Rascal's Cantaloupe

Rascal and Me. 

Napping on the sofa, circa 1979

Rascal was my first ever cat. Ever since I can remember, Rascal was there. I think I was about two when she showed up. According to my parents, she just showed up on their porch - pregnant - and refused to leave. After a few days, they relented, took her in and adopted her. She had her kittens, and then stuck around for the next 20+ years. She died when I was a junior in college... so she was with us through my whole entire upbringing.

It's funny to try to remember a pet because there aren't any conversations to remember or vacations together... but instead, there are the feelings and qualities that I remember having when I was around her. When I think of her, my heart feels quiet and wide. She was very affectionate and gentle - especially considering that we were kiddos and were probably rough with her sometimes. She would often sleep with either my brother or I in our beds, and that was always the best. She had a loud purr - so loud that you could hear her from the other end of the living room sometimes - and when she slept with you she would cuddle you, keep you warm, and purr away.

I also remember that she would often find someone's sweater and drag it around the house like it was a little kitten. Whenever she did that, she had a very special meow that she would make. I wonder if it was sad, or just a little goofball thing that she did. We would usually just pet her and give her some cuddles when she did that, in case she was feeling melancholy.

She loved sitting in the sun, all curled up in a little ball. I remember that after she died, I would see a black sweater or towel on the sofa and briefly mistake it for Rascal. So bittersweet.

 (for me)

(for Rascal)

Another thing she loved was cantaloupe. I don't recall when we figured this out, but she used to love to lick out the inside of the cantaloupe after I was done eating it. She would stick her whole head inside and lick it dry. To this day, every time I have a cantaloupe shell sitting around, I think of Rascal and wish that she were still here to enjoy it with me.