Struggling, relatively!

Yes, I am struggling. I don't want to make a big fuss about it, and I wonder how many others feel the same way. I hear often, when people parade by in "my" coffee shop: "Hey, how are you?" Dutifully I say: "Oh fine!" No one would favorably react to: "I am struggling!"

When I am REALLY struggling I would probably not even come in. Still, there are times, that I would like to "let my hair down". Here is not the place. Yeah, and then I hear my mother's familiar saying: "One comes onto this earth alone and one needs to leave alone!"

I wonder what my cat or other animal thinks, does, feels? In my presence, the cat seems to be content. She makes the best of it - racing through the house, slipping out the back cat door or just lying around, curled up for hours at a time on a chair. Sure one's every so often she meets me on the front porch when I return home. Clearly, she expresses a need for companionship. Does she get it when in need? Well, let me tell you, I feel I don't. Not often, but now is one of those moments that I would love to hold someone's hand. Since that other hand is missing for the moment it is time to pack up and search for it. See what happens - that's what life is all about anyway!