Jimmy escapes, leads me to three boys who are somewhere else

It's always a struggle for me to get back to work after I return from Anchorage, especially on a roasting day like today, but finally I did. No sooner had I started to work, then Margie called through the window to inform me that Jim had gone out. So I had to get up and go search for him, but I found him with Margie at the far end of the house. He had not been outside since a few weeks ago when I discovered robins had nested in the backyard. The robins are gone now and so I decided to let him roam around a bit, which meant I had to stay outside in the scorching 80° weather for a while to watch him. Kalib had gone boating with his uncle Caleb, Jobe had gone home with his mom and dad and Lynx and was in the house raising hell. Yet thanks to Jimmy, I would soon find all three in the backyard, as you will see in my next three posts - to follow during Longmire commercial breaks.

Jim, my good black cat, wants to go surfing

"Let's go surfing "Jimmy says. "Let's go surfing right now!"

"Cat, what nonsense do you speak?" I answer. "You don't even like to swim!"

Jimmy looks at me with disgust. "Did I say 'let's go swimming?' No! I said 'let's go surfing!' I can surf without ever going swimming. Can't you?"

The road back home

Headed home. It was a short trip to Anchorage, but an important one. I am about to post this from the stop light at the corner of the Parks and Palmer-Wasilla highways.

The statue and the bus

In Anchorage, I see a statue and a bus. I am reminded how hard and bitter this life is; how beautiful and sweet. How fleeting and short.

One shot enroute

On the drive to Anchorage...