I did this photo one spring day, obviously in 2000 or 2001, as the Towers are yet there. I love to go down to the water in DUMBO at all times of the year but in spring and summer it’s astounding.
On January 21, 2006, I went down to the water to do a service for the second anniversary of my cat Star’s dying. It was actually a surprisingly warm Saturday for that time of year.
I sought out a bench off to the side, alone --- in case I cried. It would be sunset soon. Star had died at 4:40 in the afternoon. I remember the rosy-orange light bouncing off a window over on Court Street as we sat on the floor of our apartment. Now, here by the water, I would honor the anniversary of her death. I wasn’t sure how but I would be quiet and remember her.
But, just at that time, a loud joyous wedding party arrived with two photographers jumping around and snapping away. The best man carried a bottle of champagne and everyone was laughing. The bride was exquisitely beautiful --- petite with tiny fluttery hands; soft white lace circled the tops of them. She had dark dark black hair and green eyes and perfect skin that actually glowed. She was a more beautiful version of the young Elizabeth Taylor. So, when a raucous laugh came out of her, it made me smile. I thought it a nice combination of traits. The wedding party spoke quickly in Russian; they were buoyant and garrulous.
I apologized silently to my cat Star for the interruption of her memorial service though I knew she would have liked the scene, she who so enjoyed humans and, well, all cats love movement and action. She would have been all eyes. I told her I was sorry for getting diverted by watching the wedding party. But, right then, several families came streaming by where I sat, families with the cutest children and wonderful dogs. A giant schnauzer let loose by a five year old thrust his head helplessly into my lap as I sat on the bench trying to conduct a memorial service! I laughed out loud looking into his begging brown eyes.
There was a lot going on. I worried for the children by the water when the parents were engaged in conversation, so I watched over them. Dogs kept getting tangled up with various kids. It was like a wonderful little noisy circus there in late January by the water.
“Oh, Star, I’m so sorry. We’ll have your ceremony tonight, at home, just us, I promise.”
The winds started to whip up, the temperature quickly descended. I now started worrying about the wedding party catching cold as I got up to leave the water to walk back up through the streets of DUMBO and catch a bus home.
In the growing darkness, a man was walking two large dogs on the cobble-stoned streets. One dog, a chow was dragging far behind the other, slowly padding on wide furry feet. She was a dark auburn color, deeper than the usual orange I see in these dogs, the color of my Aunt Gena’s hair. The chow looked up at me with deep-set knowing eyes and I had the feeling of being in the presence of a wise being.
I asked the man walking the dogs if I could pet the chow and he said “Sure.” I asked if she were old and he murmured, “”they both are.” The dog’s fur felt like a great thick rug and was incredibly soft.
The DUMBO area has a lot of private places, little alleyways and crevices where you can be alone. I hope that does not get ruined with the planned building changes, the “progress.”
I knew that large dogs didn’t live as long as small dogs, so that the man walking the dogs would probably lose his two in the not far off future.
I had lost my cats, Star and Iris, within two years.
I slipped into a quiet alleyway and sobbed for the man who would lose his dogs, for the loss of my two beautiful cats and for the price you pay for the privilege of loving.
MPKane, revised January 24, 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment