Each of us animal-lovers can probably trace it back to at least one specific creature who taught us something about the depth of inhuman bonds. For me, that was Smokey, a 20-lb brown tabby cat who was significantly larger than my ~6 lbs when my parents brought me home. Smokey was crotchety and definitely gave me a few good licks in my toddlerhood, but he was incredibly tolerant of my grabby hands most of the time and according to my parents sought out my company. Many blurry early-90's photos corroborate this. Smokey was a cat of legends: he stole turkey carcasses, broke up dogfights, and attacked my dad anytime I squealed while being tickled. He came to the US with us from Germany, and was our family's companion until he died a grizzled old man in Georgia. Since Smokey, a cat has never been far from my side (and even now Gali is staring at me, demanding bedtime). Thanks, 'Moke, for getting me started on a life of loving non-human creatures. #memories #30years #30paintings #smokey #catperson #acrylic #painting #cat #catnanny #firstfriend #catlove #goodboy #germancat #visualmemoir (at Nuremberg) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxyc1VUFjcl/?igshid=1bbqfy9a5nfkr
