In Which Waylon Comes to Stay

About nine years ago Kaliedoscope girl brought two kittens to live with her in Portland. They were brothers. She named them Merle and Waylon, after Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings. Merle was gray with white markings and had long hair. Waylon was white with gray markings and had short hair. About 6 years ago, Merle met his demise. We think it was an eagle attack. All that was ever found was a tuft of gray hair in the driveway.Waylon lived on and took command of the street. You would often see him making his rounds from yard to yard, sometimes sunning on car roofs, often pooping in other people's flowerbeds. Of late he had become a pest. Very vocal and nagging a sweet, hard-working nurse on her return home after a 12 hour shift. Very demanding about the kind of food he's fed. And peeing on Hapapapa's laundry one-too-many times.

So the noble cat has come to live at grandma's house. At this moment he is asleep behind my head on the back of the couch. Blue is curled up asleep beside me. I think each cat embodies the spirit of all cats. So I feel the presence of all the felines I've ever known - Blackie, Tiger and Tammy, Mournful Kitter-Kat, Phoebe, Rosetree, Memphis, Brenda, Smokey, Sparrow, Sparrow's four kittens, Misty, and "my little husband" Perdinkle. It's very calm and all is well.