I think my paternal grandmother, Grandma Mac, could have used a cat.  She
was a recluse, much like myself.  (Also a lousy housekeeper, much like
myself.)  And she had the odd distinction of having been divorced during
WWII, which was virtually unheard of! and never married again.  In her
twilight years I'm sure the antics of a cat could have eased her solitude
and provided lots of joy.

Grandma Mac was a wonderful cook and made the best potato soup I've ever
had.  I finally successfully re-created it and my dad proclaimed YES, this
was his mom's soup!  She also made candies.  I can't tell you how many times
I burned my fingers trying to spread out her date-nut coconut candy.  She
always had a dish with her homemade candy, wrapped in waxed paper, in a dish
on the table I now have in my living room.

I also don't know (but I need to ask my parents) why, when we were
transferred to Bangkok in 1969, we gave my parakeet to my maternal
grandparents rather than to Grandma Mac.  My grandparents lived next door to
each other in a small town in Ohio.  Yes, Dad married the proverbial girl
next door :)  Don't get me wrong, my maternal grandparents adored the
parakeet.  But they also had each other while Grandma Mac had no one.

I just wonder sometimes about the choices made.  Years too late to think
about it, I'll bet that bird (or a kitty!) would have cheered things up
quite a bit for my Grandma Mac.  The last time I saw her before she died
(1982), my mom, my aunt Jean and I went to visit.  She made that great
potato soup with rivlets and seemed so happy to have company.

She also (rather accurately) told my mom I should have "married that guy
John, he treats her right").  John being my LLL :)  She never met him but I
guess Mom talked about him when we were dating 25 years ago.  When Mom told
my father she said that he got all huffy.  And here we (John and I) are
again all these years later.  Grandma Mac, you were one smart cookie!

Jill