Owen’s animals
Owen loved animals. They related to him in ways people never did…and he, to them. All they wanted was love, rubs, food, water, and their very own special place on a comfortable bed. They got all of that, and more.
Grete brought us Audrey one sunny afternoon, her very needy calico cat, when we lived in San Diego. She was moving in with her boyfriend, who became her fiance, then her husband, and pets were not allowed in his apartment. We were the animal household ever since I can remember, so it was an easy, paperless adoption.
Audrey had some psychological issues (still does). She was moving into a home already occupied by Sylvester and Princess, cats we had adopted when we first moved into town. Audrey discovered early, that in this new home, she needed a place of her own. She was territorial, and peculiar.
We created a condominium for her in the cabinets above the refrigerator – blankets on each shelf, bowls for food and water on top of the fridge, and a sign that read, “Audrey’s Condo” on the outside of one of the cabinet doors. She lived there most of our waking hours. At night, we heard her jump down and go outside for some R&R (howling at the moon, and prancing around the backyard in her regal manner). We always left a door open for her nightly escapades.
Audrey scratched anyone who tried to pet her, then licked the wounds to apologize. By morning, she would return to her condo, and watch from above while we cooked, cleaned, and had those important kitchen-human-conversations known to most households of which we’ve been a part. She sometimes participated by reaching out a paw with claws drawn, to scratch the closest face or grab a clump of hair. We thought she might be impaired in some way, so just reached our hands up and petted her head, knowing we might come away with scratches, blood dripping in tiny rivulets. It was a small price to pay for a kitty who was different, and just wanted to be loved.
Over the years, Owen’s pets included cats, dogs, rats, hamsters, birds of various species, reptiles, and rabbits. He considered himself their caretaker, not their owner. He was right. These animals were not owned. They were a part of the family, and they were his friends. Audrey, however, was special to him and to everyone in the family.
Audrey has had a hard time since Owen died. She doesn’t have him to deflect the sometimes negative attention of Sylvester and Princess. We are having territorial issues again. Audrey does not have a condo above our refrigerator in this house. She was accustomed to sleeping away her days and nights in Owen’s room. Since he is no longer here, she has taken up residence on the floor beneath the window table in our living room, the one adorned with some of Owen’s most special belongings.
Owen said to me on several occasions in the months prior to his death, “Mom, we are no different than the plants and the animals. We all get born, we live our lives, we die, and then it all starts again.” He didn’t understand why we thought this life was so precious. We talked about it, we debated the preciousness of this life, and he always won the debate. His awareness, his perception of what it meant to be awake in his life, was acutely on point.
Owen discovered Cat Stevens’ music a few years ago. He liked the music, and he liked Stevens’ choice to make his religion his purpose. He also liked his name, the name he used as a musician, before he became “Yusluf Islam”. Owen thought Cat Stevens’ choice to become his religion was something to admire, though he thought organized religion a thing to avoid.
Nat and Owen often debated who would end up with Audrey. For the moment, she lives with Dave and me. Nat has a special affection for this affected kitty. Who wouldn’t? She is different, and therefore, worthy of our attention and our wakefulness.
“…you’re only dancing on this earth for a short while…”
Song for the night: Oh Very Young, Cat Stevens
http://youtube.com/watch?v=b_eUnxDE8YY
Caretakers, yes. Of it all, right? That’s why it’s so awful what we are doing to our earth in changing its climate so drastically. My son started a Save the Earth Club last year. He believed he could stop global warming. He’s moved on now to other challenges: learning to play the cello in an ensemble and tryng to become more “aggressive” in soccer (where he still hesitates in concern when someone next to him falls down, sweet boy).
Owen sounds like such a caring soul. No wonder Audrey sleeps under his shrine. She misses him, too.
Hang in there.