Mrs. Hold still cringes most times when I reach for her for Affection. She may always do so. If she does, that puts an upper limit on how good our relationship will ever be for me. Serves me right for being a puppy who married a cat.

If I can do a better job of running the Men's Club, and have some additional male social activity, that should go a long way to ameliorating that pain. Getting old and not being as horny has made this significantly easier. I doubt we could have made any progress 10 years ago.

Not that we have really made any progress. She has not changed her behavior much. I have not learned much acceptance. I just can't summon the energy to complain as much.

When you can see it coming, duck!