As the Years Purr By: I’m The Crazy Cat Lady
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There I was, nestled on my porch, my brow furrowed in concentration as the birds provided a harmonious backdrop while my fingers danced across the digital crossword puzzle on my phone. Each tap was a calculated step into the labyrinthine world of language. I hadn’t touched a crossword puzzle since I was in middle school, but T-Mobile Tuesdays gave me three free months of USA TODAY Crossword and suddenly I was waist-deep in a sea of words, navigating through synonyms and synonyms of synonyms.
My phone vibrated as I scanned my memory bank for the next word.
WYD girl?
A text from my friend popped up.
I paused my game and immediately responded back
Being an old woman and doing a crossword puzzle outside. 😂😂😂😂
Context, this particular friend is 14 years younger than me, so she thinks I’m a dinosaur at 34. 😂😒🙄
I erupted into a boisterous cackle. My laughter sounds like the Joker and a hyena mixed together. I have a sneaking suspicion that my neighbors, upon catching wind of my laughter, hastily reach for their earplugs.
But anyways I agreed with her. I’m surprised I haven’t started knitting yet and I do have a million cats.
I have been called a crazy cat lady before. By an ex. My love for cats outlasted my love for him.
The term “Crazy Cat Lady” often conjures images of a reclusive, disheveled woman drowning in a sea of cats. However, the reality is far more diverse and empowering. Crazy Cat Ladies come in all ages, genders, and walks of life. In fact, can we just say cat people? I know there are some men out there that have a ton of cats. Why does no one call them crazy cat men??? But for the sake of my headline title, I’ll keep it to crazy cat lady for now.
Plus I don’t want my mind to spin into another direction as I write this.
I’m staying focused.
Now where was I?
Oh yeah. Why I would be considered a cat lady?
Well….
All the little kids in the neighborhood love running into our yard to excitedly pet a cat.
Gatos Gatos.
They say as they squeal with delight.
It’s like a cat jungle.
I know non-cat lovers look at my yard and cringe.
Ugh, why does she have all those cats?
I’ve been feeding stray cats that have wandered into my yard for years, but last year two came and they never left. Those two multiplied into well…. a dozen.
Minus four we did find good homes for.
I refuse to just give them up without another good home for them to go to.
The animal shelter is not an option.
They’re well-fed and well-loved here for now.
I think sometimes my caring ways is how God always makes sure I am taken care of too, because I haven’t worked in years, and have been struggling to find employment.
( Two years and thousands of rejection emails really mess with your mind and murder your ego)
However, every time I am about to get to the point of I don’t know how I’m going to feed all these animals on top of providing for my family, a random check comes in the mail or someone pays me for a design project randomly.
And we all eat, purr, bark, chirp, laugh, and be merry another day. ( I also have a dog, a turtle, and a bird- call me Dr. Dolittle )
I know my neighbors consider me on the eccentric side. I mean I do stand outside barefoot, holding a Care Bear and talking to our cats sometimes as my kids play about.
I also observe and talk to bees as they work. But that’s a story for another day. 😂🐝
So there you have it. I am embracing my status as a proud, unapologetic, and gloriously eccentric crazy cat lady.
I even filmed a little video of them playing in the yard today just for the story, now maybe I should shoot a full-length movie documenting their shenanigans.
I hope you’ve had a chuckle or two while reading my story.
If you’re feeling extra generous and want to spread some kitty, birdie, doggie, or turtle love, I’ve put together an Amazon wishlist filled with toys, treats, and cozy comforts that will have them purring, chirping, barking and well turtles don’t make a sound but let’s say Cowabunga-ing with delight.
Sending you love and light,
Fanchon Octavia
