Aging My Way
I just realized I’m missing 18 cats – although I don’t own a single one.
Some people start a task and then finish it before starting 10 other projects. That’s not me. I get bored or distracted, bereft of ideas or anxious that I’m going to miss something, and then I go off on multiple tangents, leaving behind unfinished manuscripts, art work, and numerous other projects.
I don’t know if its old age setting in or something else, but I’ve decided to either finish a multitude of unfinished writing projects and folders full of art projects – or toss them as lost causes. I want to clear the decks for new ideas and new projects after crossing into new territory and a new season in my life.
Regarding the missing cats, I just came across the folder containing my artistic depictions of 12 cats. Eighteen, I realized, were missing. Almost two years ago, my brain reminded me, I had undertaken an art challenge to draw 30 cats. I even blogged about the challenge and posted art of the first cat on Feb. 3, 2021. That was followed by posts featuring 11 more cats.
As I recall, I had wanted each of the cats to be different, but that after 12, I ran out of ideas. I meant to think on the cat project a day or two and then complete it. But, of course, that never happened.
I’m not willing to toss the idea yet, however, so here’s Cat No. 13, with more to follow if the ideas flow. Age has given me the wisdom to stop making so many promises to myself … and the freedom to let each day take me where it will. I’m liking that.
Meanwhile, I’m now only missing 17 cats.
Pat Bean is a retired award-winning journalist who lives in Tucson with her canine companion, Scamp. She is an avid reader, the author of Travels with Maggie available on Amazon (Free on Kindle Unlimited), is always searching for life’s silver lining, and these days aging her way – and that’s usually not gracefully.
Pat Bean's blog 
A pile of unfinished but underway projects is the sign of an active and creative mind, age regardless. You should see mine!
And we two do have active and creative minds, don’t we Charlie?
Planning for a Thanksgiving dinner out with you while I am there but leacing before the holiday, Love, Robert
Sounds good Robert.
I keep saying some day in my head and then I get a burst of energy take it out of the closet, look at it and then get overwhelmed, and then place back in the closet with nothing accomplished – ha! Loving the title of your post today – makes me think about multiples of things I am missing. Happy Day – Enjoy 🙂
As my former journalism colleage Charlie said, A pile of unfinished but underway projects is the sign of an active and creative mind, age regardless.
I too go off on tangents and need to go back and see what I have left in the wake. Maybe with cold weather setting in sometime this month, I’ll stay in and do that.
I love cats, cat pictures, and would love to see your drawings. I have always had a cat, now Miss Betty who is part-Siamese, part-tabby but mostly mutt. Blind in one eye which is why she was at the shelter so long. I watch her lying in the sun on her back and wish I could achieve that state of bliss.
Thanks for the kind words. I’ve owned and loved cats in the past but one dog is all I can handle these days. Keep writing, Lucy.