Memories of Tosh; Black Cat Extraordinaire

A friend and a great writer here on AC, Jenny Heart wrote an article "Black Cats Feared, Loved, or Sometimes Shot", and while reading about black cats was transported instantly to 1992, where my little black cat "Tosh" or "Tashie" (pronounced; "Tawshee"), lived.

We called her "Tosh" or "Toshee" or "Tashie" depending on the tone used ... or like if she was in trouble, which she often was, we would use her full name; "Tashita Momalita, Conchita-e-Consuela, "Lil Sparks Tosha, Collins". Quite a mouthful, eh?
Now you can see why we shortened it for the most part, lol. But it doesn't shorten the time I will miss her one bit.

She was beautiful with her sleek, black fuzzy fur and piercing-all-seeing emerald eyes. She'd look and me, and sometimes, I swear, it was like she would speak to me (in her own catty way). She had quite a character, loved chewable garlic pills (thought they were treats), and would even "entertain" me. Truly. Whenever I'd say, "Tashie, entertain us", she would, by jumping up on her back legs, waving her front paws, and side-step jumping around. I can just picture it now. Tashie, you make me laugh. Thank you for that.

And also thanks to Alice Jones Webb who wrote "Black Cat Superstitions: Good Luck or Bad Luck?", who also reminded me of my favorite black cat. I can say this about "black cat superstitions"- that Tashie did bring me good luck, for the most part, and I have to thank her for that too :) Here's the snippet of Black Cat Superstitions: Good Luck or Bad Luck?" that really reminded me of Tashie:
"Cats seem to carry an air of mystery about with them. They seem quite different than most other animals humans keep as pets. In fact, it is often difficult to determine which is the pet and which is the owner, cat or human. Perhaps it is their fierce independence and their intelligent gaze that has made cats both revered and feared through the ages. Black cats are especially mysterious, slinking through the dark on quiet paws. Sometimes all you can see are his glowing eyes."

'Ain't that the truth. I also think cats remember that they were once revered, and will never let you forget it. Tashie was known in our group as an attacker --if she didn't like you, consider yourself on guard, and keep a watchful eye for her sneaky ambushes. She once ambushed a painter friend, attacking from the top of her "tower", jumping with lightning speed, landed on his shoulder and proceeded to almost de-eye the guy. We called it the tower because it was her place. The tower was a custom carpeted cat-pole with platforms she could lounge on, her favorite was the top which was over 6 feet off the ground -the perfect place to attack from. Really, she only did it the one time, and come-to-find out the guy was a con-artist anyway, so I didn't feel so bad.

Yeah, I miss my "Tashie". Isn't it strange how we can become so attached to some of God's creatures that are so unlike us and yet some of us be so unattached to actual humans in our lives?
hmmm...question for another day.
But I digress...this is all about my Lil sparks Tashie. She was the coolest cat ever.
The memories of her will always be near my heart. And here's to you Tashie, for always knowing who the bad guys were. Black cats are definitely lucky.

Resources:
"Black Cats Feared, Loved, or Sometimes Shot"
Black Cat Superstitions: Good Luck or Bad Luck?