A Cat’s Tale

There have been many cats who have found their way into the dreams and stories of man, but no one more so then the Cheshire Cat from the Adventures of Alice in Wonderland[i]. 

I’ve always wondered when Lewis Carroll looked into the looking glass and saw the topologies of the world in their adventures together, if he saw himself as the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, or the White Rabbit.

The first two are obvious as he was a little cattie and certainly mad at times, but the White Rabbit was always preening the thought that he was late for a very important date. 

In all of my conversations with Chesi; as I call the Cheshire Cat by his nickname, I found that Mr. Carroll had gifted his world to Alice with so much of himself, that he went a little mad in the calculations of his life, or so it seemed to me.

At dinner today, Chesi took me aside before the evening’s preparations and asked for a favor.  “Give me a couple of minutes after dinner to speak; but before the after dinner conversations” he asked.

The after dinner conversations and debates are what our parties are famous for and although I thought his request unusual; as we are an informal lot, he seemed nervous of something and Alice was waiting, so I let it be at the time.

Today’s party was a reunion of sorts, for many of our ilk have not been able to attend the last few years; this, due much to the goings on of so many of the world’s cultures and the human problems that never seem to be solved.

The diverse worlds that make up the essence of who we are, defines our reality and our existence by their dreams and thoughts of who they think we could be.  The milk of human kindness has soured of late towards us, and it is one reason so many of us are here today.