A Purr-fectly Wonderful Human
Hello, fabulous Mingles! Your favorite queen of fluff is here to share a very special story about a very special human. Now, before you get worried—no, I’m not talking about one of those serious, gloomy stories that make your whiskers droop. This is a celebration! A joyful tail (I mean tale) about a grandpa who understood what it meant to truly serve a cat. And by that, I mean me, of course.
Grandpa was one of those humans who always had interesting thoughts in his head. One moment, he’d be staring out the window, mumbling about whether he should stay home or go on vacation. He’d say things like, “Ah, I should travel and see the world,” but then he’d look at me—lounging gracefully in my sunspot—and say, “But then again, why would I leave when I have this elegant creature right here?” Exactly, Grandpa. You had everything you needed at home: a cozy chair, a stocked fridge, and a fabulous feline. No need for a vacation when I was here, offering my presence free of charge (well, in exchange for food, but that’s just fair trade).
Grandpa couldn’t resist my cute face. If I looked at him with big, round eyes and let out a tiny "meow," he would sigh and say, "Alright, alright, you little trickster." Then, he’d go to the kitchen and bring me something delicious. He pretended to say no, but I knew he would always give in. He was weak against my charm!
But Grandpa wasn’t just a provider of food and endless adoration. He also had a mischievous side. Now, I consider myself the most graceful of creatures (excluding a few minor missteps, which I prefer not to discuss). But Grandpa—oh, he found great amusement in making me trip over my own feet. He had this habit of gently sticking his foot out just as I was strutting by, causing me to do a very undignified little stumble. Every single time, he would chuckle and say, “Whoops, looks like someone’s paws weren’t paying attention.” I would glare at him, of course, but then he’d reach down and give me a chin scratch, and well… I’d reluctantly forgive him. (Don’t tell him that, though.)
Our bond was built on more than just food, feline slapstick, and naps. We also shared a love for quiet moments together. Grandpa loved reading books, and I would curl up beside him, occasionally batting at the pages if he ignored me for too long. He also enjoyed solving crosswords and puzzles, and I liked to 'help' by sitting on the newspaper or knocking the pencil away. Of course, I was his greatest puzzle of all—how could one creature be so fabulous? Grandpa had this wonderfully comfortable chair, the perfect spot for a long, luxurious snooze. And naturally, since I am an expert napper, I claimed it as my own. Sometimes he’d walk over, see me curled up on top of his pile of books, and shake his head. “Unbelievable,” he’d mutter. But did he ever move me? Nope. Because Grandpa was a smart man who understood the golden rule: Never disturb a cat in the middle of a nap.
And oh, the nights! While some humans are strict about where we cats sleep (scoff), Grandpa was more… let’s say, flexible. I would sneak into his room, leap onto his bed, and stretch out like I owned the place (which, let’s be honest, I did). He would just smile fondly, shake his head, and give me a few gentle head pats. Because, deep down, he knew—there’s no better sleeping companion than a warm, purring cat.
It’s been a few years since Grandpa left for what I assume is an all-you-can-eat buffet in the sky, but I still think about him often. I imagine him sitting in his chair, laughing at my antics, sneaking me treats, and flipping through a book or scratching his head over a crossword puzzle. And oh, how I would wait by the door when he went to the library, pretending not to care but perking up the moment I heard his footsteps returning. I miss him, but I also know that he wouldn’t want me (or you, dear Mingles) to be sad. So instead, I remember him with fondness, with purrs, and with the occasional deliberate knock-off of a household object in his honor.
To Grandpa—my best food supplier, my nap-time buddy, and the only human allowed to trip me without facing my feline wrath. You were truly one of the good ones.