Valley of Ashes

I'm only a body

A worker bee

They pay me money

to keep me working

and to keep me quiet

No need to encourage

only superficial smiles

and selfish questions

intended to benefit the asker

Eyes always watching

like T.J. Eckleberg

This man?

He’s an amazing man. Spanning generations. Spanning countries. Spanning musical genres. Singing his own little language. Brown-eyes, the Blarney Stone, black hat. I have liked his music for years without knowing it....

Strange. I'm sure you have as well.

Domingo

Tonight I was descending the stairs to get the mail. As I turned the last corner before getting to the lobby, I looked down into some sad eyes and heard, "meoooooow." Not an obnoxious, loud meow, but a sweet, pitiful and lonely cry for help. There's a door to get in the lobby from the outside, which was barely cracked open. I ran upstairs, called Chris down, and together we faced the peach tabby cat. Chris said, "Bring him in." I thought, "What in the world came over you?" So, we brought him in.

He's not actually a stray. He has a collar, and a flea collar, and he is basically the community cat. He's owned by an elusive young adult male the next apartment over, but somehow the cat always ends up outside-despite rain or shine, hot or below zero temperatures. One morning I found the cat sitting up on an outside ledge, 7 feet above the ground, with a foot of snow on the ground.

Well, tonight he's our guest. Unfortunately, we are not prepared for the types of delicacies that a kitty might expect while travelling on his lonely little expeditions. I offered him milk, then water, then some bread (meager, I know), but none were satisfying to the palate of Domingo. He has been rooting around in the closets, and showing his face every now and then. I think in another hour I'll let him back outside. But, how I hate to, when it's only 24 degrees.

I realized during a small group discussion last night that I feel at home, or least more comfortable when there is a cat or cats around. It feels warmer. More safe and stable. Somehow, and someway.

Good thing, Christopher, that we had a kitty encounter tonight to tide me over for another month.

Aha! Yes, Christopher really does love kitties, deep down, but because of social and familial stigmas feels the need to repress....Repress....Repress! When actually, as his hand reaches out to show his acceptance of the cat, he fulfills the very longing inside him for the need to feel accepted himself by the cat.

Or maybe not.... :)

New Socks

Two weeks ago I bought some new Gold Toe socks. They are called Gold Toe Premiers. Two days ago I wore them for the first time. I really love the feeling of putting on new socks. It felt so good. This is the closest picture I could find:
My socks don't have the "gold toes" but they're still just as wonderful. I wonder if there are others out there (besides Chris and I) that have a genuine appreciation for Gold Toe socks....