« ComicSpace | Main | Tentative Cover Design »
February 04, 2007
Hector and Lucie
Watercolor and India ink on 11 X 15 watercolor paper
My mom's cat, Lucie, passed on last Wednesday. We'd had her since I was nine (isn't that right, Mom?), and she was one of the best. She was definitely Mom's cat, but she and I had a real bond, too. She had the most unique feeling hair, too. Plus, she was a real conversationalist. She was one of those cats you could say something, and she would respond, AND match the tone you were talking in. I'll miss her.
Hector died over ten years ago, at the prime age of twenty one. That's right, the cat was old enough to buy booze (and don't for a second think that my teenaged mind wasn't contemplating on that fact!). He was an awesome cat as well. He was Mom's first after she moved out on her own, and he really filled her life like nothing and no one else could. He was able to open every door in the house. Seriously, he could turn door knobs. The cat was just too great for this world. One time, my mom and dad were going on a road trip, and they were an hour or two out of town when they started hearing a meowing. They pull over, and they find Hector had stowed away in one of Mom's suitcases! He was an awesome cat.
Here's a nice comment Mom left about them:
"Lucie and Rascal came to live with us on your 9th birthday. They were 6 weeks old and we had hand-picked them- you Rascal and Lucie was mine. I can't remember two cats ever being more entertaining. Rascal has been gone 4 years and I still miss her. Hector has been gone, I think we figured 13 years. He was the best cat there ever was - Lucie a close second with Thomas and Rascal tied for 3rd. Lucie was the most gentle and loving cat - no meaness in her. Except, here she was this past Christmas, struggling and she got to spend some time out on the deck - one of her favorite things later in life. A "foreign" black and white cat showed up and she explained to him in no uncertain terms, that this was HER porch and she chased him away. This was something I had NEVER seen her do. Guess somehow she knew it was her last time on the porch and she wasn't going to let ANYTHING ruin it for her!
"Hector loved suitcases and cars. More than once visitors would leave and come back bringing Hector back home. He was perfectly content to ride on the seat around your neck. He knew no stranger.
"Darned things - you fall so hopelssly in love with them and they leave you. You know, Rob, as I'm getting to a "certain" age, you will soon have to make a committment to me if any new cats outlive me, you will have to see they live out their lives in peace. Otherwise I don't think I could fairly bring them into my home not knowing they would be taken care of.
"Heavy stuff."
Of course I'd look after them, Ma.
Posted by Schamberger at February 4, 2007 06:43 PM