Sneeze and whimper

rituals of the home life

Yesterday’s column, which resulted in two subscribers ending their ACC ties, was not intended to be partisan as much as to focus on upholding law. I believe in laws as they are applicable to all of us; I don’t believe in selective applications which can lead to pernicious behaviour as I have seen far too often in other parts of the world. Our nation is far from perfect but our sacred system of checks and balances, federal versus state jurisdictions, rule of law, and a Constitutional foundation is not partisan to me but essential. I regret it was a heavy discussion but so much of ACC is about unintended and unforeseen consequences which can be terribly hard to remedy once allowed to take root. That was my intention in brief.

When I began writing this column in early November 2022, I said it would be ‘trials, tribulations, and some gratitude’. I should have added whimsy as I adore whimsy.

Today we are delving into whimsy in a most personal column. Our two cats, Harry and Eleanor, are generally joy in our Eastport lives, though Eleanor’s aging body continues shrinking though she moves less daily.

Eleanor.

It’s one of Harry’s more whimsical notes I want to introduce to make you laugh today. He is an enormous, roughly ten year old neutered orange guy adopted in 2015. As I have mentioned, I saved his furry tail as the rest of the family was pretty so-so about his behaviour in the animal shelter. Better said, his non-behaviour as he rather skittishly stayed back.

I knew that was common in shelters as I have had cats for decades but he just didn’t seem to care. I was determined we get an orange cat so I wore everyone down but no one was enthusiastic about Fuego (his erstwhile name).

We discussed name after name on the way back to the condo. No one meant for it to be Harry Truman following Eleanor Roosevelt, named when my husband was researching a book on Franklin. (If I remember correctly, he intended to get a Franklin to co-habitate with a female but no one thought this scared orange cat had Franklin gravitas.) But, the kids thought he seemed Harry-ish so it stuck and we appeared to have some sort of 1940ish interest in cats names.

Harry has taken years to settle in. He no longer runs at the speed of light when a repair man appears or when someone like his North Carolina extended family comes to visit. He has learned to greet people. He also has learned to sleep on the bed (that took 7 1/2 years; slow learner). He has no trouble remember he is a cat when it comes to birds on the balcony railing as the chatter begins.

He is quite an expressive cat. Harry and I have our early morning rituals as I prepare to photograph sunrises. He likes to check out the balcony as my advance party even though the balcony is about the same day after day after day. He cries pitiously until I let him out—or back in. He lets me know he expects the tv at a certain volume so not to annoy him.

Then there is the way he splays his legs as if I haven’t talked with him about simple male modesty. Nooooo. He lays like a flattened pancake with everything hanging out. oyyy. And he doesn’t seem at all embarrassed, if you can believe it.

He is also rather demanding of the most unexpected of foods. This is the cat who adores my husband but almost ripped my husband’s arm off to get pizza last Friday night. He simply would not take no for an answer but kept re-attacking as if he had not tried before. Pizza without cheese, meat or most things that humans, much less cats, enjoy. I guess he was into broccoli and tomato sauce because he seemed to love the idea of pizza. Go figure. You would have thought it was lox and bagels but it was assuredly vegan pizza.

But he does not love everything. Harry does not like sneezes. I mean he hates them. He unambiguously alerts you to how much he hates them. Our daughter was here several years ago, she noted that every time one sneezes, he lets out a pathetic whimper. It’s one of the most automatic sounds I have ever heard: human sneeze, Harry whimper. Sneeze, whimper. If one coughs, shuffles one’s feet, talks or anything else, nada but a sneeze receives the Harry Rebuke. He absolutely is guaranteed to whimper with any sneeze he hears, however.

And the sneezing person can be virtually anywhere in the house when the response comes. This whimper appears from no where to alert you to his displeasure.

Cats are not profound like nuclear war but they are constant reminders that we share our homes with creatures who seem them selves as ruling the house, commenting on everything. Cats are most definitely not dogs nor do they aspire to be. Cats run the house, often cause peoples noses to run as well when allergies are involved, but they can be amazing companions.

And we comply as good house servants.

Do you have a cat or four? What peculiarities do yours have? Who runs your house?

It’s a reminder that our animals most definitely pay attention to us even if we think not.

Thank you for reading today. I hope I evoked a smile or two. I appreciate your time.

Be well and be safe. FIN