The blues
I meant to be writing this on Monday. I had pictures ready. Pictures of knitting, finished knitting, made by me. But as it turns out, it’s been a week of anxiety and lumps in the throat, sore feet and the glum blues. Mingus the cat went missing on Sunday night — maybe it’s spring fever, maybe a dog chased him into an unfamiliar neighborhood, maybe it’s something worse. The not knowing is worse, for one. Mingus is a prime booger, up to no good at least once a day, usually looking for trouble and finding it, but I miss him… I can’t even write how much. I’ll get snot all over the keyboard. This week I’ve done everything you can do — visiting the shelters every two days, posting fliers all over a ten block radius and the internet, calling for him everywhere, talking to neighbors (you can meet a lot of really nice people looking for an errant cat), pouncing at every new message on the answering machine, running outside in a bathrobe at 2 a.m. without my glasses because some cats were snarling at each other and maybe it was my bellicose little pisser disturbing the peace. Mr. Garter left for Texas and his sister’s graduation at the crack of dawn on Wednesday, and it’s lonesome here without either of my boys.
Tonight I finally broke down and wept a little weep. I was already kind of unhinged about the cat, and then I got the news that Lloyd Alexander died. Most of you probably don’t pay a lot of attention to children’s literature, but he was one of the Truly Greats. And as Kristen put it, there won’t be another writer like him. Lloyd was an old-fashioned storyteller, and his books were marked by innocent joy and skillful craft, always wise and gentle and true and fun. No potty humor, nothing racy or edgy — and they still capture kids’ imaginations by virtue of the peculiar and simple magic of good story. I loved them growing up, and I loved them even more when I was assistant to his editor in New York. It felt like private admission to Xanadu to open a box containing his typewritten manuscript, and how I glowed when he adopted my suggestions. In my little experience of him as an author and as a person, he was witty and generous, scholarly to the point of endearing nerdiness, and a great lover of cats. On my mantle is an Edward Gorey stuffed cat he gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago. I propped it up there when I was unpacking because I didn’t have another place in mind for it, and somehow it’s stayed. I like its funny eyebrows and its red & brown knit sweater. Lloyd always drew his own Christmas cards; invariably they were cats standing in for the figures in famous works of art, and we all had to guess what painting they spoofed. I hadn’t studied art history yet and I wasn’t very good at guessing; I like to think that this year I would have gotten the reference.
I don’t know what Lloyd’s thoughts about the afterlife were, but I like to think of him as having gone to dwell among his many vibrant characters — with his wife and all their cats, of course. And I kind of hope he’ll keep an eye on Mingus for me, and maybe remind him that it’s good to return home after the journey.
Posted: May 19th, 2007 at 2:34 am
Oh! I hope your kitty finds his way back home safe and sound.
Posted: May 19th, 2007 at 4:18 am
oh no!! i hope mingus comes home soon!
Posted: May 19th, 2007 at 7:19 am
What a sad week 🙁 I hope things get better.
Posted: May 19th, 2007 at 8:21 am
i’ll have jimi and joplin send “go home” vibes out your way (as well as my own).
Posted: May 19th, 2007 at 8:56 am
I know that feeling and I hope that Mingus wanders home very, very soon.
Posted: May 19th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Sending lots of “Come home Mingus” vibes your way.
Posted: May 19th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Oh! What a week for you. Here’s hoping that it’s spring fever, and Mingus will turn up after fathering lots of other bellicose little pissers.
As for Mr. Alexander…there won’t be another like him. I’m sure he’ll keep an eye on Mingus for you, as great lovers of cat are wont to do.
Posted: May 19th, 2007 at 9:57 am
[…] I’m lucky, though. When I was pregnant with Eleanor, frightened and frustrated, Sarah sent me a package. I opened it to a treasure – Lloyd Alexander’s last Vesper Holly book, signed by the man himself. In the midst of all my real world worries and difficulties, I settled down to read about the adventures of a girl who was brave and strong, who faced the world with dignity. I nearly named the sprogling Vesper in gratitude. Sarah has written a beautiful tribute to the man on her blog. […]
Posted: May 19th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Oh you poor thing. I’m hoping that Mingus returns home safe and sound very soon.
Posted: May 19th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Oh, I can’t even imagine if my cat went missing — I’m surprised you didn’t sit down and have that weep much sooner! Mr. Alexander will be much missed. He’s one of the few authors from my childhood that I often reread as an adult. Take care, and may Mingus turn up safe and sound. *hugs*
Posted: May 19th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Oh NO! As much as his fur makes me sneeze, I do like the naughty little guy, and I’m so sad to hear he’s missing. E sends his regards for Mr. Mingus as well. We are crossing our fingers that he’s just off on an wild rumpus of several days’ duration!
Posted: May 19th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
I really hope your cat will return soon. Otherwise I’m sure Lloyd Alexander will take care of him, if he can! I hadn’t actually heard about Lloyd Alexander before, but I definitely will explore his stories together with my kids.
Posted: May 19th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
I’m sorry, Sarah. I wish I could come over and hang out for a while, talking or not talking (okay, we interrupt this sincere message of condolence–because I can really imagine how lonely it is without your guys and being sorta introverted and missing a great, great writer–to recall the moment in Best in Show that the phrase “talk… or… not talk… for *hours* always calls to mind for me), or whatever. I miss Mingus for you, I don’t know why. It’s probably because your posts are so eloquent that I feel like I know you and Mingus and Mr. Garter and like I must miss them, too.
Posted: May 20th, 2007 at 7:13 am
what a sad but beautiful post. i’ll be pulling for mingus to return home to you.
Posted: May 20th, 2007 at 8:51 am
I hope Mingus returns to you! You have had quite a week. I really enjoyed Lloyd Alexander’s books when I was young. You are fortunate to have known him. I hope Mr. Garter returns soon to comfort you.
Posted: May 20th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Sniff sniff. I’ve had many a cat in my lifetime who went on extended kitty sojourns to who knows where doing who knows what. I hated not knowing too. I’m sending good thoughts to you that the wanderlust in Mingus will quiet and he’ll return home to you soon.
Posted: May 20th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Hope your cat comes home soon!
Posted: May 20th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Oh my…what an awful feeling. This may sound crazy, but did you check neighbors’ garages? Years ago my old cat went missing and it turned out she’d just been shut into a neighbor’s garage for a week by accident went they went on vacation. She was a bit shaken up, but otherwise fine – and it was the last place we thought to look. I really, really hope your Mingus comes back from whatever extended excursion he’s on. Sending good kitty-come-home vibes your way.
I hope this week leads to cat discovery and sunnier days for you… ~gabriella
Posted: May 20th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
thinking of you and your kitty, he sounds like a scrapper and if he knows what’s good for him, he will come back to his mama. and the weep is good for you, i am finding that out. such a release, nothing to avoid.
Posted: May 20th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
I’m so sorry to hear about ‘Gus!! I hope he comes home to you soon! I also am very saddened by Mr. Alexander’s death. He left behind an incredible legacy of wonderful children’s literature. Sorry both of these events have struck you at the same time.
Posted: May 20th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
I’m so sorry to hear about ‘Gus!! I hope he comes home to you soon! I also am very saddened by Mr. Alexander’s death. He left behind an incredible legacy of wonderful children’s literature. Sorry both of these events have struck you at the same time.
Posted: May 21st, 2007 at 9:29 am
Oh no! I hope your kitty comes back soon.
Posted: May 21st, 2007 at 10:58 am
Oh, Mingus! My tummy is all snarled up with worry for your poor little guy. I hope both your boys come home to you soon, safe and sound. My kitties are all aflutter with their concern for Mingus. I wish I could go out there and beat the bushes looking for him with you.
Posted: May 21st, 2007 at 8:30 pm
I loved Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain Chronicles as a child and have re-read them many times. Elonwy and her bauble and her Taran are among my favorite literary characters. How wonderful it must have been to known Mr. Alexander personally. I’m sorry for your loss and hope your cat makes his way back to you soon.
Posted: May 22nd, 2007 at 7:15 am
Thanks for these lovely thoughts and memories about Lloyd, Sara. Some of my favorite Penguin moments were when you, Lucia, and Sarah let me read the new manuscripts and talk about Vesper. I hope Mingus returns, but I do think you’re right about Lloyd looking out for him.
Posted: May 31st, 2007 at 8:42 am
I am so sorry to read of all these losses at once. I hope that your kitty turns up soon. When Charlie got outside, it was the most horrible 24 hours I’ve had.