Upon waking up this morning, I got the sad and unfortunate news that this little guy just passed away. Oliver, part of Michael McCurdy and Christa Van Alstines tribe, was a one in a billion compadre, whom I had the privilege and joy of caring for on several occasions over the past few years. Having grown up on a pretend farm where there were always at least 5-8 cats at any given time, I have known my fair share.Their typically enigmatic aloofness has at times caused me great vexation and/or wounded ambivalence, in spite of loving them all with what Im sure they felt was an insufferable, smothering affection. Oliver (or El Tigre, as I liked to call him) was one of about half a dozen cats I have met in my life who was truly an exception — warm, affectionate, sweet, intelligent, and full of personality — the days I got to spend hanging out with him are among the best in my recent memory. I wrote and sang songs for him in English and Spanish, and even got to write my little solo guitar piece, Dying In Waves, with him by my side as Hurricane Irene ravaged the world outside and around us. My love for him is probably best exemplified by the fact that I tried to take about a hundred selfies with him. For me, having my picture taken with Oliver was akin to being in a frame with Robert De Niro or Jimmy Page or something — he was that cool. A great cat is a rare and beautiful gift from the cosmos: a better friend and companion than most people I know. Ill miss you, Oliver, and hope youre resting high and easy on a cloud overlooking the vista you were always dreaming of.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 14:10:36 +0000
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