Harry Houdini was, perhaps, the greatest escape artist ever known.  His name became and so far has remained synonymous with the ability to escape.  None could build a trap he could not find a way out of.

There have been many other escape artists, of course.  I doubt there’s been a prison, cage or trap invented that somebody hasn’t found a way to free themselves from it.  That applies both to humans and the rest of the animal kingdom; no mouse or rat trap has been made which some rodent didn’t manage to elude.

There is, however, one thing even Houdini could not escape, and that is death.  He died on Halloween of 1926.  To my knowledge, he has not returned from the dead, nor has anyone else.  Oh, sure, there have been those who woke up in morgues or coffins because people thought they were dead, but such folks simply stopped breathing for a moment and then resumed when no one was looking.

I look forward to the possibility of immortality.  There are scientists–notably Aubrey de Grey–who have claimed that the first person to live to be a thousand is alive today.  As Mr. de Grey was born only a few months before me and is likely highly concerned with being one of those first persons to live that long, I have high hopes I might be one, too.

It won’t be soon enough, though.  The reason I am on this topic today–a topic I have rambled on about before–is that my cat is dying.  I will be taking her to the vet tomorrow morning, but her condition is poor enough that I am guessing they will recommend she be put down.  It’s not that she’s suffering particularly; her body just seems to be failing.  She’s fourteen years old, though, so it’s not unexpected, but it still hurts.

I know, I know.  The research on life extension is aimed at humans.  But I am sure that as techniques are developed to arrest and hopefully reverse aging in humans, people will apply them to their pets as well.  Certainly, the initial testing will be on animals anyway, so extending them to our beloved furry companions isn’t much of a stretch.  I just wish the technology was already here and affordable.  Shadow hasn’t died yet, but already I miss her.

See you tomorrow, after her appointment.  Maybe.