I was greeted by one of the neighborhood cats while out walking this evening. It was sitting quite comfortably in an empty ground-level bird bath, watching me as I passed by. I thought to myself how wonderful a sight--it is a shame that I have not brought my camera or even my phone with me to capture it. I wished so badly to be able to take a picture of this gentle cat before me, to be able to appreciate the delight it shared with me again sometime in the future. But I couldn’t and now I can’t!
In the moment of experiencing this portrait of life I was at the same time thinking of how I would no doubt forget it, that this was the last time I would be able to cherish it. Which is a strange thought to have, I think--isn’t it much more normal to regret the fleeting nature of things after they have fleeted away? In any case, I think that I am sad that my chance to see that cat in the bird bath is gone forever. Though perhaps I might, by some good fortune, happen upon it in that spot again. If that happens, will I think back to this first time and think how silly I was to think it would never happen again, or will I have already forgotten it ever happened?