I think we had a close call last night. Around 9:30 or so, Fred said to me, "I think I smell skunk."
     We knew Woody was outside and we both remembered when he had tangled with a skunk many years ago and what a time we had with him. (He was sprayed right in his face, came in with his eyes closed and watering and we had a hard time getting him cleaned up - plus, he smelled every damp day for weeks afterwards!)
     Fred went to the front door and I went to the kitchen door, both of us expecting a skunk-oil drenched cat again. He was on the deck and VERY anxious to get in the house when Fred opened the door. He didn't let him in right away because we wanted to be sure he didn't spread the smell all through the house. But he was ok - except he was all puffed up, tail twice as big as normal, and couldn't wait to get inside. There was no visible sign of the skunk outside, but we knew he'd been around, for sure!
     Woody was very happy to spend the rest of the evening with us in the house. This is very unusual. He normally wants to be outside as soon as it gets dark. We go along with that to a point since lately he's been hanging out close by and always comes in before our bed time - no more all-nighters! Like most of us humans, he has become more cautious and sensible with age. 
     So we think we dodged a bullet last night. However, there's more to this story. Usually Woody is very anxious to go first thing  in the morning. However, this morning he peeked out the door but refused to go out. There was no sign or smell of skunk, but apparently the memory was still with Woody and he was taking no chances. He is curled in the sun up on his bench in front of the big living room window, safe and happy and skunk free!