Connecting Through Stories

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“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.” – Oscar Wilde

At night after we’re done reading, I’ve been telling my kids stories from my life. It feels like a lot of work sometimes after a long day, but it also has this strange power of connecting past to present.

Some of their favorite stories are about Simon the bad cat. He was a cat that a neighbor left with me when she moved to Hawaii. Before he was my cat, he’d wait outside my house in the morning for me to take my 150 pound mastiff for a walk, jump out of the bushes, playfully smack my dog on the rump and then walk with us for 12 blocks.

Suffice it to say, he was a character perfectly made for bedtime stories. He got into all sorts of trouble – he’d break into other people’s houses, get stuck, and he fought with other cats. One time he must have ended up with a tooth or a claw stuck in the area between his shoulder blades because it abscessed and the vet had to do surgery to drain it. Simon died on the operating table and they had to do kitty CPR on him. It worked and he sprang back to his adventurous life.

There was one neighbor, Steve, who particularly hated Simon. One day when Steve was showing the new tenants of the duplex he lived in the shared basement laundry room space, he was telling them something like, “Whatever you do, close the door because there’s this terrible cat that comes in here if you don’t.” The new tenants asked what the cat looked like and as Steve described Simon, they pointed to the shelf behind Steve’s shoulder, “Oh, you mean that cat right there?” Simon had snuck in to listen to Steve’s whole speech.

When Steve worked on bicycles in his front yard, Simon would memorize where everything was laid out. And if Steve moved something or added a part, Simon would pee on it. It drove Steve crazy – but also fascinated him that the cat was that smart…and that bad.

Surprisingly, given all his dangerous antics, Simon lived to a ripe old age of 19 year old and died right after Miss O turned 3 years old. When we got the new cat, we just added an “e” to Simon so that Simone could share his Xmas stocking (always filled with coal of course). The quote for this post is a little tongue-in-cheek but I admit I felt a little relief when Simon went to Cat Heaven that I wouldn’t have to be apologizing for his antics any more.

Steve, the neighbor that hated Simon, has also moved on. He no longer lives on our block but must be in the area because I see him from time to time.

After several nights of these Simon the bad cat stories, one morning last week the kids and I were stopped at a stop sign on our drive to school when a man rode by the front of our car on a bike. It was Steve from the Simon stories! I yelled, “That’s Steve.”

We laughed all the way to school.

If you have a moment, I have another fun story from my past, a climbing story on the Heart of the Matter blog this morning, On The Way To the Top

(featured photo is mine)

58 thoughts on “Connecting Through Stories”

  1. Pingback: On the Way to the Top – The Heart of the Matter

  3. I laughed at the story of Simon listening in on Steve badmouthing him. That’s too funny. He sounded like such a character, Simon, and what a strong spirit he had to be revived at the vet’s. That’s also funny that you ran into Steve during a recent drive. The past, present and future always find a way to connect when we least expect them to.

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    1. I’m so glad you were laughing. You said it perfectly – he was a character. Your sentence “The past, present and future always find a way to connect when we least expect them to.” has given me the chills and really has me thinking. Hmm – that’s a great point!

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  4. Poor Steve being terrorised by Simon. They do say that cats know when people don’t like them or are scared. It sounds like Simon had lots of fun

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    1. I think you nailed it, Brenda. Simon did know who didn’t like him and though I wouldn’t endorse his methods, he sure was funny about staying front and center in Steve’s life… 🙂

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  5. These stories are wonderful, Wynne. They must mesmerize the kids. I used to do the same but made the stories up — every night. I’ve lost the invention, but the feeling for those moments lasts between my (now adult) children and me.

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    1. Oh, what a beautiful story about stories with your kids. Sometimes it feels like a lot of work at the end of the day but your comment has invigorated me to keep trying!

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  6. This is fantastic, Wynne! This reminded me of mom’s story of “Simon the bad cat” that I now must share. My grandparents had a Siamese cat named Simon. After being shooed off the counter one too many times, my grandma put him in the basement for a bit. When winter rolled around and she pulled her cashmere sweater out of the basement closet, she was in for a surprise. Simon had gotten his revenge and shredded her favorite sweater (and only her sweater). Cats are bright… and mischievous! 😂

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  8. LOL…all the way through! Are you sure that Simon WAS a cat? I mean…my mind wanders…could he have been the incarnation of something…or someone else? I’m with Ab…the imagery of Simon listening over Steve’s shoulder? Hilarious. 🤣😘🤣

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    1. Great question, Vicki. He was the epitome of the “bad boy” character that you know better than to date but makes you laugh anyway. Could have been the incarnation of any number of characters that fit that mold, right? 🙂 ❤ ❤ ❤

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  11. My neighbors had a Siamese cat named Fluffy. Don’t let the name fool you—Fluffy was the devil incarnate. I tried really hard to love her, but she was having none of it. She terrorized me and the rest of the neighborhood every time she had the chance. Her owners swore that she was harmless because she was declawed. Yeah, but she still had teeth. Well, I guess I’d be a bit testy too, if I were neutered and declawed. Who wouldn’t?

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    1. Fluffy – what a name for a mean cat! You point out some good reasons for the temperament though… Oh, the fun animal stories we have!! Thanks for sharing this one, Julia! ❤ ❤ ❤

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      1. I love cats! My last cat Sherman used to go into our neighbor’s house and sleep in the sun in her living room. Then Sherman wound up in the woman’s bed and gave her a scare!

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  13. I’m laughing… especially at Simon listening to Steve describing how terrible he was. Simon was one intelligent cat and knew how to get a rise out of Steve. I love how you tell true stories to your kids and that they got a glimpse of one of the characters at that stop light!

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    1. Oh, you make such a great point about Simon. You’re right – somehow he knew he was playing a game with Steve. He was such a bad boy!!! Now you have me laughing about him all over again. Thanks, Nancy!

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    1. A hot mess – perfectly put, Belle! One time he disappeared for 13 days. On day 12, I was pretty sure he wasn’t coming back so I gave away his food. Then the next day he reappeared looking a little bedraggled and demanding to be fed… 🙂

      You’re right – the ones that are trouble make for good stories! Hope you’re having a great week!

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      1. Oh Lord! He was a handful! We have a cat Shoppy who disappeared last summer while we were gone visiting in-laws. For 10 days. Got home. Still no Shoppy. We figured something had happened to him :(…on day 30, he rolled in at 5 am to eat with the other cats like he’d never been gone! Catz gonna be catz! Happy Tuesday!

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  19. I think it is interesting that when a memory surfaces of an old acquaintance or friend, and I dare to speak their name out loud, inevitably they will show up in my life (a sighting, a phone call, or letter, maybe on the news). I’m not kidding. It is the most bazaar phenomenon known to woman (men included). I’m wondering if we’re connected in ways we’ve only yet to understand, and that would include pets, possibly birds, and definitely people both alive and deceased. Have you dreamed about Simon lately? Loved this post Wynne. I do much the same with the grandkids but the stories are about the antics of their parents! Hugs, C

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    1. I love your wonderful musing about our connectedness, Cheryl. Such a perfect Cheryl thread for you to pull. I don’t think I’ve dreamed about Simon – but only because I’m too tired after these days to dream or remember my dreams!

      Love that you tell stories about your kids to your grandkids. That’s perfect. I’m remembering that one! ❤ ❤ ❤

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  25. This is such a sweet and funny story! It’s amazing how much personality one animal can have and the bond it can create. I’m sure your kids love hearing about Simon’s wild adventures! Thanks for sharing and thank you to the author for this post!

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