Animals traditionally have close places in our hearts, homes, and minds, and sometimes they become cultural icons.
Nin, a 20-year-old cat who quickly became a fixture at one of New Hampshire’s highest observatory, has passed away. Leaving behind a legacy of cheer and warm feelings.
But old age and a liver tumor began taking their toll, and last week, Nin, the former 19- or 20-year-old mascot of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Observatory, was laid to rest.
“He was a very special cat,” said Diane Holmes, a Mount Washington State Park ranger who took him in to her Gorham home after he retired from his mountain life in 2007. “We miss him a lot.”
Picked up by an observer, Nin spent a dozen years at the facility. Within its cold, concrete walls, he “brought a little piece of home” to lonely staff members, interns, and visiting researchers, said executive director Scot Henley. Undeterred by harsh weather, he would follow them around, purring helplessly if they walked too fast for him to keep up.
I have long enjoyed seeing animals taking up residence in places other than family homes. Cats and dogs who have found a place in niche communities like comic book stores, liquor dispensaries, and, in one case, a heavyset tabby who would provide restive company at a local tavern for patrons who preferred to sit near the fire.
While most cats may not care to involve themselves in the science of astrophysics or nip beer from mugs, their long presence in our community and lives does add an extra dimension to every place they roam.
Link, via boston.com