Friday, November 20, 2015

Unsurprised by Joy

I realised last evening that I have not published anything on my blog for more than a week. I don’t consider it necessary to post anything if nothing is happening, however, and nothing new has occurred about which to write.

Even so, I was thinking about the situation in which I find myself - selling my house, or at least attempting to do so (no offers yet) - and the worry and bother that comes with it. This year over all has not been one of the better ones for me, and it is not improving. But something makes each day better.

I call my cats ‘my joys’. That’s what they are to me. Each day, they make me smile or laugh, or at least feel good. Last night, I lie in bed and listened to Tucker run about. I think he may have been chasing Josie, or vice versa. In any case, I heard two cats running, and there was no hissing or growling. Then I heard just Tucker. With his diabetes, his rear is still weak, and he lopes like a rabbit, but, remarkably, that hasn’t slowed him down. And he sings to himself. “Aaaooouu. Aaaooouu.” He is, as I have mentioned before, a cat who wants to be happy, and he’s not about to let diabetes get in the way. And he makes me happy because of it. Sometimes I need only speak his name to get him purring; look at him, and he squeals and twists his head about to be petted. Just the way he looks makes me smile: he’s hardly a cat in appearance; more like a wombat, or the dormouse from Alice in Wonderland.


Cammie cannot be called a happy cat. And yet she too gives me joy. She can purr loud and constantly at times. Last night, I lie on my back and invited her on to my chest, where she stayed for half an hour. A waste of time on my part? It made me feel good and useful, so it was hardly thirty minutes poorly spent. The way she talks is unique: a series of creaks and squeaks, expressive and significant. And of course her hisses. I am glad that I’ve been able to offer her a refuge, even if it is also inhabited by three other cats whom she no doubt wishes elsewhere. The heated towels have returned to the parlour (and Noah has not) so the princess spends much of her time there now. I like watching her curl up there or even just crouch and drift off.


My big boy is a sucker for hearing his name repeated. I will see Renn thumping down the hall (his muscular legs are not as quiet as a cat’s) and start talking to him. His back will arch and he will rub against me, and then that engine starts going. Sometimes, if he is in my way, I’ll tell him to move, and he’ll throw himself back by first lifting himself up on his rear legs, then coming down on all four and trotting away. But he’s a lazy dog, and I chuckle when he groans and whines if he is forced to move. He is the first to come to bed and the last to get off it in the morning, the sluggard.


And Josie, my Chubs. Watching her patter away with her, shall we say, girth, waddling about beneath her always causes me amusement. I’m sure my reaction is an affront to her dignity. And she doesn’t growl, she cries out in anger, like an old lady insulted by a stranger. I can almost see her shaking her umbrella in fury. But she enjoys my company and loves a good petting session, even if she doesn’t lie still for it for more than a few seconds at a time. She is one of my new lap-cats, not overtly sensitive, but a softy inside.


My beasts don’t delight me all the time. You should gauge my mood when all of them decide they dislike what is on the menu at dinner-time and I am left with a lump of unwanted food in each of four bowls. But when I come home from a day at work that was less than pleasant (fortunately those occur only five times a week), my bicycle moves a little faster knowing I will see friends when I reach my destination.

Wordsworth wrote a poem called “Surprised by Joy” (a title later borrowed by C.S. Lewis for one of his books). It is about realising with a shock that an important and tragic event had been forgotten. We all need to be surprised by joy now and then, but I think it is much better to have it so much in our lives that it doesn’t surprise us at all.

16 comments:

  1. Such a wonderful and timely post, thoughtful and uplifting. *Thank you*.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a beautiful post John. As a fairly new reader of your blog I am happy to read about the different personalities of your cats. We are cat- less now as our Sam died last September and we are not ready to have another cat yet. I remember well the snubbing of what is on the dinner time menu! Cats are such a great comfort and I imagine some day we will get another one (or two!) For now I enjoy reading about all my blogging friends cats.
    Take care and have a nice weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One never gets over a loss but even recovering enough to welcome a new friend takes time. I think sometimes of some day having another small, orange cat, but it would never be Tungsten, and that's what I really want.

      Delete
  3. As I was reading your article miss pops came through the cat door and wandered up to my room. She then called out about five times to say hello to me. You are right about these simply joys making us smile. Have a good weekend.

    Julie and poppy q

    ReplyDelete
  4. I understand the joy that each of your cats bring, each in their own unique way, for my cats have their own ways as well.

    I'm so sorry that this hasn't been a good year for you. I hope things improve soon!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Loved reading your descriptions of your furbabies... my funny little rescue Ellie May looks more like a Dormouse, too. They give us so many amazing experiences just by being their unique selves..

    and I certainly agree with you that joy should be so often that it doesn't surprise us at all... Purrz, Katie Kat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They come in all shapes and sizes, don't they? And personalities!

      Delete
  6. That is the joy that makes the heart smile!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Me is smile non-stop too =^x^=
    My mom feel the same way as you do.
    Some things about kitties are magic...She always said that because me put smile and laugh for her too.

    Paw up for all your kitties ! Wonderful job =^x^=

    ReplyDelete
  8. Firstly, I hope next year is a much better one for you.
    I agree that cats bring such great joy even in the smallest things. Flynn doesn't really like taking his pills,what cat does, and has a little moan of complaint when I pick him up to give them, but as soon as he has had them, he will stroll off with his tail in the air. Then he will get the crazies and charge around the room which I am sure is to tell me he forgives me.
    All your cats have their own wonderful personalities as does Flynn, and that is what makes them all so loved and unique.

    ReplyDelete
  9. John after undergoing some of Life's inconvenient hiccups so relate to what you are saying here. Right now I am listening to the thundering paws of doom across the den floor of Ping and his happy meow of being chased probably by his little sister Annabelle. Since being pushed into the the circus that has become my life, the cats provide me with comfort and cheer.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Such a lovely piece of writing. There is such joy in the everyday life that we too often over look. Our cats bring such happiness and joy to our lives. Laughter and contentment, and yes, some worry too, when they are not well. Give a pat to each of your lovely beasties from Jessica and me. From Eileen and Jessica

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joy and sorrow, fun and worry: after all, they are family.

      Delete
  11. Wonderful, insightful post. Each cat shows their love and joy differently just like their human counterparts.
    Cammie may be a little less obvious because of what she's gone through. The time she spent sitting on your chest was not wasted time but therapeutic time for her. She showed you her joy by loving you. Your nearness made her happy. Pretty special, I think.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My princess is very special, indeed. She loves her time on my chest or lap, and I indulge her whenever she likes. After all, it's therapeutic for me, too!

      Delete
  12. John your post is beautiful today :) I truly don't know what I would do without my little Mob. They are my joy everyday and I can't wait to get home to them. Having added Bree things are a bit more chaotic with her having been a puppy mill pup, but she has such happiness it just ads to wonderful chaos of love :)

    ReplyDelete