February 15, 2003
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As
I sat down at my computer keyboard to write this issue of the web-e-zine,
I began to think of my experiences living with cats. My intent was
to include a wee bit of information in my column, and then use the body
of the newsletter to relate the painting process that goes along with the
subject. As is common, when you have cats, the whole thing got out
of hand. These following experiences are just the "tip of the iceberg",
as it were, of the whole feline agenda. Yes, I love to do portraits
of cats. I adore catching them in repose; actively pursuing a wind-up
toy; or primping their lovely appearance. Sometimes they are
at their best when looking out of a window, fully alert, wide eyed and
poised.
I have discovered that cat lovers love all cats. Although they
may be partial to a particular breed, or even a favorite color, feline
folks will enjoy the "full menu". So too, I, when I begin to
paint these elusive creatures, look for any and all the traits that I admire,
and convey that in pastel on paper for cat enthusiasts everywhere.
Next Issue: The Industrial Landscape
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Cat Tales
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| Cats, of course, are
smart, crafty, loveable and maddening. They woo their way into your
good graces, and reject you just when you want to show them off to your
new neighbor. They complain, pout and lie. "Feed me!"
they will demand. "I haven't eaten in three days!", (And you just
opened a can of food this morning.) They will rule the home as any
foreign monarch. The instant some smelly old dog sets foot on the
front step, however, they will scat for the nearest dark, high place and
glare in silence as you try to explain that the dog was at the wrong door,
and you were helping the kid from down the street to round him up. Never
mind the coaxing. His (her) majesty will treat you like a stranger
for the rest of the day. They will stalk around from room to room,
their noses drawn back in disgust as if the invading canine had marked
every nook and cranny of their domain.
"They will stalk around from
room to room, their noses drawn back in disgust..."
If you have ever lived with a cat, you know
how cunning they can be. Suppose it is time to leave for a quick
trip to the grocery store. (In this case, the food is for humans,
and cat food is definitely not on the list.) You want to put the
cat out and set the security alarm. (As soon as you leave, your precious
pet will gallop throughout the house setting off every motion sensor in
the entire building. I believe they can actually open doors and pull
down ladders to the attic!) So you try to locate Puss. Now,
usually a ball with a bell inside sends them into ecstasy, drawing them
from their hiding places. No response. Ah! The hum of
the can opener works every time. Still, the cat remains in hiding.
Not so much as a tiny squeak can be heard. You search all the last
known hiding places, |
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even some that they haven't discovered yet.
So, you give up, bypass all the inside sensors and do your shopping.
When you return three hours later, you are greeted with a smug grin accompanied
by a whiney "Well, what did you get for me?"
Cats are certainly loveable. There is
no one who would deny that they have their own habit of meticulous cleanliness.
When a feline brushes its magnificent silky fur coat against your arm or
leg, and looks beguilingly into your eyes, you find it nearly impossible
to remember the quirks and tantrums so recently displayed. When you
have settled into your favorite chair with a good novel; when you
sit down at the computer keyboard to catch up on the e-mail; when
you relax with a long anticipated bowl of your favorite of the 32 flavors;
guess who is there to cuddle! Guess who wants to put its nose a quarter
of an inch from yours and persistently remind you how very faithful and
adorable it is! Who is it that purrs loudly in your ear as the "greatest
t.v. movie ever made" reaches a romantic hush?
"...guess who is there to cuddle!"
I have heard stories of heroic cats, that have
saved their families from harm or certain death. I believe them.
I have heard of cats that found their way home over hundreds of miles.
That too is believable. I am priviledged to have been favored by
cats who chose me and my family to be their own. In return, I guess
the only thing I can offer an independent creature like a cat, is a whole
lot of love and the required amount of attention. Then I can sit
back and enjoy the complexity that is the cat.
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