When I was visiting historical churches out east I remember taking 1-2 pictures of the architecture, but also lots and lots of photos of the stray cats.
And I remember people laughing at me, cause we’d be in like. Buildings and ruins that were THOUSANDS of years old, so of course here’s this uncultured little millennial idiot taking photos of CATS of all things.
But some of them actually asked me WHY, and to them, I’d explain:
Look. This place has been here thousands of years. People more skilled than me have taken photos and drawn pictures from every conceivable angle for generations, and if the place itself doesn't outlive me, then those have no hope either.
But this stray cat, napping on a statue? This kitten staying cool on the old box fan? They’re only here for a blink. They may not even be here in six months, never mind millennia.
And sure, I could take photos for ME, but holy sites feel wrong for me to snap selfies in in a way I don’t really know how to describe as an agnostic. Like cracking jokes at á funeral.
Structures don’t have feelings. They’re important, but nothing I do here has anything to do with ME.
But me and this cat? This wormy little stray that’ll probably give me ticks if I pet it bare-skinned? She and I are the same here. We’re both short-lived, and fleeting, and capable of both love and comfort. And we’re both just kind of HERE, through no choice of our own.
So I do that at every important historical place I go now. Because other people are doing plenty to preserve THAT, but me? This little guy? The grifters selling tickets and overpriced chachkis outside? We existed too. And what’s preserving us?
Who’s going to remember THEM?
And if I can remember them like this, if I can pass their memory on forwards, then maybe that act of remembrance will keep me going, too. Because once upon a time, a nameless, faceless person lost to history believed a worthless and common cat was worth treasuring, even in the shadow of humanity’s greatest feats.
And I hope that people will continue this, long into the future. I hope as long as the earth exists, people work to remember the little creatures.
Because more than art, or lineage, or history of rule, I want people of the future to know that compassion, love, and pure childish whimsy are our connecting constants.
If I could connect anything, any message from the beginning of our species to the end, it would be that We Were Here, We Loved, and we were Absurd, just like you.
