~The Cat Lady~

When I was young there was a "cat lady" here in West Pawlet. Every Sunday, our family and our many Aunts, Uncles & Cousins would gather at my Grandparents house for dinner. Each Sunday after dinner was over, if the weather was nice, myself and my abundance of cousins' would head outside to wander and explore. We would often go down to the river to swim, throw rocks, wander aimlessly, build forts, etc....all those things that use to be safe for children to do on their own. Anyway, right before we headed out the door, one of our parents, gram or gramp, would say...."Remember to stay away from Maisey Warren's house ...she hates kids!!" There were an abundance of tales about this poor woman who, I have no idea to this day, if she really hated kids.. I am sure it was made up to scare us into behaving while we were out and about on our own. I CAN say, it certainly worked! As a matter of fact, it terrified us!!! We would literally tip toe past the dirt road which she lived on! From a distance you could make out the wobbly old shack where she lived, and which seemed to be the home of an insanely large amount of cats.
It's funny how a young mind works isn't it...it never once occurred to us that she might just be a nice old lady who loved cats and took in strays. Gracious no..we use to think she ate them!!!!

Maisey passed on years ago and not much remains of her house, but she's been on my mind quite a lot lately while working on Ferdinand, my new cat design. I wonder if I will some day be known as "The Cat Lady of West Pawlet"....And, if so, I hope the story has a nicer "tail" attached to it :).


;~) Doreen