Day three of my tribute to the best cat ever is a reprint of the epilogue to Kinky Friedman's Elvis, Jesus and Coca Cola, where he, in real life, not his character, mourns the passing of his best mate, Cuddles.
Epilogue
On January 4, 1993, the cat in this book and the books that preceded it was put to sleep in Kerrville, Texas, by Dr. W.H. Hoegemeyer and myself. Cuddles was fourteen years old, a respectable age. She was as close to me as any human being I have ever known.
Cuddles and I spent many years together, both in New York, where I first found her as a little kitten on the street in Chinatown, and later on the ranch in Texas. She was always with me, on the table, on the bed, by the fireplace, beside the typewriter, on top of my suitcase when I returned from a trip.
I dug Cuddles' grave with a silver spade, in the little garden by the stream behind the old green trailer where both of us lived in the summertime. Her burial shroud was my old New York sweatshirt and in the grave with her is a can of tuna and a cigar.
A few days ago I received a sympathy note from Bill Hoegemeyer, the veterinarian. It opened with a verse by Irving Townshend: "We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle..."
Now, as I write this, on a gray winter day by the fireside, I can almost feel her light tread, moving from my head and my heart down through my fingertips to the keys of the typewriter. People may surprise you with unexpected kindness. Dogs have a depth of loyalty that often we seem unworthy of. But the love of a cat is a blessing, a privilege in this world.
They say when you die and go to heaven all the dogs and cats you've ever had in your life come running to meet you.
Until that day, rest in peace, Cuddles
KINKY FRIEDMAN
FEBRUARY 5, 1993
MEDINA, TEXAS
3 comments:
From time to time I remember this "great American" and the tons of funny things he wrote. But today I googled him because of this exact epilogue and came across your blog. The first time I read this beautiful tribute to his cat was back in ninety-something and those words brought me to tears. Even though I was not as fortunate as I am today because I did not own a cat back then. Now, over a decade later, I can say that I am prodly owned by Nicolao Franco (O Gato Mais Fofo do Universo) and those very same words have an even stronger effect on me, having been able to experience the true uncondicional feline love he tosses my way. So thanks for the experience your post granted me.
Thanks for posting this. In the Swedish version of this book, this part isn't even in it.
Love you Kinky!
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