Tom's Welcome Home

I spent a whole week in Florida on a beach vacation.  Began  walking and soon gathered up a mile of
exercise to and from the beach house.  St. George's Island is quiet and a nice place to be without the
need of accomplishing something that takes too much time.


The town of Appalachacola across the two causeways is a removal in time with its post Civil War
store front , one and two story buildings downtown.  There is a wonderful coffee shop with special
coffees you don't have at Starbuck's or Java Dave's.  There is a time-past soda fountain where you can
get "phosphates".  My daughter asked me what a phosphate was.  I answered in soda fountain language, not the chemical description.  We explored all the gift shops, galleries, and restaurants.


The residential areas were worth driving up and down the streets to see the well-kept houses of
the later 1800's.


Then we enjoyed the indulgences of the great City of Dallas and the marvelous chefs that run
the fine dining establishments there.


I got home last Tuesday and entered the house calling out for Tom, the cat I left behind in the house to be fed by my good neighbor.  When I am here, Tom is not allowed to stay in at night (other than
for storms and extreme cold).  However, to spare my neighbor I allowed Tom to stay inside, unless
he made it clear he wanted out. 


Well, I got no answer from Tom.   Did I expect him to come bounding to me to rube against my
ankles?  No, I know his ways.   Later, as I inspected the house and raised some of the window
shades, there he was.  He didn't let me out of his sight for days.  His intuition is still working as to
where I am and what I am doing.  He has climbed upon my desk making sure I give him  the best
publicity in my account of his welcoming presence after a period of 10 days apart.

Tom, a common tabby, but a noble cat

Congratulate me. I finally got an option to write a new post.  This summer Tom has been playing
games with me when it is time for him to go outside at night.  He has been hiding as he senses
it is time to go out.  He stays in all day but needs time outside, and that is when dark approaches.


Well, we've been playing chase and catch to get him out, and I am tired of it.  So I devised a
method to get him out, and by his somewhat passive attitude, I think he doesn't mind so much.
I life up his forelegs and dance him to the door.  That is because his hind legs are extra strong, and
he tuck them up to kick and scratch me.  I bleed, so keeping his hind legs on the floor, he can't
kick them up.  When we get to the door, he has waited for me to open it.  Then he goes out.  He
has been more cooperative lately, although the dark beings earlier these days in September.  Now
is is October. 


Otherwise, he is a gentleman cat.  I feel better about (don't let out the secret) I can outwit a cat.

Tom's Good Behavior!

Believe it or not, Tom, the noble, handsome, wonderful, cat has been exceptionally good this season.
Santa Claus is going to come down his chimney and leave him presents.  Tom has jumped in my lap during the day to receive petting and affection from me almost any time I sit down.  As usual, he knows when I want to read, so he is there revolving his body around in my lap, his tail in the way of my book.  I still read from paper, hoping to receive recompense from my novels, so that I can buy an electronic reader. 
Tom loves to have his jaws rubbed.  Also his head, as long as I don't touch the front side of his ears.
That makes cats' ears twitch. 
Tom has now been good enough to let me know when he wants to go out about dark.  He sits quietly by the edge of the door that opens.  I do let him in about 10 pm, and he marches right into the utility room where he stays until morning.  He also has access to the rug in the powder room and the closet.
He still leads me out to the garage switch to turn off the front yard light first thing, before I put out his breakfast.
I have also been feeding, watering and cleaning out the litter box of my neighbor this week.  He has done the same for me when I am away from, home.  His cat is a yellow-orange striped pussy who doesn't let me pet her.  But she comes in sight when I enter.  so I talk to her.  I know she listens.  I tempt her with her usual Fancy Feast.  To that she responds.
I'll let you know more about the Christmas cat later on.

Tom's Week

Tom has settled into his winter mode.  Our nights have been cold, and our days warm up by afternoon.  So , often, I have to change from long sleeved sweaters into short sleeved t-shirt
leaving my discarded clothes on my bed, later when I look into the room, I find Tom settled comfortably on my garments.  I don't know if it is a nice feeling or a nice odor that he likes.  His former mistress, my daughter, was here last week-end.  She indulges his every whim and over-feeds him.  And parallel to my clothing, he settles on her luggage for his long naps.


But he has been big on games lately.  Sitting in front on the door as though he wanted to go out at his usual time in the evening -- just when the sun goes down -- as I open the door for him, he swiftly moves away.  Then he swishes his tail around my chair a time or two and goes back to the door. 
"Tom, do you want me to let you out?: I say.  Once I move to the door, again he moves off, maybe into the kitchen and his food dish.  Finally, he may, as he still does, claws on the back of my chair to cause me to yell at him,  "No clawing" or even "Bad cat!"  Finally he will run through the open door to the great outdoors.  Then as a guard, he may hang by the door for most of the time he is out.  when I decide he has had enough of the cold night air, I let him in for the night.  Obediently, he marches directly to the utility room where he can catch up on his leftovers and settle on the rug in the smaller, warmer powder room for the night.

The Purring Cat

Much has kept me from consistency in blogging, but I hope to do better.


Tom bestows his affection greatly -- each time I sit or lie down.  In my lap or if I'm prone he sits close to my face and paws at my hand to get it to pet him.  After a bit of time he appears to be satisfied and settles himself apart from me, usually that is.  Sometimes he curls up next to my back.  And those times after I sit up, I find that his head is resting on the pillow behind where my head lay.
"Imitate your mistress," he seems to be saying.


I wish Tom was a purring cat, but the best he can do is to vibrate slightly.  He does love to share my time. 


You know how cats love to knead, especially on soft surfaces.  I don't believe in cutting cats' claws, so I continue repeating my admonition to stop clawing.  "Don't claw.  No claws." And such.  And believe it or not, Tom does try to press his feet into my lap without clawing.  But next time, I repeat the commands.  His heart is willing, but his flesh is weak.

Tom's Next Door Friend

Last week I was on hand to feed and water Tom's neighbor.  She is a yellow-orange striped puss.  She is given a privileged life by her master.  She has a basked beside his bed to sleep in, and nests in his living room to held her close.  One is a tree to climb with "scoops" she can lie down in, if she feels like it.  She has a fountain watering bowl that I check, besides a Fancy Feat meal and automatic feeders for dry meals.  I checked all of these  things and fed and watered her, scooped out her litter boxes (yes, plural) and got everything done.  She comes up and sniffs at my finger tips, but shies away, if I extend him hand to pet her.  So -- she is a one master cat.  I also find she is curious and shares one habit with my good friend Tom.  She inspects the cabinets but leaves the doors open as does Tom. 


I once had a Siamese gentlemen cat named Senator Fong who was adept at opening the front door, but he always left it open and never learned to close it.  He could have backed up against it and closed it, but he never did.    It is like TV programs in which people get out of cars leaving the doors open and the headlights on.  Don't they know it runs down the battery?

Annoucement:


I will be appearing with my novel THE HIDDEN CITY at the Hardesty Regional Library, January 9 from 1:00 to 4:30 pm.  The event is a Book Fair featuring speakers for readers and writers.  A number of Tulsa area writers will be present with their books.  I would love to have you visit me there.