The world loves the precocious.
You can find many articles like, “The 21 Most Eminent Astrophysicists Under 21,” or “Seven Must-Read Novelists Under Age Three.”
But, although I’m happy for kittens who make it big, I confess: my favorite flower is the late bloomer.
Give me the geriatric snowboard novice over the preschool cello prodigy any day.
It is a gift to be born with special talent, but it takes grit to go back and finish high school at thirty-nine, or to pick up a paintbrush at seventy-four.
I want to read about “The 46 Bravest Poets Over 46,” or “Ninety Glad Dancers Over Age Ninety.”
I want to write about rebels and revolutionaries changing the world at a ripe old age.
Of course, I am talking about cats.
So, let us honor Ten Over Ten at Tabby’s Place. They are old and bold. They were born before the invention of chicken lollipops, yet they endured.
They are proof that the best chapters come later in the book. They are my heroes, and they are about to become yours.
Joy, at eleven, opened an opera academy. Joy has such severe skin allergies, she can’t have chicken lollipops. So instead, she will teach the world the joy of song.
This would not have occurred to a younger cat, but Joy has lived long enough to know that you can suffer, or you can sing, but you can’t do both in the same breath.
Joy turned Suite I into a symphony. Then she got adopted. She has only just begun.
Miss Kitty, at eleven, became a life coach. Do not underestimate this luminous lady just because she is grey. She may not exhibit much kinetic energy, but she believes in your potential. She may weigh more than a Prius, but she is electric with encouragement.
With quiet kindness, Miss Kitty will convince you that everything is still possible. If you bring her giblets, she will make you a vision board so you can manifest prosperity. Meaning more giblets.
Amigo, at twelve, believes there are beginnings under every blanket. When the person you love passes away, you can either become old all at once, or you can keep becoming all that they believed you can be.
Amigo’s person believed in him so well, Amigo not only believes in himself, he believes in all selves.
It is easy for Amigo to believe that everyone he meets will call him both Amigo and “amigo.” It is easy for Amigo to believe that feline leukemia virus (FeLV) only makes him more handsome. Spend time with Amigo, and you will believe in bodacious things even before breakfast.
Susan, at twelve, took a position as an international diplomat. Since every cat is a sovereign nation, Tabby’s Place is home to over one hundred dignitaries. Dignity does not always shine when, say, Prime Minister Trent receives wet food three seconds earlier than Empress Olive.
But in Susan’s suite, peace prevails.
Though she was feral-born, she wears an invisible crown. Though few people can pet her, few cats are immune to her calm. Susan is the hub of a wheel of whiskers, the center of serenity. For her next dozen years, she will see what she can do for our species, though we are more challenging.
Olive, at twelve, offers lessons in improv comedy. After a decade at Tabby’s Place, she has learned that everything is funny.
People are bad at remembering that everything is funny, which is why Olive is so serious about being the first cat to greet them in the Lobby.
Being paraplegic is funny, because no one expects her to move faster than the “normal” cats, but there she is: a scooting shooting star daring you to make a wish on her.
Being naked is funny, because there was a time people made her wear diapers, sometimes even diapers with pink bows, but then people repented, and now Olive bites people less, except when she doesn’t.
Aging is funny, because it means we all know each other better than before, but somehow this makes us love each other more, not less.
And somehow, you’re going to have to wait for the final five. Ten Over Ten continues here tomorrow, same place, same time.
And while you’re waiting, please head over to donate to Remember the Seniors. Your gift will be matched for our geriatric gems.