Tom saw Midnight, the Cutoff’s reigning feline, sauntering up the driveway at the crack of dawn. He is not our cat. He just likes to visit. We welcome him when he comes around and have come to look for him, worrying on days he doesn’t stroll by.
Midnight first arrives up front, skulking round the perimeter of the island. I wish he would bring the newspaper with. If the garden hose is still out, which it usually is, he’ll go to the connection to see if any water is dripping out. There wasn’t any today, so, he hopped onto the front porch, but he couldn’t reach the doorbell, so he wandered to the back. I opened the back door and walked around to the deck, when a big PLOMP sounded and there was Midnight on the top step, meowing. We greeted each other and he arched his back in a long stretch, letting me pet him for the very first time. I asked him if he’d had breakfast and he said no, so, I went inside to get a little bowl of milk.
Midnight paced at the back door, purring with anticipation, his bright green eyes staring in, wondering what was taking me so long. Cats can sometimes be rather imperious, can’t they? I slowly set the little red Fiestaware bowl onto the pavement, the jet black cat pushing up against my hand, anxious to take his first lap of milk.
Back in the kitchen, I poured a cup of tea, wondering where Midnight would show up next, just as his sleek black fur skirted past the doors to the deck. I think he said thanks as he sauntered over to one of the few chairs with a cushion, and settled in for a morning nap.
Midnight.
At our Oasis.
Well, how nice of Midnight to drop by. Do you know what people he owns? He is just beautiful. Your choice of music is fun and something I hadn’t heard in ages. At my house, when animals come they seem to stay so I hope Midnight has a nice home of his own.
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We don’t know what people belong to Midnight, but, he seems well fed, wears a sleek and shiny coat of fur, and is pretty friendly. He seems to come from the same direction. I think he’s either coming here first thing in the morning – or last thing after a night on the town. I worry about him with the coyotes we have around, but, he seems to know the lay of the land. We’ve only seen one other cat in all the time we’ve been here. It’s funny how he comes to all the doors, looking for us. Life is grand.
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Aren’t you glad you were home and in a position to have such a nice conversation with Midnight! The timing just must have been right for him to trust a bit more. He knows the right house to visit, and then persistently pursue a little lap of milk so I have a feeling you’ll be seeing more of Midnight now! I had a little startle to see that Maria Muldaur’s wonderful song was 1974! I can’t believe that! LOL! I think you’ll have to be sure you always have milk on hand now, Penny! 🙂 D
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I am, indeed, Debra. It would have been a shame to have missed out on that. It is pouring down rain here this morning, so, if Midnight is around, he’s hiding somewhere sheltered, smart cat that he is. Isn’t it amazing? It is fun to hunt down old songs on the internet, then we realize how long ago they first played. Enjoy your day.
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Well, I’d guess that you’ve just made a friend for life. Plan on lots of Midnight special visits.
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Midnight specials – love it, Juliet. Our horizons have broadened with a cat.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this. Wouldn’t it be an intriguing world if Midnight showed up with the morning paper? Hopefully, yours and not the neighbors. What a sweet visitor. I would love to have a cat again, but I fear it would not appreciate Buddy’s man-handling of it. Or his attempts at it. I sometimes wish for my own Midnight visitor who comes and goes just enough to give me a little extra company. I suppose I should clarify: of the cat variety.
Love that song.
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I’m so pleased that you did, Teresa. I would be the envy of the block if Midnight delivered the paper. We always had cats, but, allergies ended that some years ago, so, this visitor is quite welcome. Here’s hoping you have a feline visitor of your own. One that you can enjoy and Buddy will leave be.
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Penny—Oh Joy, joy, joy to hear your “horizons have broadened” thanks to this little fellow! Black cats are some of the most loving cats we have had among many. One lived to be 19 and the last one just passed away this Feb. at the age of 9. Our current new “visitor” Ollie, seems to be settling in and is the first one in the garage now to eat. I guess he isn’t a visitor anymore!
Midnight at the Oasis is one of those songs that make me remember people and places from what seems to have been another life. All good stuff.
This post made me happy for a whole lot of reasons.
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You’ve brought a smile to my face just now, Marilyn, and I thank you for it. That is so with black cats, isn’t it? 19 years seems long, even for a cat and now you have Ollie is a regular. I find myself looking outside, seeing if Midnight is out and about most mornings now. It is fun and comforting as well.
It does seem like another life when first we heard Midnight at the Oasis. I couldn’t believe the song goes back to 1974. Time passes.
I’m so pleased to hear that. Stay happy.
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You painted Midnight perfectly, Penny 🙂
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Thank you, Kate.
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What a beautiful visit, and a fabulous link. Living in 2 places now, I no longer have a cat of my own, and delight in the vists of local felines….in France or in Yorkshire. They all seem similarly aloof and in control.I love them.
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That is so nice of you to say, Janice. Thank you. These local felines become a part of the neighborhood, don’t they? Ours, here, on the Cutoff, yours there in France and Yorkshire. Cats are the same, it seems, everywhere, and lucky for us that they are.
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How nice to have such a visitor! We have had 3 black cats over the years: Simon, Lucky and now we have Waggy ( because he wags his tail like a dog). The first two rescued and Waggy was born here – neighbor’s cat. They have all been so friendly and loving. Pet Midnight for me if you get the chance!
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Next time Midnight comes around, I’ll be sure to pet him, Joyce, and I’ll tell him about Waggy, as well as Simon and Lucky. Black cats all. I love the names of all of your cats. Hope all is well with you.
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Wonderful post — lucky Midnight with his very own oasis . Cats usually ARE imperious aren’t they? I’m pretty sure there’s not the slightest bit of a chance that you’ll ever get him to bring in the newspaper when he drops by!
(I always loved that song btw — thanks for the ‘earworm’. )
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Ha! That would be the grandest thing, wouldn’t it, Sallie? A cat fetching the paper. If he ever does, I you will be the first to know.
We didn’t see him on Saturday night, but Friday, while eating dinner, Tom said he thought Midnight was on the deck, meowing. Well, there he was, at the door, looking for a handout, which I, of course, promptly provided.
Earworm. Love it!
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Your Midnight looks just like our Peppa. Adore black cats.
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Me, too. Midnight manages to saunter by most days now. We are lucky.
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