600 in a cloud of smoke

A shroud of smoke from Canadian wildfires hovers over my neighborhood as I write this 600th column for the Tri-City Times Newspaper.

That's twelve and a half years of personal, true-to-life vignettes for readers. 

As several Biblical meanings to the number 600 are "completeness", "abundance" and "divine fulfillment", the number may also represent "judgment" and "punishment". 

I prefer to consider the positive meaning of the number, intend to write until I can no longer paint a true, sensible, meaningful picture with words. 

Yet, I've read, and friends have spoken, of the danger in breathing the smoky atmosphere, particularly pets. 

At the moment, my two beloved cats roam our property out of sight, and I'm worried for their health.

 I've called their names, yet they don't answer. And I'm feeling a bit dizzy; my common response when stressful situations press upon me.

Thankfully, writing about a difficult, human predicament, or a joyful surprise, calms me, grants clarity to the experience. 

Therefore, at this moment I focus on the positive, for Mitty and Cuddles just returned to the kitchen door, whining to enter. Oh, what relief!

I reward them with a small portion of kibbles. 

They chow down.

Cuddles, the smaller of the two sisters, aims for a dining room chair, hides behind the laced edge of the white tablecloth I inherited from my mother.

Mitty takes her post in my study as watch-cat between my writing chair before my desk, and my reading chair behind me.

Larger than her sister, I must be careful not to roll my chair back on Mitty's front paws. 

At this moment, both pets slumber while I write: a common scenario in this household.

For they've reached the age when our former cat Mo (Mozart) entered the last stage of his life. 

Thankfully, that season lasted several years.

Indeed, Mo was some cat. His gravestone in my backyard garden testifies to his longevity. 

Mo roamed, yet always returned home, albeit somewhat wounded.

Yes, Mo fulfilled a 600 life. And my heart's desire is for Mitty and Cuddles to follow in his paw prints, sans his injuries. 

What little I've read, I'm concerned about the safety of the birds that gather and sing in my trees, and the entire region affected by the fire's fallout.

I understand the ash pollutes streams and ponds, which impacts the health of farmstock and wildlife. Whatever breathes and drinks.

Dear Reader, the  evidence is clear. We live in a fallen world. Perhaps we would do well to ponder the "punishment" and "judgment" meanings of the number 600. 

Contact Iris at irisfarmletters@gmail.com