Zip and I are back to our warm weather schedule.

Selfie

It was a warm and beautiful Spring day today. Zip and I resumed our custom, which started last year, of me coming out to sit in the back and look out over the marsh, and Zip pops up after a few minutes, crawls up in my should, and when I scratch his neck for a few times Zip goes to sleep right on my shoulder, purring softly. I’m a bit flummoxed by Zip’s intrusion into my life, but as is obvious, I love him and it. He is often by my side in the morning when I take my flower photos.

Then he goes off hunting things. Whenever I come out in the afternoon, Zip appears out of nowhere, curls up on my shoulders, and sleeps. After 15 or 20 minutes, he wakes up and heads into the marsh, somewhere I can’t see. I usually don’t see or hear from him until the following day.

When he sleeps, his head hands down over my shoulders. He can sleep on a dime and wake up when he wants.

I am never worried about Zip at night; I know there is some risk he might not return some night, but that is the price some barn cats pay, and I am proud and happy to give him the free life he so dearly wants and lives. Sometimes, I think he worries about me, and that would make sense. I love those moments when I sit in the chair, look out over the farm and the landscape, and have this sweet and beautiful creature curled up like a ball sleeping on a shoulder.  His purring sound is soft but hypnotic.

Zip is wise in the way of the barn cats. He loves his life.

I keep one foot under his back so he can’t slip away or fall off. When he’s ready, he wakes up.

Zip can take care of himself, and he is taking care of me in many ways.

(Photo by Maria)