The Rearrangement

The rearrangement of cats on various totem poles has begun. Slowly. But it has started.

I'm worried that Brianna and Sophie aren't around much. I can always find Brianna in the basement and she's always happy to be found. Sophie is like a ghost cat. Here, then gone, not to be found in the interim.

Even Taylor seems at loose ends. I think she's busy terrorizing Brianna.

Dylan is a little extra-clingy. Blue has discovered the vacancy.

The one who initially had the hardest time was Boris. Every morning when I sat on the couch, it would be Dylan on my lap, then Gus to the left of me and Boris to the left of him. I've been giving Boris extra attention because he was so sadly lost. But now he's discovered the empty spot where Gussy used to sit and has come closer.

It continues.

And as for me, I still have not realized the full extent of how Gussy ran my life.

I've begun clearing out the many spaces, blankets, special places where Gussy ate to get away from the other cats, however briefly.

It reminds me of recovering from the death of a person who died after a long illness. You don't realize that you have pills, boxes of hypodermics, bottles of medicine, special pillows, special equipment, wash cloths, wipes, blankets that were used to make the patient rest a little easier. You're unsure of how exactly to pack it all away, but you know that you have to.