30-Day Drawing Challenge: Day 9

The challenge is purring along!

See the blog Expatriatism for a list of the other worthy participants, including my artist niece, and links to their daily drawings.

Day 9: Our assignment was to draw our Spirit Animal.

Huh?

“Spirit Animal”?!! I find it strange that the contest designers would assume that everyone was into that.

Anyway, I took the liberty to change this to “Favorite Animal,” which is course, is kitty (er… cat) hands-down… or should that be paws-down? Either way, the cats have it. But as a nod to the shamanic tone of our Day 9 challenge, I have drawn Les Chats Noirs. The second one will be the logo of my publishing company Gray Tabby Press when my best-selling novels come out. Watch for it.

The funny thing is, I used to hate cats. Then I dated this girl with a cat named Sam. Of course, MY jacket was the cat’s favorite to lie on. The cat won me over. But actually, I think it was more like the cat put me through a thorough vetting and screening process. I must have passed. Whew.

So somewhere along the way, I learned to love cats (pretty cool), I got the girl (even better), and our kids, kids-in-law, and now grandkids, are also, shall we say, rather fond of felines.

Over the years at La Casa Davis, we’ve been pretty into gray tabbies, the best breed around, especially the “Asian Shorthairs” (that’s catspeak for “cat from the Philippines.”) But really, they are some distinctive features. Like a less flat/more pointed face. Siameseesque, if you know what I mean.

I appreciate all the great cats in literature: Mooch, Garfield, the boneless houseful in Pooch Café. All the greats (okay, maybe I’m a little hesitant about Coco and Yum Yum). Cats should have solid names like Harris, Tyler and Beck.

Anyway, I think cats are cool, and great buddies for writers. And besides, who wants a spirit cat when you can have warm, fuzzy and purring in your lap (more like: on your keyboard)?!

And man, I miss that corduroy jacket…