I’m probably way behind in this news but I recently found this book, and “i am maru 2″ on Amazon.
If you already knew this, go on about your day (unless of course you want to coo over Maru with me).
If you didn’t know this, then I’m glad you do now. Aren’t you?
If you don’t know of Maru, click on his YouTube channel. You’ll fall in love.
I seriously love this cat . It’s one of those forever unrequited love affairs, but my heart thumps so hard it hurts whenever I see his fat little body trying to get in the box!
What an amazing time this is. It was 1991 when I got my first computer and signed on with AOL via dial-up modem. At the time, I was the only one in my social circle (besides my dad) who embraced email and the (miniscule by today’s standards) internet. I was hard pressed to find anyone to send an email to. Once I did, the emails were mostly forwards of jokes or urban legends. It surprises me now when someone forwards one of those chain emails I saw a decade ago and I think- really? that’s still going around? Hasn’t everyone seen that by now?
Since that time, the internet has matured into something infinitely more useful than the Neiman Marcus cookie recipe. Twenty years ago, if I said that a young Japanese woman’s home videos of her cat would be loved by millions of people worldwide, you would think I got into the evidence locker. But here we are in 2011 and Maru the Cat has his own YouTube channel. He has those millions of fans from all over the world. And today, those fans are reaching out to Maru, his human and Japan with messages of hope and concern.
For many of us, the only “person” we know in Japan is this adorable, box loving cat and his “roommate/owner” we’ve never seen. A CAT. A cat we’ve never touched (and to my infinite sadness, probably never will) who lives in a country far away. A country that is now devastated. A cat whose owner knew that people might worry and posted a short but sweet post on her blog – “We’re safe. Thank you for worrying and praying”.
It’s amazing that anyone would care about some silly cat they never met in the midst of this tragedy, but judging from the posts left on YouTube people do. When Maru’s roommate gets a moment and an internet connection, can you imagine what those comments will mean to her? Isn’t it weird that it isn’t weird that we connect daily with strangers far away via a cat, or a blog or a cookie recipe? Isn’t it wonderful that in times of great tragedy, these frivolous connections can suddenly become the one common platform in which our humanity can be expressed in a way that is immediate and inclusive?
Virtual commentary may not be able to physically rescue people from the wreckage but perhaps it will help heal the heart a little bit. What an amazing time this is.
2012 Digi Calendar has arrived! Click to go to my 4Shared account for a free download! .abr or .png files. The .png download includes the .psd 6x4 photo calendar template.
I’m probably way behind in this news but I recently found this book, and “i am maru 2″ on Amazon.
