroes" rising up and roaming the streets of america, i actually sort of got to play one.

the boy and i were at the playground, where he was having a snack break from his morning rumpus.

from the shelter i heard a mom shout, "amanda? where are you?"

a quick scan of the playground revealed the 2-year-old atop a climbing wall trying to clamber onto a platform leading to a slide.

i hurried over as i pointed her mom in the child's direction.

as mom told her tyke to be careful, i climbed up to ensure the youngster didn't fall.

then she did. my hand shot up as her bottom landed square in my palm.

as i couldn't get enough leverage to push the child back onto the platform, i caught her in my arm as i jumped off the wall.

she cried, i think because a strange man was trying to make her stop crying. i handed her back to her mom, who said thanks.

earlier, on the way to the park, managed to get a kitten off the side of the road and back into her owner's carport.

she bounded down the slope to the road where the boy and i were walking and wouldn't leave the shoulder. that she was staying there playing made me nervous.

it took a couple of attempts to get her to stay closer to the house.

luckily, i recalled the "cat trap" picture and set her in a decorative halloween cauldron in the carport.

this bought the boy and me the time and separation needed to ensure she didn't us follow to the road.

i called the number on her tags and confirmed with the owner that it was indeed her house and that she is an indoor/outdoor cat. (owner was en route from south carolina back home.)

catching a falling child and saving a cat. sounds kind of like a superhero day to me. demented and sad, but kind of.

postscript -- 18 october: on way to work, moved a turtle out from the middle of the road. just doing my job.