Updates: reunion, Max, July Eliot

Okay, we have a lot of ground to cover, so let's get on with it. I don't know if I'll be able to post again before the 18th, so here goes.

On Thursday last, I got up very early, hit the 5:10 a.m. ferry and hightailed it for Moses Lake, to catch a day with my sister and her family. I'd left the cats plenty of food, covered the bed carefully to discourage urinary punishments by Maxwelton, and though I was a bit worried about whether Max would beat up on Loosy, I figured my precautions would cover all the bases otherwise.

Friday I got a message from the catsitter: Max had pried open the window screen in my bedroom (don't ask me how he did it) and had left the premises. Gone. Disappeared. And though she had looked everywhere outdoors, he was not to be found. She was distraught, I was philosophical though a little worried. I told her to put some dry food outside on the deck and that he'd likely be back eventually.

Also Friday I had left Moses Lake and headed south to Pendleton, where I'd rented a motel room (air conditioned---a necessity out there) and gussied up for the reunion. After all, I was going to be seeing people I hadn't seen for 50 years and wanted to look less like the preacher's pious daughter and more like the more worldly preacher.

The reunion was a blast and I'll tell you more about that at some point. This morning, I left P'ton at 6 a.m. and drove for 8 hours to get to Seabeck, where I am about to fall into bed to sleep the sleep of the overly tired and formerly tipsy. But imagine my delight to get an email from the catsitter informing me that Max had returned.

Hallelujah!