I met Cat, (Catherine Walker) at the garden shop, she is also a volunteer. We immediately hit it off. Cat did restocking, solving problems, really anything that didn’t involve the cash register. We both worked Wednesdays and Fridays, first shift. She loved cats, (sans her nickname) and had two which she loved and would come in and tell stories of what they were up to.
Cat died this past Wednesday, January 18.
Just like that! I didn’t work that day, I was very tired. I texted her early to let her know. She texted back, “to get some rest.” I know she worked her whole shift, happy and sassy as usual. I thought it a little odd that she didn’t text me later, only because she is a very caring person and would have. Thursday morning I received a call from Charlie, (another volunteer and close friend of Cat). She was crying hysterically and told me the news. She had died Wednesday night, her brother found her.
Shocking, yes. Very hard to register, that I would never see her again. We had plans. This Tuesday we were going to the movies to see Tom Hanks in “A Man Called Otto.” She had read the book and ever since we saw previews in November, she was excited to see the movie. I had my newest issue of “Real Simple” already in the car to give her on Friday.
It was her heart. Last year she was in and out of the hospital because of problems, something about monitoring the electrical, trial and error with medications. Finally by the late spring everything was working correctly and had been ever since. I don’t know how old Cat was, I assumed in her early 70’s.
I have lived here in Virginia for whatever, 13 years, give or take, and Cat was my first REAL friend. We watched the same soap operas, The Young and the Restless and The Bold and Beautiful. We always laughed at story lines and liked to guess what would happen next. We’ve been going to the movies on 1/2 price Tuesdays at Regal theater for almost a year, and occasionally went out to lunch. Just last week we went to Volunteer Appreciation Day at the garden and we all had a table together. At that time she sent me home with a book, one of her favorites, The Secret Life of Violet Grant. Said she read it a long time ago and was going to reread it. Needless to say, I still have it and I’m halfway through, and it is a good book. I was so thrilled to have a real book in my hands! I’ve been reading on my iPad, library and kindle.
In the beginning of our friendship when she learned what a huge Beatle fan I am, the next day she brought me her scrapbook from 1964, when The Beatles came to America and were on The Ed Sullivan Show. I came home that day and spent the next 3 hours pouring over it and being awed by what I read and saw. These are the original posts: (Beatles – Scrapbook, published 5/4/21 and The Beatles Scrapbook II, published 5/11/21). When I returned it, she said I could take anything I wanted from the book. I couldn’t do it. It was such a treasure, I couldn’t possibly remove anything. She said that if she knew I loved The Beatles so much and appreciated the scrapbook, she would have gladly given it to me, (she had promised it to her niece) By the way, Cat’s birthday is June 18, Paul McCartney’s birthday.
I can’t stop thinking about her. She was a very special lady and you knew that the moment you met her. She was friendly to everyone, a great saleslady, and an impeccable dresser. She inspired me to dress better. I am fortunate that I was able to be her friend.
Rest in peace dear friend