Beautiful day yesterday. Had all the house windows open to feel the fresh air.

I was cleaning the floor on my hands and knees and faintly heard howling angry cats. I drop my cloth, run to the back door, put on my rubber boots and dash down the driveway to find the source of the bawling.

There…on the rock wall, my cat, Richard, and a black cat. Not touching. Not moving. Just meowing with a yowl. Over and over and over.

What is going on? I ask.

The black cat sprints off and Richard turns to look at me. He looks fine.

Grateful.

I head home and finish cleaning the floor.

A lot of my days include repetitious motions. It’s good to know that love trumps rituals.

When we hear the cry of our pets or of another human being, we can leave the expected, the familiar, the repetition, and offer our services.