Nostra Signora dei Gatti. This is a memorial and homage for Aura, the Spanish lynx that brought back the species from the brink of extinction. Well done girl! May your particles keep on purring and growling and generally bringing joy to the Void.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/10/iberian-lynx-aura-that-helped-save-species-from-extinction-dies-aged-20
https://www.nationalgeographic.com.es/naturaleza/muere-aura-lince-iberica-mas-longeva-espana-que-tenia-900-descendientes_19084
https://www.eldiario.es/andalucia/sostenibilidad/muere-aura-ejemplar-lince-iberico-longevo-programa-conservacion_1_9695014.html
I further dedicate this to don Attilio El Caffarenito, the famous cat chronicler.
I’ve been meaning to do something like this for nearly two decades -better late than ever, I daresay. Even a devout atheo-agnostic needs a god of sort to pray to in moments of dire megrims or to thank for, say, England not winning the Euro-cup or things like that. Most of the time this role falls to the delicious Bumba and his exquisite Mother, but Our Lady of the Pussycats also is a pretty powerful juju. I recommend her to all cat lovers. She doesn’t require any burnt offering or any other visible forms of propitiation but she quite likes Irish coffee, in case you feel like treating her. Also, being kind to stray kittens is a form of worship which she very much appreciates.
Have a purrrrrrfectly furball-free week. And un po’ di feline mu’, of course.
https://middermusic.com/songs-about-cats/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eobhM1_4qv8
https://genius.com/The-lovin-spoonful-henry-thomas-lyrics

Enanos y Cabezudos. Because I’ll have no truck with giants. There.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processional_giant
On a totally uncharacteristic impulse, I looked up quotations about birthdays. Most of them where vapidly inspirational. I acknowledge, I get easily bored and can’t stand inspirational stuff either, but I liked this one by Mark Twain:
Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.
Nice one, Samuel! I wish I could live up to it. Unfortunately the matter is becoming so rebelliously crappy that it’s beginning to affect the mind. That is, I grow progressively stroppy. But, hey! Who cares? I’m still all the way with Mehitabel.
Have a fab weekend and un po’di mu’ (and dance, look you!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCl6DzH2Ggs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz9Kc935EyE