Oil on canvas – 16,14 x 10,63 inch – Unique work

I am writing these few lines and there you are, lying very close to me. You meow, you purr while letting your tail sweep my keyboard!

I’ve always wanted an animal with me. But then, with my parents, it never was an option. In any case, I never dared to ask. It wasn’t part of the plan. Like all families in the early 1970s, we had hamsters. But that joke didn’t last long. Who got bored first between parents and children? Hard to say.

Looking back, I lived an enchanted, perhaps poisoned, break in London. The domestic animal has changed into a funny beast, ideal insect for nocturnal invasions like nightmares. I’m refering to the stick insect. Go quickly check Google for the lucky ones who don’t know what I’m talking about. An incredible mode of reproduction which in a few months of two, became tens, then hundreds. Literally invading the cage.

Fortunately, around this same time, our neighbors and friends took in a little Bicky cat. She quickly became my confidante and I was oddly hers. When we left, my heart broke. I can still feel the crack in me today.

I grew up, luckily, I left and 14 years ago I went for it. I adopted a cat. The excuse was for my daughter to have a brother, a little life partner. But if I’m beeing perfectly honest here, this little life partner was mine. Finally, my dream was coming true.

Very strong, discreet but very real bonds were built between him and me. We are now just the two of us and it’s even stronger, if that was possible. He follows me everywhere. There he is, next to me. I’m never far either and I look for eyes contact, call him regularly to make sure he’s okay. A never ending interaction, a mutual respect, an unconditional love, at least as far as I’m concerned. But I seem to be guessing all of this on his side too in the way he stares at me, rubs himself against me, claims me, reacts to each of my approaches that I try as discreetly as possible. Its untimely purrs rock me and reassure me. With him, life has become sweeter, reassuring, joyful, calm, peaceful.

Charly is my eternal flame.