Remembering Cat Lady Redux

Eight months ago, I posted this entry on this blog. In it, I announced the death of Hattiesburg's longtime cat lady, along with my memories of driving by her house when I was in college. I believe I even jocularly anointed myself as heiress to her title.

Just recently I became a member of a Facebook page entitled, "I Drove By Cat Lady's House When I was a student at USM." Now I'm not sure what surprises me the most:

a.) that there is actually a Facebook page dedicated to Cat Lady (whose name was actually Fannie "Goodie" Kyker),
b.) that the site has over 400 members, or
c.) that I joined this site (and actually posted something.)

Most surprising of all are the comments themselves. The page is really a lovely and touching tribute to a lady who obviously made a deep impression on many, many people -- even those who didn't really know her.

Many of the entries are tinged with sadness and regret at the thoughtless behavior of our younger selves and the pain some of us may have caused Miss Kyker.

Some are spirited defenses of a woman they say was kind and sweet, albeit definitely odd.

Others are affectionate remembrances of her feistiness and her refusal to let the bastards get her down.

Overriding all of it is a sense of sadness over the loss of an important cultural link to our past. It seems the world, well, at least Hattiesburg, is a less interesting place without her in it.

When you get right down to it, we Southerners prize eccentricity. We cultivate it. We honor those who have it.

After all, when we weren't driving past Cat Lady's house, a lot of USM students were hanging out in New Orleans, hob-nobbing with the Quarter characters.

Anybody, remember Ruthie the Duck Lady? Toward the end of her life, the many people who knew her only as that crazy lady spouting obscenities in a wedding dress and roller skates with her ducks waddling behind her, got together to ensure she got medical care, a roof over head, and when the time came a decent funeral.

So, Fannie RIP. You are remembered -- and missed -- here in Hattiesburg. And not just by your cats.

I would be honored to follow in your footsteps as Hattiesburg's cat lady.

Except suddenly, I don't think I'm worthy.