I saw a Nigel Kennedy concert on TV and fell in love with his absolute genius. Nigel Kennedy was dubbed a violin "prodigy” and played at Carnegie Hall at the age of 16, and later earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for his recording of Vivalidi’s “The Four Seasons”. One of his more popular albums is The Kennedy Experience, featuring Jimi Hendrix songs.
This is long, as some instrumentals are, but worth listening to as you read (plus, it’s super cool! Go ahead & skip ahead on the player if you want. The really good stuff starts at about 2 minutes in):
So when I got this little rascal in 1990:
I already knew what I would name him. Most people don’t give last names to their pets. I do.
Now my Nigel Kennedy was no genius, but he was a “good” cat, as far as cats go. He was always a bit skittish and wary of other people, but for some reason he just clung to me. I guess I made him feel safe. Or maybe it's just that I smell good.
Throughout the years, he has refereed fights (Holly kept these 2 when I moved to Philly):
Sebastian Bach & Chuck Taylor
He has helped me move:
He also has the “Stretch Armstrong” super power:
He even managed to fight off the evil Ezra Pound (who is dearly departed and missed tremendously but that's a whole other post):
And he’s really good at hanging out:
Lately he has taken to helping me write posts, pay bills online, check email, etc. While I appreciate the company, using the keyboard requires me to awkwardly swivel to the left and try not to bang his head with the slide-out shelf :
I swear he knows all my passwords…
Yeah, he’s an old cat now, suffering from slight dementia, hearing loss and is a plain old curmudgeon at times, but he stills knows how to live it up:
When he finally "goes", I don't think I'll get another cat. Not for a very long time, at least.
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
Jonathan Wolfman
Doug Socks
Half-Assed Attempts At Adulthood
Andy Heizeler
Kerry Lauerman
The Good Daughter
Salon.com
Comments
Thanks for sharing the great photos.
RATED for Nigel
You got him in 1990? Wow, he really is getting up there in age isn't he. Well here's to Nigel; may you have many more happy times with him.
And though you do probably smell good, I'm sure Nigel clings to you because cool cats know to stick together.
randy: Meow to Lucy!
Harp: I know, I know...I'd have a dog, but I don't have the space, yard, or time for one.
Wally: Yup, he's a "geezer"!
Lonnie: Otis Taylor--great! My Ezra Pound could catch things too--it's a pretty funny sight, huh?
emma: awww, I loved your cats too! no "cute off" - too dificult to decide!
Steve: STEVE BLEVINS would be an awesome name for a cat.
AshKW: right back at ya!
I only have one question...why is there a Budweiser can in your toothbrush holder?
Second of all, my old dog had a full name; "Doctor Raul Duke." I wanted to call him Raul but somehow he ended up with Dukie. He's gone now but in his prime, he was an excellent crane operator - big bucks - I think you know what I'm trying to say here. Kept me in sushi for years - that shit can get expensive.
I miss him - he was an earner.
Duane: LMFAO! Thank you, for infusing some brilliant sarcasm into these comments! Just what I needed today. :-)
As for Squeeze, I missed them (of course) at the Summer Pops Festival in Liverpool this summer. I can only hope to catch them someday in the U.S.