Elders

October 29, 2024: Elders — I have absolutely no problem with my age. I get away with so much in my sixties. Having said that, our furries are also older. My beloved Hermie crossed the Rainbow Bridge — and now my brown gal Chuck is getting lame, and Oreo has reached the incredible age of 17, and he hasn’t been the same since Hermie transitioned (neither have I, but that’s a tale for another time).

This post is about Oreo.

Oreo enjoying a zen moment on the back porch.

He started as a West Virginia stray — probably dumped — maybe ran away. Who knows My sister got him off the street, and her neighbor adopted him, but she was a wackadoodle who just fed him and wouldn’t let him in the house. So my sister ‘stole’ him and gave him to us (my son, Gabe, and I), and we’ve had him ever since. He came with a broken tail, a cockeye, and a split ear. All permanent scars. He turned into the coolest combat cat on the block — in WV (where he enjoyed jumping on the roof of our house to say hi to my sister) — in SC (where he descimated a bunny nest — sad face) — and here in GA, where he’s caught mice, snakes, spiders, geckos, lizards, frogs, and bunnies — and was gracious enough to bring them ALL IN the house). In addition to his hunting prowess, he enjoyed beating up every cat in the neighborhood, currying favors with the kids (who called him “cow” before they learned his name), and watching Hermie (who was totally blind and frought with dementia) to make sure he didn’t get lostl

Oreo and Hermie about a year before his passing.

Oreo accepted his age after getting his ass kicked by the neighbor’s cat. He didn’t venture out beyond our yard to say hi to the neighbors; these days, he stays very close to the back porch - only straying from the porch far enough to pull a Mrs. Kravitz.

Oreo is a very old, former street cat that my sister rescued — he’s seventeen now. He’s lost weight but continues to enjoy laying on the porch and watching the birds — he has long hung up with hunting claws.

We are all older in this house — older and musical and creative and still searching —

I’ve been watching my elders cross the boundary, and I’m at peace with it.

And so is Oreo.