Klondike Kate

Kate was no young kitten when she first set out for the Klondike. She had led a full life in a town so small, it was not even on the map.

Actually she had never planned on leaving the soft warm nest of straw in the big, airy barn. She thought she would always stay in the small family circle with her older brother and sister. She was not very adventurous - much preferred the feelings of safety and security that the barn provided. Besides, the first time she ventured outside her comfort zone; she almost lost her life to two vultures who quickly swooped down upon her.

After that Kate's curiosity was satisfied by exploring the deep inner realms of her own nature; and until now they provided adventures enough to keep her satisfied.

Kate had a vivid imagination which provided a rich inner life in her daytime world. And she had long ago learned how to navigate the night time world of dreams which provided all the extra adventure she could handle.

She raised her two young kittens and watched them, and their kittens after them, make their mark on life's trail.

She was putting all her efforts into preparing for the final sleep that comes to everybody when she received an invitation to take a trip to the Klondike with some pioneers. They held out the promise of fine meals served on their best china.

They had covered too many miles for her to turn back by the time she realized this was not going to be a free ride. Everything has a price even if you don't realize it at the time. By choosing one thing, you give up another.

The pioneers kept their promise of eating on fine china every night - but the meal they served up was often beans and hot dogs. But that was okay. It was not the meals or the fine china that drew her anyway. It was the mystery of the wagon wheels - turning round and round. All those spokes reaching out from the same centre to an ever expanding universe. Was it the same with people? She had to find out.

She had searched deep enough inside herself to know her own true colors. But now she hungered to know what those colors would look like when mixed with the colors of others. She had a lot of good ideas; but her intensity scared most people off before they really got to know her. Only a handful of people got through all those walls she had built around herself many years ago.

One day she stumbled onto the trail of an illusionist who covered his heavy duty path with games. These games delighted the participants so much that they were deep into the fun of playing before they realized the painful price of admission was personal growth.

But it looked like everyone was having so much fun that she wanted to be a part of it. All she had to do was lighten up. She had been wanting to do this for quite some time now anyway - had even tried it once or twice - and found she enjoyed it. And everyone seemed to enjoy her so much more as well.

So without hesitation, she cast her old identity aside and gave herself over to permanently being Klondike Kate - explorer of the outer realms.