For how it all started read Part I: Found and Lost
For years after moving to the US owning a cat was out of question for various reasons. But it was always somewhere in plans for future because both my vSO and I loved cats and wanted to have one. So for a while we had to figure out how to deal with that.
I don’t remember exactly how it happened but I think one morning my vSO found him at our door. And from this first comic strip (see below) through years of newspaper subscriptions, dozens of comic books and even membership in the Garfield Club (it doesn’t exist any longer) this fat well-fed, lazy, mischievous, sarcastic but still charming orange cat moved with us from one apartment to another.
Garfield became our virtual cat. We would use phrases from Garfield stories in appropriate situations.
Diet is ‘die’ with ‘t’.
Give me coffee and nobody will get hurt.
I’m not overweight—I’m undertall.
We had favorite comic strips that we would repeat to each other the way people relive real life memories.
How did you sleep?
I just had a thought…
Crumbs!
So even though we didn’t have a cat we had plenty of grins.
Images: All from garfield.com.
Dear Undina
I’ve never been a Garfield man until now, always preferring Snoopy… but I have a soft spot for red heads, so maybe The Dandy will give him a whirl.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Every year around this time I think of Snoopy’s “Dear IRS” letter
Oh, you had me laughing with this.
And I actually know a person to apply all this to.
I know at least a coupe!
That is so lovely!
Thank you, B.!
oh I always loved Garfield! He was most definitely a part of my childhood! I believe there was even a TV cartoon!
!!!!
Also, Kliban cat (not sure if I spelled his name right). Do you remember that, Undina? There were all things Kliban and I even had a bed set with those cats all over it! (I was a cat fanatic in my youth). My mother saved one of my Kliban cat t-shirts and now my daughter wears it
Yes, there were cartoons as well but since I started with comic strips it was like watching a movie after liking a book
Kliban’s cats were “before my time”. Well, I’m not saying I’m that young but I moved to the US much later after their popularity peak.
Actually Undina I am THAT old-LOL!!!Kliban’s cats were (I believe) from the late 70s! One of these days I’ll take a picture of myself wearing the t-shirt (yeah, it still fits-I am that tiny!) and e-mail it to you
!!
Deal!
So funny! Thanks for posting that. For a short second I could forget about the upcoming subject credit and exam retake
Lucas, you’ll survive these problems – I’m sure of that. So get your positive emotions where you can and work-work-work through the issues!
You are FAB U LOUS. That’s a super story.
Portia xx
Thank you, dear Portia
Lovely post. I was a big Garfield fan growing up but I had to google the name of his dog friend just now – Odie!
Getting a big Garfield cuddly toy (stuffed animal?) was one of my best ever Christmas presents. Nice memories all round.
Thank you, Tara! I’m glad we have one more thing in common.
I know/remember most characters but just because I still check out those comics from time to time.
Awww, that’s so sweet, Undina. I never was into Garfield, yet have a small stuffed Garfield that sits on my bookshelf, gifted to me a long time ago by a boyfriend who knew I loved cats. And oddly enough, now there are no real cats in my life, but Garfield remains. I’ll give him your best next time I dust!
Thank you, Suzanne.
If you get a chance, can you take a picture of “your” Garfield?
Sure thing. I’ll send you one this week.
I need a virtual cat! Maybe that would satisfy my not inconsiderable cat-owning urge.
I think you should get a virtual cat as a step towards getting a real one (two?
). It might be too soon to get a cat now but I think that a cat person shouldn’t be too long without a cat.
I loved Garfield myself growing up, but I’ll admit he came in second to my affection for Bill the Cat and the entire Bloom County cast.
One of the great pleasures I’ve had as a parent is introducing my children to stuff I loved growing up and watching them love it too.(ie. “This is ‘A Wrinkle in Time,’ give it a read” or “I think you’re old enough now to appreciate the genius that is ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’”) Frodo, my 13yo, is a huge fan of Garfield, and will often come up to me so I can read something he finds particularly funny.
I’m really glad I wrote about Garfield: not only I found fellow-fans among my perfumista friends but also I learned about two more cat characters with which I wasn’t familiar before.
Sharing thing you love with loved ones is a special treat. I’m glad your kids share your “likes” and “loves”.
“There’s a wounded donut around here somewhere” Hahahahaha. Thank you for the laugh.
I like the idea of having a virtual cat too! Maybe I can find a slightly neglected neighborhood cat and turn it into a semi-virtual cat? Kind’ve like having a godchild instead of a real child.
In our neighborhood there is a cat who adopts people from different houses for a while: he keeps coming, stays with them (on the front or back yard) for weeks at a time – and then returns to his owner’s house.
I’ve been meaning to reply to this but held off until I could find my own well-worn, dog-earred books of Garfield comics to share with you! Alas, I have over a thousand books in my library and many more in boxes in my garage, so I can’t seem to dig either one up at the moment. But I adored Garfield, growing up. Eventually, I got my own personal version of him, a giant smoky blue Persian called Pushkin. I swear, he had Garfield’s personality (and massive stomach) down pat — right down to slapping the dog. LOL.
Pushkin? It’s a great name for a cat. Was his meow especially poetic?
Even though now all comic strips are accessible online I keep all my books – just in case.
Ha, no, his meow was especially outraged! Especially if he ever had to go in a car. He was quite… vociferous… in his feelings.