Hannibal...........
I have had so, soooooooooooooooo many cats in my life. And have loved each and every last one. And each of them has changed me. But there have been a few.......
Hannibal. My most beloved and adored Brigit. And now my soul mate of soul mates, Winston.
Hannibal...............
There is no way on Earth I can even begin to tell you of Hannibal. Or the huge part of my soul he inhabits.
I was young then. Had left home to go to University. Home was a smallish town - albeit with a renowned U of its own. But I went away. To McGill. In Montreal. At 16.
Spent 2 years in residence then moved into an apartment. My Muff came with me. My Muff is a whole 'nother story...... Anyway, I was in classes and labs all day every day. She was lonely. I decided (after she had ripped the squeeker out of the umpteenth toy!) to get her a 'friend'. That's when Duty came to us. Ah... my Duty..... She too needs a story of her own (but, being B&W, her story will have to wait...) A month later a friend of mine said "I understand you like cats. My friend has this kitten. Last of the litter...."
And so it was that one day in July I hiked on up to the Montreal General Hospital (where her friend worked) and brought my baby home.
He was so small. Grey tabby. Who knew.........
Long story short, Hannibal became the head of the family. Never raised a paw to anyone - they just knew he was king. People I hardly knew would come into the house (by then populated with many, many cats) and see him and stop. He is the one they all remember.
And yet he never 'did' anything. He was just a presence. So many other cats - flashier, some with what people consider 'pedigrees' - and yet HE was the one that they instantly saw. And stopped and commented on.
He was our rock. Our Father. The world pretty much ended when he died.
He lived for a good 15 years though. Saw many, many, many (too many?) new kitties into this home. And we remember him still.
A little grey tabby. Who loved Beethoven. Would lie curled around my neck while we listened - but would give a low growl if I so much as tried to hum along. Only with Beethoven, though. Didn't care what I did with any of the others......
Hannibal. ... He who became the heart and soul and courage and so much more of us all.
