Re: Jude C/Cat C
cats have 'nine lives' because they get into situations in which they should lose them. i'm suggesting that they don't really have nine lives, they just escape circumstances in which lesser creatures would die.
which is to say, nine lives don't make you untouchable. they make you a survivor, albeit one who can be scathed. which would be entirely consistent with the proverb and wouldn't make you any less self-sufficient.
how am i doing? any words in there that cost me significantly?