The Naming of Cats
by Elouise
In Honor Of Prince Oliver Smudge the Second, aka Smudge,
Who spent his royal time this day being transported by his Proud Owners,
Queen Elouise and King David, to and from His Royal Highness’ doctor’s office
Nothing life threatening. Just a nagging pain in his right rear paw pads. It takes all the fun out of rough-housing and running around the house chasing mice and crickets. Still, he’s to see a cat heart doctor in the next few weeks to find out how serious his newly diagnosed heart flutter is and what to do about it. In the meantime, he gets to be all lazy and fawned over. What a life!
No, I didn’t plan this post for today. It just happened, folks. However, I’m well into James Cones’ book, The Cross and the Lynching Tree. I’m also reading W. E. B. Du Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk, and re-reading slowly Mary Oliver’s slender volume of poems, Thirst.
Yesterday evening, I played my piano for the first time in months. We bought it right after our daughter was born in 1970. It traveled with us from South Carolina to Southern California to Nashville, Tennessee, to Pennsylvania. As beautiful as ever.
Smudge has always left the living room when I’ve started playing. He loves to walk all over it (lid closed on the keyboard!), but seems allergic to my playing. Last night, however, he wasn’t feeling as frisky as usual, and stayed right on his chair while I played.
Hoping your days are filled with beauty, truth and hope. Not because the sun is going to come out tomorrow, but because creation never stops playing music for us. We just have to listen for it. Not to deny the seriousness of life, but to baptize life today with a different kind of truth. Truth that reminds us of our Creator’s presence no matter what happens next.
Thanks for visiting!
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 13 October 2020
Poem and image found at tumblr.com
Telling the Truth 
Love the naming of cats! 🙂
Hope Smudge is healed soon! I hope he will be protesting your piano playing again soon. 😉 😀
(((HUGS))) 🙂
PS…we just found out recently our doggy Cooper has a heart murmur. They want to run all kinds of expensive tests.
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I laughed out loud when I saw that poem! Smudge’s formal name (three names!) was made up by our granddaughters (who found him), and our grandson! He’s better today, though quite subdued. I’m still in a bit of shock since overall he’s been a very healthy kitty. I wouldn’t mind seeing a bit of his independent ways right now! 🙂 I hope your Cooper can get some help. Smudge is on a teeny tiny 1/4 of a baby aspirin every other day. He’s now able to walk on his hind left foot. I’ll be thrilled when I see (or hear!) him tearing up and down the stairs at will! 🙂 Hugs back to you, Carolyn!
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I’m so glad Smudge is feeling some better. 🙂
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Hugs and healing for your beloved Smudge. Perhaps he’s getting a developed ear for your playing. Hope all is well in the world of Queen Elouise and King David. Waiting for cooler weather here…someday perhaps.
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Thank you, Kim! Smudge is doing better today–after last night’s first dose of aspirin (1/4 of a baby aspirin!) to dissolve any clot that (it seems) is in his rear foot. He still favors his foot, but is able to get around., though in a more subdued way than we’re used to. The King and Queen are doing well, though I have to admit I feel almost totally cut off from whatever that world was that we used to live in. We’ve had some pleasant cooler weather this week. I’d love to have more. Hugs right back to you! I hope your writing is going splendidly. 🙂
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So good to hear, yes, it’s been a whirlwind crazy year and between writing books, etc… I am now back to work at the clothing store. Finally managed to release a book of poetry last week, so that’s the latest excitement, and joined NaNoWriMo for November to churn out the next tale. I’m loving the process, tired of the world as it is, and hoping to create more beauty to add to it❤️hope you’re feeling good, too…winters coming, brrrr…never made it north to see my family…depressing, but gotta do it. Hugs and love and give Sir Smudge a cuddle for me😊
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Well, well, well. Elouise in the midst of America’s eruption into chaos you have finally plumbed the depths of truth. It’s the cat that matters. Throw Trump to the trash. The cats will win.
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Sounds good to me! 🙂 Cats Rule!!!!!
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