During the last week, I had occasion to leave the house through the back door, which takes me by the storage room, and the bomb shelter on my way out. I try to take a walk each day, for reasons of health, and because it is a time when I can think things out. It has a very calming influence on me. My dear cat, Nechama, often accompanies me on these walks.
http://tzelem-enosh.blog.co.uk/2005/09/27/meeting_nechama~205006/

Nechama last year:
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On my way out, I noticed a little puddle in the hall of the condominium. It is often like that. How well is the first hint of disaster described by Camus in 'The Plague'. You have the feeling that all is not right, but you're not sure. Sometimes you avoid the thought of "what it could be", and sometimes you just hope it's something else. Perhaps the cleaning people left that puddle in their hurry to finish up work?

By the end of the week, the puddle having been cleaned and then having reappeared, it was obvious that I had a problem. A plumber was called. He checked here and there, and finally said that it might be a big job. It could be that this leak was related to the central heating, in which case it would be the responsibility of the entire building. But he thought it very possible that this was my problem. That is, a break down of some pipes in my apartment. In either case, it could mean breaking down walls and opening floors in order to find the cause of this leak.

Of course, even when it comes to disasters, there are better and worse; bigger and smaller. This was a minor disaster. Aside from the money it would cost to repair the damage, it would mean severe discomfort as walls and floors were excavated for the repair. There would be some time without peace and quiet.

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backyard cats

And this new disaster reminds me of something I learned as I got older. When I was young, I thought 'normal' was easy going, coasting with inertia, good health, and a few coins in my pocket. I enjoyed a good adventure… and sometimes something would go wrong. I would get sick, or the car would break down, or friends would get sick or get thrown in jail… or I'd lose my way, or lose my address book. And when things got really complicated, I would start longing for normality. But somewhere, later down the line, I realized that life itself was full of ups and downs, and the point was to go with the motion. Like on a boat or a ship; you fight the motion and you get motion sickness. You have to learn to go with it.

Well, wish me luck. I think I've got another adventure ahead of me.