"Lucy Love"

by Patricia C. Myers


'Lucy On Banco'
Copyright © 2004 Patricia C. Myers
All Rights Reserved.



It was early Spring 1991. The warmth of the Sun clung to the air giving one last hug before the chill of night. I propped my elbows on the deep wooden window sill and cradled my chin upon my palms.. soaking up the vision of Enchanted New Mexico.. in the foothills of the Sangre de Christo mountains.

I drifted along the fence line.. obviously keeping in the overgrown Sage.. which had already spilled out and covered the entire South West. It wore the skeleton beauty of Winter... with ever so tiny new leaf beginning to bud. Just beyond the rickety fence praying for strength to keep standing was the gravel road that curved and looped as it descended into the Village of Arroyo Hondo.

Ghosts of days past permeated the senses with scenes of frolicking Flower Children living the Power of Love... while the filming of Easy Rider at New Buffalo gave a Loving send-off to a fateful date with hate.

Pensive THOHT stirred... 'All Will Change'.

Blinking my eyes back into focus... I landed on the skinny path like opening.. looking due West. I blinked again.. and watched Twin black cats.. carefully plot their way through the Sage. As the tips of their tails vanished one more black cat noses out into the open space. Much larger and obviously a long hair female... with a tiny black Kitten... tagging at her heels.

I could feel my Heart beat send waves of Warm Love rippling throughout my presence.... lifting my smile even higher. And in a Heart beat all four black cats disappeared into the Sage.

Four days later a neighbor stopped by and mentioned seeing the body of a large black cat on the hiway. The neighbor asked if I was missing one.. and I said no and let it go... Knowing all the while who it was.

It took her three days to show up.. mewing for help and staying hopelessly hidden from view. Breaking a number one rule in the Wilderness.. I left kibble out for her.. and hoped for the best. It worked. The next day she was just within capture range and with a quick scoop of the hand the little black kitten was on her way to Heaven.

She joined the family of an ever growing Feline Pride... as Lucy.

Her first few months were spent in confinement with a construction project underway.. and no place for scampering kittens underfoot. It was a large adobe home.. two stories.. with large open rooms.. no doors.. except to the bathrooms and closets. Consequently... the upstairs half bath would be our Special Room.

Lucy was maybe four weeks old and traumatized by the hiway hit and run. She had a slight limp and a small scratch on her hind leg... which healed quickly with TLC. I would sit upon the closed toilet.. and hold her on my lap while brushing her glossy black coat. And we would converse.

She would look up at me with Green Knowing Eyes and I would say...

"Lucy... you'll be a Big Black Beautiful Kitty and your MaMa will be so proud."

And Lucy would answer.. "Maa Maaa" and begin to clean her Self.. vigorously.

Finally the day arrived when the sound of hammers and table saws ceased and Lucy came out of our Special Room. Her World was so small there.. the house overwhelmed her.. and she scooted quickly under the bed for cover. It wasn't long before she ventured out... noting every quick 'Hidey Hole' for future reference. Lucy would forever be timid and shy... forever my Little Lucy Girl.

Her favorite repose was on the extra pillow right above my head... purring me into Dream Time every night. It was so sleepfully melodic... she would fall asleep first... and I would selfishly touch her and start her motor again.

Lucy is sitting on my lap as I write this tribute to her. It's her day Time favorite place to be... which just happens to be the favorite of the other six Kitties in the Feline Pride. Sharing territory can lead to fiesty sharp confrontations with my lap the largest target. Contrary to the belief that Cats are too independent for a command response... all of my Felines comply to my requests. There in lies the determining difference.. the Intention and the Delivery. Respect is Honoring Life.. be it furry.. feathered.. scaled.. or skin... and Rocks fall in there too.

Sweet Lucy was a persistent and persuasive Task Master for she taught me the Art of Boundaries. Defining... owning... and maintaining what is acceptable and what is not for my Authentic Self. It was a huge endeavor that took forever.. for me to Get It.

Ahh.. but the Light flashed brilliantly on her pushy pussy-cat ways... which personally I think she bears some regret at her fine accomplishment. Especially when she intrudes upon my Tolerance Boundary and I remind her...

"You taught me well... Lucy Girl."

And she looks into my eyes... pleased with her clever cat ways of Wisdom.

Lucy has blossomed in our current home. The spaciousness of her first home has been compressed into small box rooms... squeezing us together like Sardines in a can. I've mumbled more than once about needing some 'Elbow' room. Then watched the Territorial Rights shrink and mellow within the Pride.

Bolder members were retracting sharp claws.. as Lucy began to stretch hers. She stood her ground when confronted and baffled the confrontor with turn around behavior. She races through the house chasing dust puppies and bravely goes where she has not gone before... on the living room window sill... to listen to Bird Song and watch Butterflies glide by.

Watching her brave new wonderful Kitty Self play out her wildest Kitty Cat Dreams... makes my Heart Smile. She is an Endless Source of Love.

I Love You... Lucy.

Follow Your Heart
Patturns


Copyright © 2004 Patricia C. Myers.
All Rights Reserved.