Cat in a spool of sun

I was watching Kitty O this morning as he performed his morning ablutions. It's amazing how he picks the one spot on the carpet that is bright with sun, the same spot that is in the middle of the room, so everyone has to go around him. He really does think he is the king of cats so perhaps I really should change his name to Tybalt.

I have remarked about his ballet-like movements in an earlier post and those are still there, the leg extended so he almost looks slim :-). This time as I watched, I saw him lick his paw and rub his cheek. Lick his paw and rub his cheek, going back and forth, the same small area, until he was sure he was clean.

Ah, to be a cat when I am editing. Kitty O did it with such finesse, such patience, and for what? Do I really care if every fur on his body is clean? I love him no matter what. Yet when I edit, I often rush to move on, to get to the next page. If there is a beauty in the cleanliness of one fur, then surely there is a beauty in choosing the right word.

But after some time, what did I do? I circled around him, to get to my chores. To delay the editing process.

But perhaps because I write this blog, I am processing what I witnessed this morning and come the time when I am editing the second Commissioner Oscar D'Costa mystery, I will recall that marvelous sequence of paw to cheek and use it, fingers to words.

My readers, I hope will appreciate the time and energy...and intelligence. :-)