Welcome to Colleen’s Corner. This is a column meant for fun and some information About myself: I am a Freelance Photographer you often see me on the side of the road or in various places taking photos of different things animals, birds, places, people etc. l have lived in Lumby for over 8 years, you have seen my photos in the newspaper (Lumby Valley Times) and once in awhile in the Vernon Morning Star, and the Lumby Art Gallery. Photography is my passion. Disclaimer: The information on some of my photos that I write about a lot of times come from the Internet or books I research them, hopefully the facts are as close to the truth as I can come.
By Colleen Fielding
Once in awhile in early mornings I take a walk through the Monashee Family Park Salmon Trail. Sometimes there are some different sights to see, and sometimes there are not. As I am walking with my camera waiting for a good picture to capture I take some pictures of the fountain which appears different each time depending on the light. Then I continue on my walk, out of the blue this beautiful cat shows up. It lays down in front of me and I pet it. It feels safe with me as well it should. The cat knows instinctively that I would never hurt it. I stay with the cat for a bit, talking to it and petting it like we are old friends. This cat is well fed, and looks well cared for. Apparently it has been on Facebook with people wondering who the cat belongs too, the owners have been known to answer and say the cat is fine and just like going to the trail. I don’t go on FB, so I’m just going on hearsay.
The cat doesn’t seem to be bothered by some of the dogs as it wraps itself around my legs waiting for more petting. After a bit I start to walk away, the cat follows me, sometimes by walking right behind me, or up on the fence rail. So of course I have to stop walking every once in awhile and pet the cat again. While the cat is laying on the fence railings I took a picture. I don’t know its name so I just call it kitty kitty pretty kitty. I continue my walk, it jumps down from the fence post and walks behind me, and sometimes beside me. When we get to the end of the first bridge going towards the parking lot, the cat sees a big black dog and hunches up its back. That was the first time I had seen it wary of the dogs, maybe a big black dog went after it sometime I am not sure.
It was time for me to go. I start to walk towards my car, the cat stays behind. It did not follow me once it saw the big black dog.
When I am on a walk at the Monashee Family Park, I look for the cat, I haven’t seen it since. Perhaps I am going at the wrong time, or maybe the cat doesn’t come back anymore. The cat made my day. Petting the cat gave me a bit of therapy and comfort for the loss of my own pets in the last while, I miss them on a daily basis and at times I still weep for them as well.
It would be nice if the cat would come back to the trail the days I am walking there, I would be more than happy to bend down and pet it once again.
