Change is difficult for Boo. He thrives with a peaceful environment, as consistent a schedule as possible and limited and much discussed changes. Even then, change can be unsettling and daunting. Boo's biggest concern during the papal conclave was that he'd have difficulty remembering the name of the new Pope. His hope was that the new Pope would choose the name of a recent previous Pope. That would certainly have made this change easier for him.
Boo was sleeping when I heard that we had a new Pope. I woke him and, after his immediate prayers of thanksgiving, he asked what the Pope's name was.
"Pope Francis. He's from Argentina."
Absolute silence...and then tears.
I waited. I had no idea what was going through his mind.
"Pope Francis. He's chosen Boudreaux's name so that I can remember it."
(For those who don't know, Boudreaux is Boo's cat, his "four legged son" and his constant companion. Boo insisted that he had to have four names "like a proper Cajun" when we first adopted him as a tiny kitten. Thus, this little tiger cat became Francis Clawed Boudreaux Guidry.)
Well, I'm pretty sure our new Pope didn't choose Francis because of Boudreaux. On the other hand, Boo remembered Pope Francis' name this morning with no difficulty. A fact that pleases him no end. In the midst of a life when the ordinary is often confusing and sometimes frightening, Boo remembers and already feels a connection to Pope Francis.
The three Francis in Boo's life...
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| St Francis of Assisi |
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| Pope Francis |
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| Boo and Francis Clawed Boudreaux Guidry |
