Friday: Hili dialogue (and new-cat lagniappe)

November 20, 2015 • 5:00 am

The end of the week is upon us, and, just in time, the snow is predicted to fall on Chicago  beginning this evening, with an accumulation of 4-8 inches by tomorrow. This is just in time for a book event I have downtown tomorrow: the Chicago Book Expo. So it goes. On this day in 1947, Princess (now Queen) Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten (now Prince Philip) at Westminster Abbey, and, in 1942, Joe Biden was born. And meanwhile in Dobrzyn, Hili has been busy stealing ham off Andrzej’s sandwiches. She absolutely loves ham, and has purloined it two days in a row. Here she gloats in triumph after her second successful theft:

A: Hili, there was ham on my sandwich!
Hili: Yes, there was.

P1030629

In Polish:
Ja: Hili, tu była szynka na mojej kanapce!
Hili: Tak, była.
*******
And I want to call attention to a new cat acquired by reader Ed Suominen, a former Christian fundamentalist and a member of the bizarre Lutheran sect called Laestadianism, which holds that only its adherents will find salvation. Ed gave up his faith when he realized that it was incompatible with science, and was interviewed in Salon about his apostasy. He’s also written a book about his former faith, An Examination of the Pearl, and co-written, with Robert Price, a nice book called Evolving Out of Eden: Christian Responses to Evolution.
In honor of Ed’s prescience in ditching his faith, and his kindness in adopting an unwanted cat, I’ll put up his brief tail:

Jerry, it seems that I have been adopted by a stray cat. My wife and I were out for a walk and this cute little black tabby came trotting up next to us like he’s known us all his life. I meowed at him and he tagged right alongside us all the way home. We out out some food left from my departed Frisky II and a fresh container of water, and he set to eating.

When we left for a few days, we told the kids that he probably wouldn’t be here when we got back. I hoped he would, although it would have been better, I suppose, if he had a nice warm home to go to.

But as soon as we returned, here he was, trotting right up to say hello.

 

As I sit here tapping this out on my iPad, he is purring up a storm on my lap.

I’ll be bringing him to the vet for some shots tomorrow. And of course I had to tell you all about it!

Ed later added, “I suspect someone used the old ‘drop it off by the road and see if it can fend for itself’ rural technique to get rid of an unwanted animal. Pretty sad, although it worked out for this one.”

This photo was labeled: “Priorities first”:

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And the moggie (like Leon, he’s a very dark tabby):

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The cat is as yet unnamed, so readers can suggest one if they want (it’s an unneutered male who will shortly lose its testicles).

27 thoughts on “Friday: Hili dialogue (and new-cat lagniappe)”

  1. Note: He was already Prince Philip before he married Princess Elizabeth. It was a Greek title. Duke of Edinburgh is his highest British title.

  2. No idea what to name the new moggie family member, but he looks like a love. As someone who collects strays, I salute you, Ed.

    ~RMW

  5. For me, all cats (even my boss) have the same names: Kitty, Puss, Furball, or Shithead, depending on the situation.

  8. I don’t know what to call him, but he’s gorgeous Ed. It seems like you’re both lucky he chose you.

    As for Hili, she clearly needs to be called late for lunch!

  10. I immediately thought of the name – seen the light, Ed, but that’s not so good and too long. Maybe for old times sake you could go with Martin? Just a thought.

  11. Congrats on being chosen, Ed! Much better to be chosen by a cat than by Christ. And maybe Hili will raise a slice of ham in salute to your new master.

    b&

  13. Max the Magnificent sez: Every male tabby who’s still got his balls should be named
    **MAX**. So hurry up and name him today before he loses his right to the name tomorrow.

  16. He’s a fine looking cat. I hope he’s as healthy as he looks. I’ll bet he has a great personality.

  17. Does anyone know the cat’s mood in the last picture, with the expression and ear position? I’ve often seen it, and know the cat is not particularly happy.

      2. I wanted to get a photo of his impressive striping around the neck. He’s such a friendly kitty and so happy to have a home that it was hard to keep him from nuzzling me long enough to get a picture. So the expression you’re seeing is him trying to lift his head up while he was on my lap with an odd rectangular object (my iPod) being shoved near his head to get a picture.

        So far as I know, he is blissfully unaware of his upcoming next appointment with the vet!

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