The Blessing of Quiet

a quiet dawn

Objectively speaking, this is not a remarkable scene, but it is very special to me. It’s the view at dawn from the door of my workshop. The building is actually an old garage for farm equipment and is about about a hundred yards behind the house.

Soon after we moved here nearly four years ago, I spotted an apparently stray black cat. I managed to tame him rather quickly and named him Clyde. My four year old granddaughter called him “Clydie” and it stuck.

Clydie

Soon, Clydie’s companion Bonnie arrived. She’s always been far more shy than Clydie, and despite my best efforts, I have yet to touch her. Originally, the Blacks (Bonnie is a black cat also) hung around the house and lived underneath it. I would have loved for them to come indoors, and Clydie did a few times. But both preferred the outdoors.

Over time, as three more cats arrived, Bonnie and Clydie relocated their home base to the shop. I now go down there each morning and night to feed them and socialize as best I can. I see Bonnie a few times a week, and Clydie most days. If I see Clydie in the morning, I sit in a camp chair in the doorway with Clydie on my lap. We settle in for as long as he wants and see what there is to see.

Birds fly around or sit on the power lines, leaves blow in the wind, clouds drift slowly across the sky, the shadows stretch out as the sun rises, my sister’s horse grazes, and we wait to see whatever else the morning has for us. Clydie purrs and makes biscuits. Sometimes I talk with him quietly. Always, I tell him how much I love him and how happy I am that we’re together. Often, I wish he would be an indoor cat so we could spend more time together, but Clydie’s lifestyle is his choice, not mine.

I treasure these quiet, still times with Clydie. They renew my soul and fill my heart with gratitude.

I wish similar times of quiet and renewal for you. Happy Thanksgiving.