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"Maggie" by MaryLou Shipman

Ten years ago, my sister and I purchased a two-family home here in Ocean Grove. Shortly after we moved in, my niece, who was 13 at the time, lost her beloved cat, Simon. Sadly, he died of natural causes at the ripe old age of 16. The very next day, a female carbon-copy of Simon showed up in front of our house. She greeted us with a “Please rub my belly” burly roll and we were hooked. Simon had something to do with this for sure! Our mail lady told us that she knew of a similar cat in the area whose name was “Maggie.” We weren’t positive if she was the same cat, but the name stuck and Maggie has been a part of our lives ever since.

We came to learn that she was left behind by neighbors who moved away. My sister and I have our own indoor cats. Maggie was welcomed to join the club; however, she insisted on going outdoors. I had her spayed and by the grace of God (and geography) a wonderful couple moved in two doors down. They adopted Maggie as an indoor/outdoor cat and, not long after, blessed her with a sister beagle named “Maya.” We are not sure if Maya is a blessing or a curse in Maggie’s mind. She has been seen, however, following closely behind her dad and Maya on their daily dog walk. While patrolling the street, Maggie is always willing to stop by for a belly rub and a quick conversation. She’s also the volunteer taste tester at evening barbecues.

Ocean Grove is a haven for cat and dog lovers. Over the years I have become acquainted with many four-legged friends on my walks through town. I still say “hello” to Jason, the senior citizen dog who takes himself for a walk and could probably tell you his phone number (if he remembers). I will always recall, like many tent owners, the big black-and-white cat named Oreo who lived near the auditorium. He could often be seen lounging across his front porch step or wandering from tent to tent. As an illustrator, I have managed to capture several of the neighborhood cats, including Maggie, in my own paintings. That way, they will always be in my memory as well as my own home gallery of Ocean Grove cats.

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