Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022 - 72
SINGING IN THE GARDEN
Of Cat Tales and Cattails
Text and art by GINNY NEIL
" Nature is bent on new beginning... "
- Rosy Cole
F
or longtime readers of this column, this is the
last time you will see my yellow cat in the illustrations.
His name was Tip, and he is gone.
Long ago, my youngest son wrecked the car
when he was bringing the little fluff-ball home
for the first time. Youngest walked the half mile
to the house, and then we went back out with
him to assess the damage. As we stared in the window of
the Buick, a small yellow head poked up out of a cardboard
box in the front seat of the car and stared back at us.
" He's the reason I wrecked, " my youngest said, pointing
to the kitten. " He tried to climb out of the box.
When I reached over to tuck him back in, I missed the
turn and tipped the car into the ditch. "
Tip was a serious cat. If he liked you, he crawled into
your lap and drooled while you scratched his ears. If he
didn't, he hissed and hid. Sometimes I would wake in
the night to the wet touch of his nose against my cheek.
Perhaps he was just checking to see if I was still alive.
72 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Tip started losing weight two years ago, but testing
never revealed the cause, and worming never fixed the
problem. In spite of his rickety appearance he still made
a morning foray out into the wetland beyond my front
fence. He often returned with a mouse, which he deconstructed
on my porch steps, leaving a green gallbladder
and tail as evidence of his undiminished prowess.
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Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022 - Cover2
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Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022 - Cover4
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022 - BRPG1
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