Dec 29 2009

Basking

Published by at 10:10 am under Cats,Memories

henrietta
It’s that feral cat again*.

Here’s Henrietta, relaxing on the duvet in the sunlight. The only thing better than the heater is sunlight in her world. Even when it’s cold outside, the California sun has its warmth.

This evening, she was cuddled up to me, and I petted her as I watched the final, heart-wrenching episode of the latest season of “Mad Men”. I wondered if she had ever dreamed of sleeping safely on a duvet on a couch, with the heater on and petting on demand, and a limitless supply of food. Or did she, in the dark, scary Oakland nights, wish for nothing but safety and warmth, and not sweat the small stuff?

When our journey started, I never imagined that she’d ever sit on my lap, or be so trusting. She’s come a long way in the mere two months that we’ve lived together.

On Christmas Eve, I spotted her sitting on a bench, basking in the sunlight. I rushed out to take a blurry picture of her before she moved:

I was so glad to see her feeling safe enough to go outside and enjoy the sun. As I watched her, I remembered how my father loved to feel the sun when he visited us from England, and recalled one particular Christmas Eve when it was warm enough to have a picnic on the beach at Point Reyes. Somewhere in The Boxes is one of my favorite pictures of Dad, taken that day as he strolled in the surf laughing, lifting his face up to the sun.

*I overheard one vet technician tell another one that when I brought Henrietta in the second time.

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6 responses so far

6 Responses to “Basking”

  1. # Pascale Soleilon 29 Dec 2009 at 12:00 pm

    Hi Suzy ~ I don’t know if you moderate comments or not. I tried to send you an emai, but it bounced… Here’s the message:

    Hello Suzy ~

    Please accept my warm holiday greetings!

    Somehow this email message from you ~ apparently from (gulp!) August ~ got lost in the mailbox shuffle, and has just bubbled to the surface as I do my year-end organization (yes, procrastination is still a strong suit). I’m sorry it has taken me so very, very long to respond.

    I’m glad to learn of your new blog; these days I’m quietly posting at http:www.somebeaut.com/
    At present, not a ton of writing, but a daily photograph at least.

    It sounds like things are going well for you. I’m envious of your kitty menage, and especially glad that you’ve created a safe and loving place for Henry(etta).

    Although I’m still trying to figure out what’s next for me, I’ve been returning to my roots as designer, creator of images, and narrator. How I’m going to make money doing those things remains, as is the perpetual problem, to be determined! I have some ambitious ideas, but they don’t yet rise to the level of concrete plans.

    Thanks for remembering me, Suzy. I do miss the network of readers and writers from the PS days, and am lucky to have been able to stay in touch with a few. I am glad you are one of them.

    All the best to you and yours for a very happy, healthy, and rewarding new year and beyond,
    PS (Nina)

  2. # Joyon 29 Dec 2009 at 2:27 pm

    I can hardly believe that it is a scant 2 months that you and Henry/etta began your journey together , and what a marvellous journey.. Patience and love really pays off.

    jx

  3. # Guyon 30 Dec 2009 at 4:45 am

    Henry’s new life started much earlier in Oakland when he finally met you Suzy, someone that gave him or her a chance to feel loved and wanted nothing in return but the same. He now has adopted you as a family and can finally live in peace without having to look behind his back, yes thanks to your love and patience. good on you.

  4. # suzyon 30 Dec 2009 at 12:38 pm

    I’m so glad to hear from you! Will email you and we can catch up. Happy new year!

  5. # Amberon 30 Dec 2009 at 9:30 pm

    I do so wonder about her past. I envision that once she was indeed well-loved and some unfortunate event (a death perhaps) combined with the thoughtlessness of whoever was left in charge was what created her unfortunate circumstances when you met her… just because now that I know she is not young, I hope that the beginning of her life was as comfortable and loving as the end of her life is sure to be with you.

    She really is a beautiful little creature.

  6. # suzyon 31 Dec 2009 at 1:57 pm

    I wonder, too. You may be right that she used to be someone’s pet – she certainly loves petting and sitting on my lap! Given her broken back legs and ribs, she tangled with a person or a car, but she’s a survivor. Thanks for your thoughts!