Summary

Ellie Jacobson's photo essay captures the intimate relationship between her cat, Mr. Percy, and shadows, reflecting the cat's changing behavior towards his own shadow and his preference for sunlit spots in their Minnesota home.

Abstract

The photo essay titled "A Cat Living Life Along the Shadows" by Ellie Jacobson is a heartwarming narrative that explores the unique bond between her 12-year-old cat, Mr. Percy, and the play of light and shadow in their daily life. Inspired by Anne Bonfert's post about shadows, Jacobson noticed that her recent photos often featured Mr. Percy interacting with shadows, a stark contrast to his fear of them in his youth. The essay highlights Mr. Percy's transition from avoiding his shadow to enjoying its subtle presence, and how he seeks out sunny spots in the house, even playing with the shadows and sunlit lines. The narrative also touches on the cat's adaptability during cloudy periods and his contentment when basking in the afternoon rays or finding solace on the retro pink carpet in the shadow of the window. Jacobson expresses gratitude towards Anne Bonfert for her inspirational posts and encourages others to share their own shadow-related stories.

Opinions

Ellie Jacobson finds Anne Bonfert's posts about shadows to be a source of inspiration for her own creative endeavors.
Mr. Percy, the cat, has a complex relationship with shadows, initially fearing his own but later developing a fondness for them as he ages.
The cat's behavior indicates a preference for warm, sunlit areas and he actively seeks them out, even when sunshine is scarce in Minnesota.
The author believes that Mr. Percy's enjoyment of shadows and sunlight is akin to a subtle touch from a friend, suggesting a sentimental attachment to these elements of nature.
Jacobson values the community aspect of sharing stories and encourages others to participate by sharing their own experiences with shadows, tagging Anne Bonfert's original post.
The essay reflects a personal journey of observation and appreciation for the simple, yet profound, interactions between her pet and the environment, highlighting the beauty in the mundane.

Photo essay

A Cat Living Life Along the Shadows

The sun seeker and his shadowy friend

When I first read Anne Bonfert post about shadows, I started browsing through my digital photos; I knew I had taken many with my shadow over the years.

Instead, I quickly noticed a pattern among my recent photos. My cat, Mr. Percy, loves to play with the shadows of other objects. Or I should correct that. As a 12-year-old kitty, it’s more like lounging along the shadows.

When he was younger, he was afraid of his own shadow, trying to find places where his shadowy friend would leave him alone. He likes his space.

Now he enjoys a subtle touch on his friend in shadow.

A kitty in line. Photo by Ellie Jacobson

When living in Minnesota, you must get used to days and sometimes weeks without sunshine. Something I like least about this area and I know Mr. Percy agrees.

He is the sun seeker.

But I always know where to find him based on where the sun is shining the strongest in the house.

If the sunshine is limited, he will still seek any strip he can find, playing lightly with the lines from the table sitting out of frame.

Keeping his toes in touch with the warmth.

At times, he gets melancholy because he can’t sit in our living room windows (not a big enough ledge for the fellow) so instead, he finds comfort on the retro pink carpet, in the shadows of the window.

Relaxed enough, Mr. Percy? Photo by Ellie Jacobson

In the afternoons you will find him in the kitchen lounging in the rays.

And sometimes playing with the lines on the floor with his shadowy friend.

and for the days he gets to go outside for a walk around the yard, he takes his friend along without a care in the world.

As long as that friend doesn’t hog the grass.

Inspiration

Thank you, Anne Bonfert for your neverending sparks of inspiration!

Sometimes Sharp and Clear, Sometimes Completely Hidden — Your Shadow

It’s always there but not always visible

medium.com

Your Turn

Jump in and tell your story through photos about your shadowy life; make sure to tag Anne and her original post.

✍ Written by Ellie Jacobson, @2022 all rights reserved.

✨ I’m a freelance writer and editor from Minnesota, writing my first novel, a psychological suspense novel. Are you a writer? Check out Sparks, my newsletter filled with writing prompts to spark your creativity.

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