Audrey usually wakes me up at dawn but today I woke by myself and found her at the foot of the bed, ignorning me. I could not get her to cuddle. She's reacting to the changes in the house - no fern to hide under, no rug under the dining room table to sharpen her claws. Now she's sitting near me but not looking at me, the tip of her tail flicking her discontent.
I'm taking a break today, going to Fresno to visit Izabel. Scrabble, lunch. When she first moved into her apartment building I found it depressing. Overheated. Stuffy. Her two small rooms dark boxes. But in the last nine months it's been transformed into a magical world where I become transformed too. The deep reds she uses to decorate resonate with me. I love to see how she's used the previous tenants plant hooks to hang Indian banners - I think I even gave her some darling little elephants. And of course the apartment if filled with cat incarnations. I leave the modern world and enter the timeless space that feels and smells exotic and am greeted by my dramatic Polish friend, clanking with bracelets, excited to share with me her latest adventures in cyber-space. Izabel reminds me of my mother's best friend, Jo Lathwood, who was an independent spirit, full of life, color and laughter. I can't wait to unpack Jo's paintings and hang them on the walls of our house in Kerrville. I'm so lucky to have had both of these wise older women in my life. Straightforward, outspoken, opinionated, funny and fun, curious, always learning. When I was with Jo and when I'm with Izabel it's as if we're both young and old - girls and crones - timeless ageless spirits whirling through the world enjoying the ride.
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