I've been carrying these stories around with me. So many people and places, so many moments that play upon the edges of my memory. I've decided to send them out into the vast and unknown universe of the blogosphere to be intercepted perhaps by no one. Nevertheless, just in typing them I feel relieved as if they have not been forgotten and their memory at least imprinted somewhere.
I've always been fascinated by collectors. There all sorts, collectors of dolls, coins, stamps or the high roller collectors of art, cigars, and wine. Maybe there is something innate within us that feels this need to accumulate. I've come across some interesting collectors and been amazed by the randomness of some collections. Yet one collector who made quite an impression was Soeur Durant a collector of all things cat. I would dub her a true felineophile.
812 cat statues decorated her wall and she knew the history of each one. Cats from around the world that various friends had sent her. Cat statues given at times of trial to console or encourage and cats bought on a whim to add to the collection. This woman was crazy for cats and they were slowly taking over her living space. Yet, she didn't seem to mind that her collection was starting to control her. Rather she was more concerned about finding additional shelving for the cats. I wondered if the collection could ever be complete or what she was ultimately trying to capture and if she ever could catch it. In the end, Soeur Durant will continue collect her cats and if there is meaning, purpose or use doesn't matter. Her collection was her kingdom and her way to gather up the good things in life and store it on shelf. It was her simple way to love, appreciate and celebrate life one feline figurine at a time.
