Onyx went missing for just about 24 hours. We were heartsick during his uncharacteristic absence. Late Saturday afternoon there he was in the driveway, appearing as suddenly as he had disappeared. He headed straight for Michael's lap in the patio and the guys just sat together in comfortable silence for an hour. Then it was time for me to secure him and the three other outside cats into the garage for their dinners and safe beds. Onyx ran ahead of me to his own space, obviously ready and grateful for his meal and a good night's sleep.
But not even his wildest kitty dreams could envision the cloud effect that I saw minutes later behind our house. The setting sun in the west shared some of its splendor with the eastern sky, and the clouds seemingly could not contain their joy.
We understood. It was an altogether beautiful evening to be alive.
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