This is what I open my eyes to every morning. I never know how long my cat Freya’s been sitting there, staring at me as I sleep, but I know what she wants: she’s been on a no-snacking-at-night diet, and she gets a little eager for breakfast.

This morning, as I was just lying back, waiting for the oomph to drag myself out of bed, I started wondering if Freya is aware of the passage of time, or is it always “now” to her. I could find no clue in her big green eyes, but I think it’s the latter because…

the past is remembered

in the here and now,

and the future is imagined

in the here and now,

but the present is real

in the here and now–

freya may be right:

it has always been now

and it always will be

–photo by me