On Friday night (Joe's birthday, by the way), Homer went missing. The night before, I had only gotten a few hours of sleep, so I was quite tired that day. I conked out on the couch and when I woke up, Joe asked if I'd seen Homer. I hadn't, and we began looking. Since Homer often comes out of hiding to sleep on my legs once I go to bed, I went ahead and turned out all the lights. Joe was going to continue to look. I asked if Homer could be outside, and Joe said he didn't think so. He'd even checked outside the door and if Homer had been out, he would have been crying to get back in, right? So he must be inside. With these as my thoughts, I went to sleep. My lovely husband kept looking.

Cut to--

Joe wakes me up by walking in the room and calling my name. He said something but it didn't register. "Huh?" I asked sleepily.

"Homer was outside!" he said.

He told me the whole story. That he'd continued looking all over the apartment for him, and he just knew something was wrong. Joe went outside and after a few minutes of looking, saw him at the end of the hall. Homer walked away from him a short distance, then jumped into the planters on the wall that separates the parking garage from the four lane highway we live off of. Yes, it was 4am by this time, but still... Cars can come down the street at any moment. Joe told me his heart was pounding, and that he was scared Homer might run away or dart under a car. After a few minutes of coaxing, Homer came over to him, and Joe scooped him up, holding him in a vice grip the entire walk back to the apartment.

I sat there and listened to the story and then cried my eyes out. Joe hugged me as I thanked him for saving our cat. All the images of what could have gone wrong raced through my head. Speeding cars... Well-meaning people giving him a new home. Homer travelling as far as his little legs could carry him... Joe said he was so glad Homer didn't disappear forever, and new tears fell down my cheeks as I thought of Hannah. My sweet dog. She dug out of my dad's yard a few days in a row and the last time she did it, she was never seen again. That was a few years ago, but it still bothers me. I can't imagine going through that ever again.

Looking back, we think Homer snuck out behind me when I came in from getting the mail. We think he was outside for eight hours. He's never been outside before. And Patches! Patches has this little chirping sound she makes when she is concerned. She usually only does it when new people are in the house. She was chirping that night, and I kept saying, "What's your deal, Patches? Chill out!" Of course, now I realize she was probably upset that Homer wasn't around. I can't believe I didn't pay more attention to her. And I can't BELIEVE I was so convinced that Homer was inside that I just went to sleep. While he was wandering the streets!! Guilt was a definite contributor to my tears. But! It's all okay. Everything is okay. Joe saved the day, and is forever (and ever and ever) my ultimate hero.

For all that could have gone wrong and didn't, I'm so incredibly grateful. And I'm beyond happy to have our sweet Homer back inside where he belongs, safe and sound.