Of course, true partner in life is Maria, but I seem to have a part-time partner these days with fur; I call him an assistant, but he is more than that. Zip is far too independent and strong-willed to be anybody’s assistant. Still, he seems to grasp the things appointed to me, keeps me company, and watches over me.
I took the photo above when I went outside to meditate by the apple tree in the sun yesterday. I closed my eyes for a few minutes, and when I opened them, he was sitting on the arm of my chair, just sitting and watching, careful not to disturb me.
I felt a strong presence from him. He was careful to sit quietly at my side without ever disturbing or asking anything of me. But when it suits me, I like to scratch him on the neck as a thank you. Usually, he is long gone, out chasing after a rat or mouse. He knows his job and does it well. I love the mystery of cats. I have no idea where he comes from or where he goes.
He appears when I need him and leaves when I don’t in the mystical way of cats. Some of my dogs have been close to that, but none in this intuitive, timely, and fast way. He seems to be in my head. I don’t feed him as a rule, and I doubt he is trainable. He just seemed to choose me in some way. I was surprised.
He is just there in this powerful and new way for me.
The other time we are partners is when I go outside to take flower photos. He constantly shows up and sits quietly nearby; if I wave my hand away, he stays back. I like to concentrate on the flower photos, and he focuses on me. I have stopped trying to analyze it and accepted it.
He keeps his distance when I’m doing my flowers but is always inside or dozing nearby.
Yesterday, I was dozing a bit as I meditated when I reached my hand out and felt him there. He was happy to wait for a head scratch, and then he disappeared to investigate something he saw in the garden, probably a mouse. He has his own rich life, and he steps into his mind once or twice a day. It’s challenging sometimes to miss him, but I give him his space, and he gives me mine. He’s a beautiful thing in my life, but not the only thing.
