“You’ve Got Mail”

So, I’m sitting in my office this afternoon, minding my own business, when I feel a tap~tap~tap on my leg. 

I look down to see my six-year-old tabby, anxious to climb onto my lap for some much needed R&R ~ after a vigorous morning of sleeping, catnapping, and washing up on the guest room bed.

As Tigger climbed onto my lap, I decided that I could use some R&R myself.  So, while he purred with bliss, I meditated to the sound of his blissful purr. 

After absorbing a few brilliant insights on the meaning of life, my reverie was interrupted by that familiar voice intoning, “You’ve got mail!”

Already in a contemplative state of mind, I thought of something I had not previously considered:  doesn’t he ever tire of saying the same thing every time an e-mail bounces into my mailbox? 

And into your mailbox?

Maybe he doesn’t mind because he receives a commission each time he utters those three magic words. 

Imagine how wealthy he would be if he had negotiated properly at the outset of the partnership:  “OK, I’ll be your e-mail delivery guy . . . but I get one cent for every time I have to say, ‘You’ve got mail.'” 

That’s a gig that I’d like to have ~ record once, receive commission checks for life. 

Even so, wouldn’t it be more interesting for him, and us, if he mixed up the message a bit, or spoke in different languages, or with funny accents:

“What now?”

“Why can’t they leave you alone???”

“Junk mail!”

“Come quick ~ it’s from Publisher’s Clearing House!”

“Hey Meester . . . an e-mail from your seester.”

“OMG!  E-mail!” 

“Vite! Vite! Cherchez le message!”

“Bonjour!  Une message, c’est arrivee!” (Sorry, my French is a bit rusty).

Well, I may get tired of hearing the same three words repeated throughout my day, but I love regular distractions which cause me to re-surface from imagination long enough to realize that I’m still sitting in my office, with Tigger purring in contentment nearby. 

Off to read the latest!