For one, animals open up our vista of life -- especially with modern life that so often revolves around people, and non-life things such as machines, foods furniture and devices. My cat of 15 years is still a sight of beauty as it sits with its expectant pose for food with front paws more elegantly together than a super model, it's often a crushingly beautiful spectacle.

And then of course its special growl a call that invites me to play with him -- vigorously enough so it gets a good upper body work out and head massage. It's a quick dose of knowing that life offers its 'handouts' of pleasure freely.