Always Some Accident in....

"There is always some accident in the best of things, whether thoughts or expression or deeds. The memorable thought, the happy expression, the admirable deed are only partly ours."--H. D. Thoreau, Journal, 1859

Today is a bittersweet day, since it marks the second anniversary of the death of Shiloh, the elderly stray cat who had been part of our family less than ten months. I still think of him as our old Gentleman Cat, a dark gray-and-white tabby, who found his way here for Thanksgiving Day 2006. And perhaps the last happy memory I cherish of Shiloh is observing him come to a halt upon discovering a sleeping Rebel sprawled across his path in the bedroom. Shiloh, who was afraid of dogs, could no longer jump. Therefore, I would have expected gentle Shiloh to turn around and go back out the way he had come into the room. Instead, I watched him debate about his next course of action. I chuckled when, much to my surprise, Shiloh decided to take the shortest route, which was walking on top of Rebel's body, as if it were something he did every day. Needless to say, Rebel (who would not hurt a cat, by the way) was also astonished to see that Shiloh had been the one taking this unchartered cat route. Had it been one of the younger cats, I am sure Rebel would have at least muttered something in protest, but since it was Shiloh, our old Gentleman Cat, Rebel resumed his sleep in silence.