Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Henry’s company during the winter of 2018
First there were little paw prints in a dusting of snow, at my front door and then at my back door. I began seeing a small black cat lingering around the house. He started hanging out under the porch. I fed him from time to time and we became friends. He talked a LOT and was a character so I named him Henry.
I’m an animal lover so before I knew it, I was buying a heated small cat house which I put in my mud room, and used a bungee cord to prop the door open so he could get in and out. He wasn’t neutered so I didn’t allow him in the house. The picture of his head amidst the snow is after a storm, when I was shoveling a path for my dog Sonny (sweet hearted big eyed big eared Corgi).
Which is another story – Sonny was mildly afraid of Henry. When we went on dog walks, Henry always wanted to come along. Which subsequently meant Sonny did NOT want to go for the walk. I ended up picking up Henry and carrying him during our walks to the river – he was perfectly happy hanging out in my arms and looking around while I walked!
Henry hung out from Fall to late Spring, but got fed up when one of the great pyrenees dogs that watches the sheep kept chasing him. I think he now lives down the road where I’ve seen many black cats at one house. Henry did come visit once during the summer, talking away as usual, I believe letting me know he is okay. He was a good companion during the long Montana winter, that Henry cat.
