“No creature is a better judge of comfort than a cat.”

—— James Harriot

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Julius turns away from me and looks out the window… without comment.

It’s cold outside so there’s no way I’m going to open it for him. He doesn’t seem to be expecting me too anyway. He doesn’t seem to be expecting much at the moment.

I opened a fresh can of “Fancy Feast” just a few minutes ago so he could perform his usual routine. Sniffing suspiciously at his plate of “Wild Salmon Florentine with Garden Greens…” as always, he lapped up only the “Delicate Sauce” on top before attempting to nonchalantly saunter away.

“I’ll get to the rest of that later. When I feel like… IF I feel like it.”

Julius looks at me and meows with a mellow mournfulness as he walks by. Heading for the stairs. The aincent old cat’s scrawny backside betrays what I can only speculate to be some discomfort at the very least (probably some pain) with every movement. He stops at the top of the stairs and carefully gathers his feet together before settling into a crouch. About as comfortable as he gets I suppose.

I wish he’d eat more. We all do.

I’m just a house guest here but those who have known this cat since the beginning, have been doing all they can to make him as comfortable as they can for some time now. Besides the “Fancy Feast” Julius gets many incentives to eat more all the time… and he does eat. But everyone knows it’s a losing battle.

Just a matter of time.

Julius looks at me again, meows and climbs to another of his favorite spots to settle. This time, on top of the back of a comfortable old couch. Near where my sweetheart will soon be settling to relax after a hard day’s work. It’s as if he’s anticipating her return.

Like he knows the time.

I sit and quietly observe the naked beauty of this moment. Hoping I can be as aware of my time as Julius seems to be of his.

My time.

When I began this piece a few hours ago, my only thought was of a somewhat accidental series with the theme of nakedness I’d been writing on occasion. Thus the featured image for this piece is a collage of the crude cartoons I’d drawn for each of those naked things. I like these pieces, and I thought it inspiring to look at them as I sat down to write today.

Then I looked at Julius.

I’ll get back to my nakedness later. When I feel like it… IF I feel like it.

Blessed…

m(___)m