IN HINDSIGHT, no inappropriate behavior actually occurred, but at the time, all hell was about to break loose.
She wore a hostile expression, her face inches in front of my own. Harsh words were flowing.
What came naturally was to push my face forward into hers, to cause my nose to impact with her nose.
“Don’t hit me..!” she exclaimed. “You stand down, or I’ll whip you with my nose.” was my preposterous response.
Whatever caused such a rapid flash of anger..?
It was nothing, really. It was the cat.
One of our cats had jumped out and began meowing just as I was discussing something, causing an interruption. I reached down and delivered a mild thigh-slap, instructing it to be quiet. She protested that I had no right to “hit” the cat, and the cat sidled up to her.
This could not stand. Something needed to be done.
Discussing it later, it seemed clear that I was simply doing what nature requires between animals — to establish and maintain a pecking order. In obedience to this call, I used my nose to peck her into place, so that order could be restored.
A man has to do what a man has to do.
Thwarticus 