by E. Alan Meece, for UUFLG Band of Writers
My Band of Writers Essays
Sept 13, 2026
prompt: the most surprising cat
(a mix of funny fact and funny fiction)
thanks to our new band member for the prompt
Today at church, it was the most surprising dog, whom the church’s piano player brought with him and who sang along with the hymns. But the piano player didn’t bring his cat, who is like one of those cats we see in the videos who play the piano. People are often surprised at these cats when they see them on the videos.
The most surprising cat who plays the piano in those videos is the one who plays the song "whose is that doggie in the window". Even more surprisingly, in the video the dog comes through the nearby door and sings along with the cat as she plays this song on the piano.
I wish that our church piano player had brought his cat. This cat probably doesn’t play as well as the piano player himself, or as well as the cat in the video, but we don’t know, since the church piano player only brought his dog. The singing dog was good enough though, since the topic of the service was "thanksgiving" for all the plants and animals and all the life on Earth and in the sky that we are thankful for (see below). I was a speaker in this service, as 3 of us read from the special thanksgiving prayer that highlighted the service.
I just wish that I could have brought my cat, and a piano too, and that would have made it a great group of musicians for our service. But she has passed on, and can only play the piano from heaven. Now I guess, to hear her play would make her the most surprising cat of all.
What's In That Box? my main homework essay for Band of Writers Sept 13, 2026
Schrodinger's Cat experiment from my What's In That Box? essay. Can a quantum cat in a box be both alive and dead? Inspiration for the prompt "the most surprising cat"
How Much Is That Doggie In The Window? - Patti Page
Walking My Cat Named Dog Norma Tanega, "singing the sun, perpetual dreaming"
The story of Winky, my special kitty (1990-2008)
Dave Coldren, UUFLG church piano player and available performer
Piano music from heaven? I love this example from The Who.
live version, Is it Me for a Moment?
Scroll back to hear the entire song "Dr. Jimmy and Mister Jim" (he only comes out when I drink my gin)
The full original uncensored version the piano parts are more clear in the music from heaven at the end
Six Nations (Iroquois) Thanksgiving Address
Georgia Platts presented the church service today, Sept 13, 2026, introducing this prayer of gratitude, and after introducing it and invoking the four directions, she, I (Eric) and Lynn Golbetz recited it. It was not meant for Thanksgiving Day. Some say the prayer is too long, but that's just because we have too much to be thankful for, Georgia pointed out. It is said that this address needs to be heard across the world.
Today we have gathered and when we look upon the faces around us we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now let us bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People. Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
We are thankful to our Mother the earth, for she gives us everything that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she still continues to care for us, just as she has from the beginning of time. To our Mother, we send Thanksgiving, love and respect. Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
We give thanks to all of the Waters of the world for quenching our thirst, for providing strength and nurturing life for all beings. We know it's power in many forms: waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans, snow and ice. We are grateful that the Waters are still here and meeting their responsibility to the rest of creation. Can we agree that water is important to our lives, and brings our minds together as one, to send greetings and thanks to the Water? Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many lifeforms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come. Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
With one mind, we honor and thank all the food plants we harvest from the garden, especially the Three Sisters who feed the people with such abundance. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans, and fruit have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them as well. We gather together in our minds all the plant foods and send them a greeting and thanks. Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
We turn to the medicine herbs of the world. From the beginning they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are so happy that there are still among us those special few who remember how to use the plants for healing. With one mind, we send Thanksgiving, love, and respect to the medicines and the keepers of the medicines. Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
Standing around us we see all the Trees. The earth has many families of trees who each have their own instructions and uses. Some provide shelter and shade, others fruit and beauty and many useful gifts. Many peoples of the world recognize the tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With our minds we greet and thank the Tree life. Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
We gather our minds together to send our greetings and thanks to all the beautiful Animal life of the world, who walk about with us. They have many things to teach us as people. We are grateful that they continue to share their lives with us and hope that it will always be so. Let us put our minds together as one and send our thanks to the animals. Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
Now we turn to the west where our grandfathers the Thunder Beings live. With lightning and thundering voices they bring with them the water that renews life. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our grandfathers, the Thunderers. Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
We are all thankful for the powers of the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help to bring the change of seasons. From the Four Directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds. Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
We now send greetings and thanks to our brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our brother, the Sun. Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
We put our minds together and give thanks to our grandmother, the Moon who lights the nighttime sky. By her changing face we measure time and it is the moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. Let us gather our thanks for our grandmother, the moon, together in a pile, layer upon layer of gratitude, and then joyfully fling that pile of thanks high into the night sky, that she will know. With one mind, we are sending greetings and thanks to our grandmother, the Moon. Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
We give thanks to the Stars who sparkle across the sky like gems. We see them at night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered as one, we send greetings and thanks to the Stars. Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring Teachers. Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
We now turn our thoughts to the Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together, as one, and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator. Now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it is not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send our greetings and thanks in their own way. And now our minds are one. Now our minds are one.
