Throughout my life, my grandmother loved books. She would give me Barnes and Noble gift cards for Christmas and birthday, her shelves were overflowing, and she would have a book in her sunroom, bedroom, car, even her bathroom.
During one visit, she showed me her collection of The Car Who…series, by Lillian Jackson Braun. The series followed Jim Qwilleran and his two cats, Koko and Yum Yum, and they solved mysteries in the small town of Pickaxe. It was my first foray into cozy mysteries, and I read the first three or four during that trip. When we came back to our home in California, I went to my local used bookstore and grabbed more of the series. The next time my family and I visited, I read more of her copies. She even let me take some of them home.
Before her arthritis in her hands made it hard, Grandma Young painted. Mainly watercolor, sometimes oil paints as well; she took a lot of inspiration from Bob Ross. In her guest bathroom, she had one of her paintings hung on the wall. A Siamese cat, with blue eyes, looking at a blue butterfly. I remember thinking that the little kitty in the painting looked like Koko.
When she passed in March, my mother asked me if there was anything I wanted of hers. At first, I said no, then I thought for a moment. Then I told her I wanted Grandma’s cat painting.
Coming home, I placed the painting by my reading table, which is obviously fitting. Still, I felt I needed another way to honor her. I decided to get a tattoo of the cat.
I still miss her. It feels empty knowing she’s not on this earth anymore. But I know she loved me, and was super proud of me, and I know she’s watching over me.
E. A. Young Writes 