Who is this Persian beauty you ask?
Meet Simeon, one very affectionate Persian cat.
Mia Reed, the protagonist in my upcoming book, Watercolor Whispers, told me she wanted a pet, and with her busy schedule as an art therapist, it simply had to be a low maintenance pet. She decided this beautiful Persian cat was the solution. That is before Simeon told her, no demanded, that he be brushed daily. One must take care of long hair like his after all. But Mia has decided it’s totally worth the time and effort because brushing Simmie, as she calls him for short, is very relaxing. Especially with the calming sound of his purring. And so what if her wallet took a hit because of the special food she buys him to prevent hairballs.
Although Persian cats are often referred to as furniture with fur, and it’s true Simeon is not terribly active, Mia soon found out he is not to be ignored. He is definitely a lap cat, with Mia’s lap being his favorite spot. If that spot is not available, Simeon may be found in his second favorite place in the apartment, the solarium where Mia paints. There he enjoys soaking in the sun from the deep window sill and keeping an eye on the neighborhood. while Mia works on her watercolors.
Simmie tells Mia how much he cares in several other ways. One of his favorites is kneading which he sometimes begins early in the morning. I think it may be his way of saying, “I love you and also it’s time to get up.”
Simmie will sometimes hold eye contact with Mia for a few moments, then blink slowly. These slow eye blinks–often accompanied by more purring–are another way he shows affection. Did I mention he’s a regular purring machine?
One more way he shows he cares is by twitching the tip of his tail. But look out if he swiftly lashes it back and forth–that most certainly means he’s annoyed. Simeon, aka Simmie, it turns out is also a good judge of character. He can tell the good guys from the bad guys. Honest, he can!
In this tale, you may want to watch Simmie’s tail.
Where did Simeon get his name?
Stained Glass courtesy of Pixabay
Simeon, described as a just and devout man, appears in the New Testament of the Bible one time in the gospel of Luke. Forty days after the birth of Christ, Jesus was presented at the temple (as was required by the laws of Moses). There Mary and Joseph met Simeon who had been visited by the Holy Spirit and told he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Upon taking Jesus in his arms he uttered a prayer which is still used in some Christian churches, the Nunc dimittis, also known as the Song of Simeon.
Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; Because my eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
So what does any of that have to do with the name Mia chose for her little Persian Prince? On February 2nd the Lutheran Church celebrates the Presentation of the Lord. Mia was brought up in the Lutheran Church, and her birthday falls on St. Simeon’s feast day. Perhaps she chose this name because of that coincidence, or perhaps it was because she knows she has also been visited by the Holy Spirit through her “special” drawings. Those of you who read Premonition Bridge, Book 3 of The Bridge Club Series, will remember Mia has a gift through her art and her faith that resulted in her surviving a perilous situation. In Watercolor Whispers, Book 1 of a new mystery series, she has grown up and become a professional art therapist whose gift will be an integral part of solving mysteries.
I’m curious, are you a dog or a cat person? Or neither? What do you think is the best pet?
The Writings of G. K. Bostic 