We dedicate this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap to a "collective." You've heard of a pack of dogs. Perhaps a flock of geese. A herd of cows. A consortium of politicians. An elevator of surprises? A murder of crows. A clowder of cats?
What we've got for this edition is a Comfort of Critters.
I'll explain. And our explantory examples will be veteran snoozers Porche Noel, Wendy, Stevie Ray, William Powell and Dudley the Angels.
These snoozers don't have to be piled up together, vis a vis (that correct usage?) a "pile of puppies" or a "cuddle of kittens" or a "snuggle of snakes," Wait, that last one, like a "hill of ants," may not be for everyone.
Here's the deal. On Friday morning I did something frequently done by people labeled "septuagenarian" -- I went to a lab to have blood drawn. Last test showed the Curse of Vegetarians -- low iron. This test showed not low iron. So, moving along with renewed energy (that's an iron joke)....
After the most painless blood draw right outta my left arm, I went home and sat down to watch TV and relax until I could write again -- based on my misguided plotlines, that'll be sometime in the 22nd century if a life-extending sand is found on Mars and my insurance will pay for the treatments.
As I relaxed, I contemplated things, i.e., (a) how to get more iron into my system without eating spinach by the barrel; (b) how to rejuvenate my metabolism without enduring astronaut training in a tight aluminum foil make-believe space suit. I sat in my rockin'spouse Martha's 2nd favorite recliner and watched TV without also reading a book or a newspaper.
As I looked around the room I realized it was very quiet. Except for the TV -- had it on only about "half-loud."
What I saw in the living room was "A Comfort of Critters." An emotionally pleasing vision of dear friends happily snoozing.
To my left (top photo) there was that big lump of short-haired canine, the formerly wandering dog Porche Noel (found on the porch at Christmas). She owns the leopard-patterned couch cover.
Immediately in front of me was Wendy, i.e., Wednesday Louise Wagstaff Arden. As you can tell from that photo, I'd been watching old family reunion videos and Wendy had been looking away when she nodded off while in an impressive sit-up-dog-snooze position. [LARRY ASIDE: Kidding about the family reunion videos -- above Wendy that's a scene from Men in Black -- happened to be on TV when I snapped the shutter. Or snapped the shudder.]
The two cats? The black and white cat is former Apprentice Office Cat Stevie Ray and the other cat is William Powell, my senior office cat. William has been Stevie Ray's guiding force ever since I rescued the little guy from a mimosa tree and handed him over to William in his preferred room at our former
residence. William taught him well -- one of the earliest lessons was how to claim the back of a couch. Stevie Ray and William continue to bunk together and purr.
So, that took care of the calm and purrful atmosphere immediately in front of me
Then, I turned to the left to get my phone off the reading table and there, just on the other side of the doorway, was our big ol' Border Collie/Lab mix Dudley the Angel. He was sleeping in his "waiting place." When Martha leaves for work, Dudley stakes out a spot in the front hallway and decides to sleep and wait until either she's back home or I get up and walk into the kitchen. He loves to hear the icebox open. (I slipped into pre-war lingo there with "icebox." Why? Because "refrigerator" is a long word that slows the pace of presentation. Wait. "Presentation" is a long word, too. I'll figure it out later.
And when you're living in a house blessed with a Comfort of Critters, you don't need words that are longer than a big dog's snore. "Treat" is an appropriate short word for life with dogs and cats.
[DEAR READERS: Please send photos of your slumbering dogs and/or napping cats or any other snoozing beloved critter to dallrp@aol.com and readlarrypowell.com will proudly post the photos and their stories in our long-running weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. You'll be influencing people to consider opening their hearts and homes to an animal who becomes a member of the family. You'll also be helping insomniacs to believe they, too, can get some sleep if they can just stretch out and balance on the back of a modern living room couch.]
--- Offer snooze advice or any rock-solid lotto tips by clicking on 'comment' below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and link to your favorite lullaby from the late 1960s. ---
