ClydeSight2.0!

presents...

The Memorial at CLAW

What Wondrous Love !

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Do you believe in miracles?

I'm going to tell you the story of how I came to believe in these and know they are true, and how they can, and do, occur every single day.

I'm going to tell you how I met Clyde Big Paws and how he came into my life.

So, come with me, backwards in time, back to a little more than seven years ago, where the adventure begins.

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A friend of mine was driving me home from an evening class we were taking when she suddenly asked me if I wanted a cat.

Now, she knew I loved cats dearly, but I could not have one because my landlord wouldn't allow it. But she had suddenly come into the care of seven furry felines who were in need of homes. She had rescued them from their owners, who were going to abandon them to a shelter because of a hasty move to another state.

Now, you must understand something wonderful about "Linda-Lu", as I will call my friend; she was deathly allergic to cats. Yet, she loved them with all her heart. The circumstances of life are sometimes cruel. She could never be near those objects of her affection.

So great was her heart, that she could not allow these creatures to be cast away so carelessly, and, at great risk to her health, she took them in, placing all seven of them in a small 8'x10' room in her home. She was, naturally, very anxious to find them good homes quickly, and considered that I might be a good candidate for a cat.

But, I repeated that my landlord would forbid it, and then, curious, asked her to describe them.

I can't remember all their names, but Linda-Lu told me they were mostly adult cats who were pretty well mannered (considering they were confined in such a small space) and quite affectionate. She described the get-up she had to wear whenever she went into the room to feed and care for them, face-mask, rubber gloves, plastic gown, rubber boots, and laughed that they didn't scatter from fright at the sight of her. She couldn't pet them much, and had to wash thoroughly afterward to prevent a flair up from her allergic reaction.

I told her of my amazement at her kindness, repeated my prevention by landlord's decree, and mused, "You know, if I ever did have a cat, you know what I would want him to be? He'd be a black and gray tiger stripe tabby, and he'd have double paws, and golden eyes, be affectionate and gentle, and have a constant purr."

"Get real!", Linda-Lu complained, "where am I going to find a cat like that!"

"Oh, I didn't mean you had to have one; I couldn't keep him anyway. I was just saying IF I did, that's what I would like, my IDEAL cat."

"Dream on." She answered and the conversation moved to other things. I did promise to ask around at work in case there would be someone I knew who could take in a homeless cat.

Well, fate is a strange thing, and miracles occur every day. But sometimes, they take longer.

Two weeks after this fateful conversation, I went to visit Linda-Lu at her home. We were going on a shopping trip for a class project. Shortly after I arrived, I asked if I might visit the cats.

"Why?" She asked, "You can't take one home, can you?"

"No, the landlord is adamant. I asked and he said "NO!"

"Then what's the point?"

"Well, I still like cats!" I answered.

"Oh, alright" She sighed. She didn't want to get all dressed up to go into the room again.

I told her she didn't have to come in, I'd be fine by myself. She laughed, "You don't know what you are getting yourself into, but go ahead. Scream if they overwhelm you." So, into the room I went.

What a delight when I entered the room! Several of the cats rushed up to greet me, meowing and rubbing. Unrestricted by any health problems, I could roll around on the floor with them, rubbing and stroking and playing. They were delighted at my attention and touch. One cat who was desperate for human affection climbed all over me. She had rather sharp claws and began knitting and chewing on my shoulder. Another, a black and white tom, upset at the arrangement he was trapped in, rubbed me and tried to purr and growl at the same time! I calmed him saying, "Now, what's all this fuss? Soon, you'll have a nice home!" Another cat was hiding under the dresser, afraid, and yet another crouched in the windowsill, hissing. These poor creatures were so upset and confused in their confinement. They did not understand the kindness being done for them. Sometimes, appearances can be deceiving, and I felt they believed they were trapped. So I went to work to give them all my attention and devotion for the short time I was there. In a few moments, I had them all calmed down and on the daybed with me, hugging and kissing. I was in cat heaven!

Then, I spied Clyde.

Clyde was too proud and indifferent to make all this fuss as the others were doing. No, Clyde had decided to lounge lazily on an empty TV box, much as he lounges in his window on ClydeSight2.0!, and wait and see if I might notice him in all the meowing din. What amazing confidence!

When I saw him, I gently moved away from the others to go to him. Amazed, I realized I was approaching the very cat I had mused about two weeks earlier. There he was, a six-month old kitten, absently licking his huge double-paw, a black, grey and brown tiger stripe tabby, with double paws and great big golden eyes. And, he was purring!

"Now, who are you?!" I asked, quietly approaching him.

He stopped licking for a moment, eyed me once over, and returned to his licking, indifferent in the extreme. Clyde is the master of indifference.

"Not interested?" I asked, carefully reaching out to stroke him. His chest was vibrating so hard, and the empty TV box was amplifying his purrs. As I stroked him, he casually leaned over and bit my finger. He didn't bite hard, in fact, I don't know why he did it because in the next instant, he began licking it as if it were a part of him. I laughed out loud. He looked at me and uttered a single cat word, "Myrp?"

"I like you too!" I told him. He looked at me for a moment, staring deep into my eyes with those great golden eyes of his, and then shrugged me off and went back to his washing.

During this entire event, the other cats were going crazy to get my attention, but I was lost in the reverie of Clyde.

I left the room and Linda-Lu asked, "So?"

"They're pretty desperate." I said. "Why didn't you tell me about the kitten?"

"What kitten?"

"The one on the TV box, the tabby with the double paws? The one I described in the car!"

"Huh?" She peeked in the room.

"Oh THAT one. That's just Clyde. Nothing bothers him."

"But, Linda-Lu, he's exactly the cat I described! It's as if I made a wish, and it came true!"

"Really? I hadn't noticed." She answered. "Anyway, what difference does it make? Your landlord..."

"I know, I know." I mused sadly.

As we were shopping, I could not get Clyde out of my mind. We went to lunch in a cafeteria, and as we talked, I said, "I have the strangest feeling, as if Clyde were meant for me. I HAVE to fight my landlord, I WILL fight for Clyde!"

"Good luck." She laughed. "But, don't worry about Clyde, of all of them, I can get him a home. I think a lady at work will take both him and his mama."

"Oh." I said, my hopes fading. "Well, if he's already spoken for..."

"Look, try your landlord again. I can talk my friend into just taking his mom, if you can get your landlord to let you have him."

"Really!" I brightened up. "I can't explain it, but it feels as if I am meant to have Clyde in my life."

Linda-Lu laughed again. "A while ago, you were sure you couldn't get your landlord to budge, now..."

"But, it's for Clyde!" I protested. Then I had a sudden thought. "What if he doesn't like me?"

"Your landlord?" She asked.

"No, Clyde!" I wondered.

"Oh, for heaven's sake. He's a cat! Cats like everybody."

"Oh, not so." I protested. "They're very particular."

"Clyde, particular? I don't think so. He's too indifferent."

The next day, I was on the phone to the landlord. Knowing he would never agree if he thought I just WANTED a cat, I made up a fantastic story of a lost stray kitten a relative had found, who was going to be killed if I didn't rescue him at once because my relative was totally insensitive to the plight of animals.

My relative was not pleased when I related this to him later on.

"So, why do I have to be the bad guy?" He asked.

"Oh, a villain can be very persuasive! Adds to the dramatic impact." I answered.

"Gee, thanks a lot!" He replied.

In later years, we laughed over this.

The landlord didn't buy the story at once, but I kept adding to the it, and it got more ridiculous as it went on, until finally, to shut me up, he said he needed a day or two to think about it.

When he didn't call back, I called him and said that time was of the essence and I had to have an answer right away, my insensitive relative was eager to drop the kitten in a shelter, and there, he would be soon destroyed.

The landlord finally offered that if I was willing to pay a security deposit for the cat, an entire month's rent, and would pay double damages if the cat did anything to wreck the apartment, he'd allow me to take the cat in..

I said I hardly knew the cat, so I couldn't guarantee the cat would not be destructive, but that I would do my best to protect his property and I agreed to his terms.

That took him aback. He was hoping the high price he demanded would discourage me. Now, caught in his agreement, he couldn't refuse. I gave him the check I could ill-afford to spare that night and excitedly called Linda-Lu.

We agreed that I would pick up Clyde that Friday, and she would help me buy all the necessary things that a cat needs, litter box, toys, food. I was completely unprepared. And I was so nervous. I wanted everything to be perfect for Clyde.

What an exciting day Friday was! I was so absent minded all day at work, until the happy time when I left for Linda-Lu's house. She had a few things to do before we were to go shopping, so I went into the "cat room" and approached Clyde, much to the consternation of the others who wanted my attention. I tried to calm them, but Clyde was the focus of my attention and they all knew it. He was STILL on that TV box, snoozing! I whispered in his ear, "Would you like to come live with me?" He awoke with a start and said "Myrp?" Then he bit my finger again and licked it. I took that as a "yes".

The shopping trip was slightly insane as I pondered over every purchase. Would Clyde like the color of this or that? Was the litter box private enough, or good enough for him? What toys might he like? What kind of brush should I buy? Would he like the cat food? His water bowl, should it be plastic or china? Did he need his own kitty bed?

"One would think you were getting married!" Linda-Lu laughed through all this. "I don't suppose you can keep this in mind, but he is only a cat."

"But, he's so special!" I argued, "And, I want so much for him to be happy."

"I have a feeling he will be ecstatic, especially to be getting out of that room!" She laughed. "I have a feeling he'll have you trained in no time."

And then came the time to gather up Clyde, put him in his cardboard carry box for the long drive home. He cried in the box, so, with Linda-Lu's permission, I carefully opened it so he could stand up and look out the car window. He stopped crying after that, while I held onto him carefully and told him about the towns we were driving though.

"He doesn't understand you, you know." Linda-Lu cautioned.

"I know, but I..I think maybe just talking to him helps make the trip easier for him, you know, less frightening. This must all seem very strange and scary to him."

"You're the one who's scary." She teased. "Boy, you really are a goner for him, aren't you?"

"I..I love him." I said. I was almost in tears as I realized the full truth of what I was feeling. "I've never felt this way before."

"You need help! Just imagine if he were a human! Well, I have no worries over his well being with you! I just wonder how long it will be before he owns you completely."

"He already does." I smiled, stroking the sweet soft fur of Clyde.

Clyde snuggled down in his box and went to sleep for the rest of the trip, and we finally arrived. I let him out as soon as we got into the apartment, and Linda-Lu helped me get the litter box and other necessities set up. Clyde took the time to explore his new surroundings, and then, to show his approval, used the litter box and had a bite of supper. Linda-Lu stayed for a short while (she couldn't be around him too long because of her allergies) and then we were alone.

I stayed up late into the night, just watching Clyde explore. I knew he needed some alone time, so I turned on the TV and pretended to ignore him. Naturally, I was watching him out of the corner of my eye.

He took to the place at once, and soon discovered the stairway, running up and down in delight. Occasionally, he'd come into the living room and mew, then rush off to discover something new. Finally, it came time to go to bed. Clyde had already fully explored the bedroom, and seemed to understand it, so I did not force him to come with me. I never wanted to force him to do anything. I decided that he'd figure it out for himself.

I turned out the lights and lay down to try and sleep, while my ears were filled with the sound of a bounding kitten delightedly bouncing up and down the stairs. I was thinking of just checking on him, when there was a slight rustle on the bed, and I heard the sound of purring in my ear. I pretended to be asleep, and Clyde gently and quietly curled up on the pillow beside me, his face to mine, his cat-food breath filled with purrs. I looked into his eyes, even in the darkness, and said,

"Welcome, Clyde. I'm so glad you're here."

He was still on the pillow in the morning, snoring.

And that was the beginning of my life with Clyde Big Paws.

Clyde Big Paws
1990-1997

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Linda-Lu found homes for every one of her cats and didn't have any serious health repercussions from her kindness.

The landlord never cashed the check he had demanded. A month later he returned it and said, "I'm ashamed of what I did to you to try and prevent you from having Clyde."

Clyde...well, THAT story is what ClydeSight2.0! is all about.

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Love can come at first sight, and it can last a lifetime.

Miracles happen all the time.

I know.

Clyde was all this and more.

For seven happy years, the joy of Clyde filled my life, and many, many were the times I would hold him and whisper in his ear, "I love you so much, Clyde. I am so glad you're here."

He never stopped purring.



"Pie Jesu" by Gabriel Faure

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