I Didn't Need that Stress
Gus was outside yesterday. When we're home and outside we let him out so he isn't alone. He always wants to be wherever we are, so usually he doesn't go very far. Yesterday, when we came in, he didn't come in with us. This happens. Sometimes he's off exploring and as soon as I get the food out and make noise he comes back for dinner.
Then the fireworks went off. One of our close neighbors began setting off huge fireworks. I normally don't mind the fireworks as much as many, but these were huge and raining debris in our backyard. James asked where Gus was, and I realized he was still outside. I called for him. No Gus. I banged his food dish. No Gus. We gave him time to come back, then called again. No Gus. James went out back to spray down our shade so firework debris wouldn't ignite it. No Gus. James went to bed and I stayed up listening for his return. No Gus. We kept the window open since he comes to the bedroom window to be let in. No Gus. After midnight, our neighbors set off another series of huge fireworks. They literally sounded like they were IN our backyard. I had begun to fall asleep, but this jolted me awake again. Still no Gus. I started telling myself he would come home or he wouldn't, and there wasn't anything I could do about it by worrying, so I could maybe get a little sleep. I was woken up by James getting up to get water and use the bathroom. It was at least 2:30 AM. I went out and checked the back door while James was in the bathroom. No Gus. I lay back down, sad, worried, and actually began to pray to a higher power (any higher power) that he would come home safe. Moments later I heard a small sound at the window; not much, just a tapping. I got up and went to the backdoor. THERE WAS A GUS! James had said before he fell asleep, "He'll be back at like 2:30 AM." And he was, nearly on the dot.
And that's the story of how I didn't sleep last night, before having to have a meeting with JPL.