Max on Hardship and Hope

There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.  — Albert Schweitzer

Hello friends,

I asked Peggy how long I have complained about morning fatigue. Food helps and coffee/tea. She thinks it has to do with aging now past 90. Then I thought of cat Max meditatively purring on my chest. I’m helped by about 15 minutes of slow-breathing, eyes-closed meditation, letting him lift me from my chest where he purred. Cat Max has relinquished his meditation practice now to cat Tony. It seems to help. Gene

Max on Hardship and Hope

His great baritone during the hard time of dying

portrayed a mixture of suffering and hope, 

a splendid mystery for my aging period,

as I fight fatigue and feel anger at doctors

whom I expect to be more helpful.

Yet I recall him putting up with pills and probes,

letting me lift him down from a high counter

to soften his jump to the tiled floor,

after swallowing things from Peggy’s caring hands.

After a few minutes of rest in his closet “office,”

he was ready for duty 

as my chest to chest consigliere on the sofa,

with his strong purr of brotherhood

to help me relax with him into mutual pain

and gratitude for our daily pleasures.

I held him that way in my last yoga

meditation today, holding the sadness of loss

in light of  a fuller loving-kindness toward all.