1. Our vet, usually Dr. Cook, and I have never been absolutely sure about Copper's age. I tried after taking Copper in to get a better understanding of both Copper and Luna's ages, but the best I could find out -- and Dr. Cook's examinations of the two cats confirmed it -- was that Luna was the older of the two. In early 2021, Dr. Cook estimated that Copper was probably about twelve years old.
It's been just over four years since Copper and Luna moved in.
It's been about fifteen months since Luna died.
Let's say, without absolute certainty, that Copper is now about sixteen years old.
He is communicating instinctive awareness to me that he is aging.
At night, he sleeps next to me. I usually sleep on my side, either one.
Recently, as the night progresses, if I turn over and try to go back to sleep with my back to Copper, he meows. Sometimes he bats me with a paw or tickles my face with his whiskers, letting me know he wants me to face him. Copper seems to have figured out that if I face him, I can more easily and readily pet him or rest a hand on his back or belly.
This contact between us moves him to purr with deep contentment.
Copper's insistence that I turn over is a significant change in his behavior.
He wants a higher and more frequent level of comfort from me now than he ever has.
I think he feels what many of us humans feel as we age.
Time is slipping away, increasing our feelings of vulnerability.
2. I needed time today to let yesterday's ZOOM discussion and my reunion with Debi Mc sink in.
I enjoyed having memories of my early days of teaching at LCC come back and remembering what a welcome source of support and encouragement for me as her instructor Debi was in the classroom and in our conversations outside of class.
I am all but certain that Debi was enrolled in an Intro to Fiction course I taught in the summer of 1990.
I think that class met for two hours, maybe three, per session --- I'm not sure how many days a week we met.
The class took a short break after the first half of class and, when the students returned, I turned off the lights, stood near a door where light came into the classroom through a small window from the hall, and read May Sarton's book, The Fur Person, aloud.
I loved doing that. It was comforting and relaxing. It took us all back to when we were in elementary school and, if we were lucky, had a teacher who read aloud to us after lunch. (My 6th grade teacher, Miss Kero, read us A Wrinkle in Time and The Hobbit, both entrancing to listen to.)
I hope my students that summer found The Fur Person entrancing.
Debi did, as I remember.
So did I.
I don't know why I never did a read aloud at the break of one of my courses again.
3. I let the happy intensity of Sunday sink in today by getting domestic chores completed.
Copper and I have clean bedding after today and it's always good to spend time washing and drying my clothes.
I would have gladly experienced today another day like Sunday. At the same time, I enjoyed a day of rest and letting awesome memories of the past stir up, wash over me, and sink in thanks to Bridgit, Diane, Bill, and Debi. Oh! And Roberta! She and I had a brief exchange online about Debi Mc -- Roberta doesn't know Debi personally, but is very aware of Debi's cat rescue efforts in and around Oakridge, OR -- the town they both live in or near.
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