Creature Comforts

In late August, I was surprised to find an uninvited visitor on my backyard deck. Though I was anticipating the 5 year anniversary of my late husband’s passing on August 24th with trepidation, I was greeted by something totally unexpected that day. Looking out through the sliding glass door, I saw a colorful tabby cat sleeping tranquilly on one of two cushioned chairs beneath my pergola. For years, my neighborhood had its share of stray felines, but never had I seen one on our chairs, let alone one using it as a napping spot. I was particularly struck by the fact that this little kitty found its new bed on August 24th as my husband had an unusual association with cats. 

Though Brad was allergic to pretty much all things cute and cuddly, we discovered this feline link thanks to our family’s fondness for all things Harry Potter. Curious about his place in the Wizarding World if he ever matriculated at Hogwarts, Brad took an online quiz for franchise fans. Brad not only discovered that he would have been a loyal member of Hufflepuff House, he also learned that his patronus was a cat. For those unfamiliar, the patronus is sort of a spirit animal, one that is conjured with a spell and holds special powers to shield the conjuror from dark and evil spirits.

Though the cat on our deck could have been seen as a nuisance, my teenage daughter and I found it delightful. The feline showed up that day and continued to visit each day that week, even bringing a feline friend along on a subsequent day. The cat mostly spent time resting on the chair and would occasionally bat around acorns that lay on the deck or look through our sliding glass door inquisitively. We were happy the kitty had chosen to visit our deck, but part of me could not help but wonder if the timing of the cat’s arrival held some connection to both Brad and the anniversary of his passing. As strange as it may sound, I felt comforted by the cat’s presence as it seemed like Brad himself was sending us a sign. No matter what, it helped us feel connected to Brad and miss him a little less just when we needed it most.