My cat Gus

It’s been raining. The morning air is cool and the sky is overcast. Chickens are clucking and scratching for bugs that the rain has driven from their lairs. And I’m pondering the span of our lives and how to balance feeling happy and feeling sad.

I have an elderly cat. He’s about 13 years old and while he is losing weight rapidly the vet can diagnose no particular problem. I’m convinced he has gone senile and has arthritis. Well, an elderly kitty has to die from something and I figure he’s on his way towards his transition to where ever cats go in the afterlife.

For the last three weeks, I have focused on the film Tony and I made about elderly people who live in East Texas. We made that film six years ago and I do not doubt that one or two of our interview subjects have made their transitions too. These transitions might have been described by Obi-Wan Kenobi as “Disturbances in the force.” We each feel and describe the process differently, but regardless all people make their presences felt as they flow through life.

I’d like each reader to take half an hour and re-watch one of the segments of the film. Here is the link to all three segments – http://smithcreekstudios.com/wider_view/lives_lived.asp

As you watch one segment, ponder this question – If this person has made his/her transition since this film was made, what is my response?

We will discuss what you thought about at the Weekly Discussion on Aging. It will be held on Wednesday, September 19, from 8:15 a.m. until 8:45 a.m.  See the Discussion and SL tabs above for details. Link to the discussion location in Second Life – http://tinyurl.com/cjfx9ag