Guest photographer 1

 My friend from Japan came to see me again this summer.  First off, she took more pictures of me this time than I’ve ever seen in one of her summer visits.

My Blacky Cat and me playing on my bed.  I didn’t realize I’m getting thinish on top until I saw this… Maybe it’s the light.

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Look at those claws!  He usually doesn’t hurt me… but he did send me to the hospital when he was one year old.  I hadn’t gotten him "fixed" yet and he was doing the wildcat thing.  I figured I’d close him into the bathroom until he calmed down, so I went to grab him and toss him into the bathroom.

It was a very bad idea.  He clawed and bit me and by the next morning, my right hand was a ballon – twice it’s usual size, infected, and p a i n f u l.  He has never again hurt me like that… but I did get him "fixed" two days later.

If you ever go to pick up a wild cat, use a towel and wrap him up FIRST.

Heavy leather gloves might not be a bad idea either.

This is my friend A.  We spent  lot of time at his house this year.

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This A’s cat, Riley.  He was/is my first Oregon cat – not "mine" but he likes me a lot and purrs for me every time.  He is at least 17 years old now, but he’s always been gray.

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Me and Blacky Cat.

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15 – 18 years ago, these women were my English students.  K* took over the class for me when I left Japan in 1996, and they meet every month, still.  They get to see these pics in print… and they want to come see "my" Oregon.

I met them all in 1985, the first time I lived in Japan.  If I hadn’t have posted that pic of me and Blacky on the bed, I’d tell you they’ve aged since I first met them while I’ve stayed pretty much the same.

I’d say that, but… I couldn’t keep a straight face.  They are all about the same age as me.

 

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cont’d