I had a hell of a scare tonight. richard and i were eating dinner after lighting the menorah and suddenly i smelled something burning. i looked to my left and my cat, penny, was on fire! she had walked across the table to eat her own food and brushed against the menorah on the way. i don't know how i put the fire out. i remember reaching my hand out to put it out but i didn't get burned -- but i remember it going out when i did that. she wasn't even aware she was on fire. her fur protected her; her skin wasn't even singed. i brushed the burnt fur off her; the table is full of black ash. i cried and cried and richard kept telling me "she's okay; why are you crying?" but i couldn't stop.

g