There is a celebrated dreamcoat, noted for its many colors, that was gifted as an expression of love. Patches, of the Tabby’s Place Community Room where all the “Cool Kids” hang out, has her own fabulous coat. Her calico may be muted. There may be fewer hues than in that other coat. Yet, Patches herself is in technicolor.
Correction. Patches is technicolor. Patches also is love. It is a little difficult to express just how exactly Patches is a cat filled with pure technicolor love. Tux knows.
Tux could be painted as Patches’ victim. Some days, he may even feel marginally put upon. Tux, more than any other, regularly feels the full weight of Patches’ colorful expressions of affection. Confused? There’s video evidence (see below) of Patches’ lying on top of Tux and practicing her bakery skills: kneading, kneading, kneading. Listening closely, it’s possible to hear Tux purring under all that muffin-making (and somebody eating). Keep in mind, the elderly statescat of the Community Room is 21 years old. It’s not a time of life to begin hefting the weight of a younger elder statescat. Yet, as well as he bears his 21 years, Tux bears Patches and the full weight of her 17 years.
We would all be fortunate indeed if, in our most ancientest of days, we forged and delighted in such shared affections and attentions! Through our youth, we may not see the value, just as kittens fail to see beyond sparkly foil balls and wafting wands. In our midlife, we see the value, but our focus is locked in on providing for our loved ones, ourselves, and our future. We hold hopes for our golden years.
For cats, each year is golden. Except for Patches. Each of her years is gilded with gold, as is her sweetness. Yet, she is far more colorful than simply “golden.” She is dusk after a midsummer storm has cleared. She is dawn when the fog is still kissing the coastline. She is noon when puffy clouds briefly dim the brightest light. Patches is a cat of many daytimes. Patches is also a cat of surprising shapes that can be witnessed only after midnight when gazing at the stars.
Getting to know Patches is a path to healing. There is a simplicity in her desire to give and receive affectionate attention. There is no pretense about it. There is no affect. There is only the openly obvious desire for companionship with and from the humans and cats that surround her. When uncalm flutters inside, a visit with Patches can tame all butterflies. When faces flush with sadness, fear, or anger, Patches soothes with reminders of gladness, safety, and peace.
Patches is the ultimate in patchwork. She is sewn together with all the right parts to make her a perfect companion to other cats and to people. She is beautiful by every conceivable concept of the word. Her technicolors lie within as well as marking her coat. A forever home of her own would be just the right thing to add that last iota of perfect color to her world. Until the right family brings her home, Tux will simply have to bear the bulk of her weight. For the rest of us at Tabby’s Place, that provides ample opportunities to giggle in awe and joy at the pair of them. It also provides time to come up with more ways to describe Patches’ many shades while enjoying her colorful company.