2023.10.DisappearingMoment
I'm writing this with my little cat, Suki, on my lap. If you know our four cats, she's the smallest. The one who wears a collar.
Suki is dying a lot faster than the rest of us. She hasn't eaten much in the last few days. Her back legs, which stopped working well a couple of months ago, have gotten much worse. She sleeps, drinks, and toddles.
She also yells. Her meows became more forceful when she went deaf about a year ago. Not that being deaf bothers her. (Nothing bothers her.) The world added more surprises. You're scratching my cheeks! How wonderful! I didn't even know you were there!
In her youth, she was a daredevil. She would seek out ways to explore the limits of her leaping ability. She was cool in a way that helped me understand what we mean by cool. She loved a party and she loved being alone. She had a sense of humor that didn't involve belittling others or herself. She would come when we called because she knew we would only call her if we had something fun in mind. Our attention made her feel loved. Her attention made us feel seen, appreciated, vibrant.
We know what we need to do. We know it needs to happen soon.
I tested positive for Covid this morning. Beth is getting sick and seems likely to test positive in the next day. We hope Suki can hold on until it's safe to bring a veterinarian into our home. We'd like for her last experience to be somewhere she feels safe. Nothing bad should ever happen to this little cat.
The world is full of unspeakable horror. It's more than anyone can bear. The idea that one little cat, one tiny bit of light, can live a life of joy and comfort and wonder. It feels like something. Like a bulwark. A possibility.
Welcome to October 2023’s Disappearing Moment, an inventory of my experiences. I hope you enjoy it.
Podcasts
- Overthink (I Liked It): Hot, young philosophy professors discuss edgy topics. What’s not to like?
- Taboo Science (I Liked It): Ashley Hamer asks good questions, interviews thoughtful scientists, and keeps things moving.
Nerdy Software
AppCleaner removes all signs of an app when it's time for it to go. Testing apps is more fun when I know there's no downside.
Bougie Products
Yoder Leather Company's makes one vegan item. Its Forever Belt is the best made vegan belt I've had, and also the most versatile.
Personal Finance and Investing
Investment Clubs are like book clubs or co-ops. You pool some fun money and decide how to invest it. I've learned a lot through mine.
Reading
Deena Kastor, Let Your Mind Run (2018) (I Liked It): For Kastor, each race becomes its own compelling story. That's difficult to do. She makes me want to be a better runner.
Subscriptions
- Amazon Prime (I wish I didn't like it so much)
- AmeriHealth (health insurance)
- AppleCare+ (for my iPhone)
- Apple Music (no Spotify for me)
- Bear App (I'm testing it as a replacement for Simplenote)
- Buttondown (newsletter hosting)
- Costco (joined this month; we'll see how it goes)
- Delta Dental (is there dental insurance that isn't annoying?)
- Fastmail (email and calendar)
- Gandi (domain registrar)
- John Hancock (life insurance)
- MacroFactor (the only food logger I like)
- Namecheap (domain registrar)
- NJM (auto, home, and umbrella insurance)
- Overcast (podcast app)
- Philadelphia Art Museum (one of my favorite places)
- Pinboard (bookmark app)
- Planet Fitness (basic membership)
- Running Coach (Marc Pelerin)
- Sourcehut (code and website hosting)
- USAA (life insurance)
- Verizon (home internet)
- Visible (data, voice, and text)
Thanks for spending a few moments with me. I look forward to corresponding again next month.
Brett
No large language models were used in the production of the Disappearing Moment newsletter or website (inspired by RFC 9518 Appendix A ¶ 4 and Tantek Çelik).