We Leave Our Imprint on Others

/ moragnoffke

A Short story for family, friends, and cat lovers — know you are all included.

A Short Prologue to My Cat-A –log of Cat Tails

She came in through the window I had opened for her. Normally she jumped down from my dresser and ran past me to her food bowl or to any other immediate need. Today I picked Pangea up and held her close; stroking her head at the same time. She was a petite little tabby-cat with an unassuming, quiet nature. She delicately purred as I sat down on the bed, still holding her. It was really cold outside and I could feel her icy paws through my pajamas. We sat like that, for what felt a long time, and I almost imagined she would stay sitting if I stopped stroking. It was a quiet communion between cat and mistress.

I sat there thinking about how life had not turned out the way I had expected. I had had an idealistic image of my life, ending with: and they lived happily ever after. Had these dreams and desires set me up for disappointment? Or was I living the dream life but I just didn’t know it? I looked down at Pangea and said:

“It’s easy enough to get so embroiled with life that we just don’t know that we’re living our best lives”

Pangea blink quietly as she listened to me. She had that knowing look as if she was satisfied that she’d got her point through to me.

I stopped stroking. She stayed just long enough for me to think that I had wooed her onto my lap and that she would indeed stay. Then she got up and jumped off the bed. She turn toward me with her tail quivering, looking like she always does when she wants me to follow her and see what she needs. I looked down and saw the muddy footprints she had left behind on my pajamas. She had got her point across.

As I followed her I left my thoughts behind, dwindling near the bed. I was thinking “It is funny how life does not turn out how you expect it to. You normally get more than you bargained for. Each creature or person leaves their footprint on your life even if you had not asked for it or expected it. And that is what life is all about: the unexpected. I have an abundance of imprints on my life. I am grateful for them.”

“Life is grubbier and more interesting than one could ever have bargain for.”

Come with me and I will share with you a few cat tails; some told by me and some told by the cats themselves; some philosophical in nature and some adventurous.”

See you next time
Mistress of Cat-Memories

Morag Noffke

20 thoughts on “We Leave Our Imprint on Others”

    • Thank you, I value your comment knowing that you have studied creative writing. I grew up with a string of dogs, cats, rabbits and chickens who we treated all as pets. The chickens also had names. So many imprints 😊

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  6. A very thoughtful share, Morag, and so true, … we should just stop now and again, and be thankful,… I’m often left wondering if we’re following a path or discovering a new one with every decision,… pets are part of this, …such a loving and huge part, … thank-you for sharing an almost dreamy vignette, …💙

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