It is too soon for me to fully understand Humphrey’s significance in my life, but I can see some major ways he has affected me. It was so wonderful to have someone completely devoted to me while I was moving islands and navigating the long-term care facility the first year or so. I could absolutely depend on his unwavering support through everything.
I had always intended that we would live together again once I got to Honolulu, but after a year or so that proved too daunting a task. Once I gave up on that idea, I knew Humphrey would not have a reason to stick around anymore. He had chosen to go home with me to be my protector and that was not possible anymore if we were going to live apart permanently.
I have gathered photographs from our life together, which I would like to explain and share with you now.
This picture was taken the day I brought Humphrey home from the 9th Life sanctuary, where he had been living for almost four years. There is a four-minute video that tells the story of how we met on my website at the bottom of the My Life section. The thing that stands out to me is how yellow his eyes are. He had over 250 kitty buddies there so he was not getting all the food he needed. Not anymore! He went from 9 pounds to 10 pounds in about a month. This is also my profile picture on Google.
This photo is from our first Christmas together. I happen to have this wrapping paper and I took the picture at night so the flash was bright and Humphrey was shielding his eyes. Perfect shot!
This is Humphrey on the fence in front of my house with the tree that provided wonderful shade when I waited for the bus to pick me up. Unfortunately, that tree was an invasive species so it was cut down and replaced with a royal palm tree, which provided no shade. That story has nothing to do with Humphrey, but this one does. Humphrey could jump from the ground to the top of the 6-foot fence in one leap, which he had to do every once in a while when a stray dog would go after him. Very not cool. This was the wallpaper when I had a computer monitor.
This is a selfie I took with Humphrey at the end of my bed. My eyes are looking at the camera to see if I have the shot. I loved kissing Humphrey on top of his head. When I first brought him home, he was not used to being kissed like that and moved away. After a while, he understood what it meant and came to love getting kisses.
This great shot of Humphrey at the end of my bed was my cell phone background for at least six years. I like orange and it is just such a serene, placid picture of him.
Humphrey loved being outside. He also liked sitting in the dirt and the lady who bought the house redecorated the front yard with red ginger and other plants. They started as one small bush and eventually took over the front yard area. Humphrey would sit among the plants and blend in. You had to look really hard to identify him. He loved hiding in plain sight.
Occasionally, he would walk on the roof, which always cracked me up. He would look down at me and meow as if asking for help to get down. Don't look at me. I thought, you got up there, you know how to get down.
Here he is luxuriating on the stone wall that separated our house from the neighbors. The whole street was on a slope so each house was lower than the next. There's not much else to say except, doesn't he look regal?
Now we are back inside for an especially good picture of our usual sleeping arrangements. I am happy to say I was always aware of how good I had it. I loved waking up to him right next to me in the mornings. I know he roamed while I was asleep, but he was with me so I could fall asleep and then again when I woke up.
This photo was taken by my sister and happened a few weeks before we were separated when I had to leave my ʻohana. He spontaneously put his paw on top of my hand and left it there for about 10 minutes. Far beyond what might have been accidental. I didn't realize the significance at the time, but I knew it was special and didn't dare move my hand. Years later, I saw this as him reassuring me that all would be well even if we had to be apart. Pretty amazing.
This is Humphrey at my mom's condo on her bed. My cousin took the picture when she was visiting from Maui. I had spoken with him through my friend so he knew we would be apart for a while, and he would need to live inside. He never attempted to escape from the condo but instead made do with sitting on the floor and staring out the glass walls of the building. It was another instance of serendipity that my mom lived in a building where he could do that.
Humphrey always settled on my left side and I am sure that is because I could only use my left arm. When he wanted to snuggle really close, he would get on top of my arm and then I couldn't move my one useful limb. A small price to pay when there is a stinkin’ cutie near you.
This is a great shot of Humphrey on me. The bed had been moved into the dining room as there were many people visiting me that day. He was a little unsure of the new surroundings so he actually lay right on top of me, which he didn't normally do. I had this picture printed and I see it all the time. I also attached his remembrances when he was cremated so it is now his tribute photograph.
If I had ever needed a photograph of what he looked like, I would've used this. A really good shot of him looking straight at the camera. It was the wallpaper for my first tablet.
An example of Humphrey sitting on top of my arm. Unfortunately, that also meant he was not feeling 100%. He would always be touching me somehow, but he wouldn't always be right next to my chest. Sometimes he would be leaning against my leg by my knee. People would sometimes tell him to move up closer to me. He and I both knew he was fine just where he was. We were connected.
This is a fabulous shot of Humphrey on my bed, reaching his paw toward me. Yet another sign he is letting me know that I am his priority. This is the wallpaper on my current iPad Pro.
As I predicted, he left quickly, but nobody wanted to see him linger when he was ill. The vet who came from Arms of Aloha was great and it was perfect that he was lying on me when he got his final shot. I am grateful that it was peaceful and not rushed. I loved feeling his weight on me and I look at this picture fondly even though it's sad.
A while ago, Humphrey asked me if I would have a cat in my life when he was gone. I assured him that I would always have a cat. People are complex beings with many interests and diversions. Cats, dogs, and other pets are much simpler. They don't have deadlines, taxes, meetings, or any of the other modern duties of life. They live completely in the present moment. When a cat chooses you as his person, that's something special. That is what I need to keep going, especially where I live.
Humphrey was an exceptional cat. He will be the measuring stick by which I will evaluate my next pet. The end of one cat is, I believe, the transition to my next feline friend. I refuse to live my life without at least the hope of a vessel of pure, unfiltered love. Kula and Poki were amazing. Humphrey blew them away. I plan on continuing the trend.
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