Selassie, Edgar's cat

by Karen Allison, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Editor's note:

• Edgar Kaplan has died.
• This article was published in the Post Mortem, the journal of the GNYBA [Greater New York Bridge Association], as part of a memorial issue honoring Edgar Kaplan.

Selassie, Edgar Kaplan's cat, is twelve years old, so there must have been a time that I visited Edgar over the thirty or so years that we were friends when there wasn't a Selassie, but some other cat; Edgar having always been very fond of cats. I, however, can't really remember there not being Selassie at Edgar's house.

When Edgar first became ill, we moved our Laws Commission Drafting Committee meetings to his home to make it easier for him to attend them. Selassie became the unofficial kibitzer of the meetings, sitting on a spare chair and partaking of our snacks. He is a philosophical cat, unperturbable and utterly irresistable when he asks for a share of your snack. He seemed to add a certain je ne sais quoi to our meetings, interjecting an occasional comment when we were at a loss for a way to phrase a Law.

When we lost our beloved Edgar, several of his friends had serious concerns about what Selassie's fate would be. George Rapee came weekly to visit the little guy and feed him special treats, but George's cats in Florida were all outdoors cats equipped with front claws and Selassie had no claws and is an indoors cat, so that home would not do for him. Gail Greenberg spoke to numerous other friends of Edgar's but many, like Robin Kay (daughter of Edgar's long-time partner and friend, Norman) are allergic to cats and while they would try to take him, would not be comfortable with a cat in their house.

I have three cats of my own and that seemed too hectic a cat household for this genteel old boy so I looked around for a suitable bridge-playing home for Selassie. I found a perfect one in Toronto, where Edgar's niece lives and his sister-in-law visits, so Selassie can have some family attention. He's gone to live with a Canadian international player, who has a collection of Bridge World Magazines and spends a great deal of time at home with her other small cat, Maggie.

Selassie came with me one Wednesday night. He spent the night at my place, then we were off to Toronto. He made friends with the flight attendants on Air Canada and eventually jumped out of his carry case in Toronto, looked around, rubbed up against his new mistress's legs and announced "I'm here and happy to be here."

Edgar, you can be peaceful about Selassie; he has a lovely new home and a pair of charming companions.. and lots of bridge activity to keep him interested.

When David Burn read this, he wrote:

• I often wondered how Law 25B came into being. Thanks to your message, now I know:
• 25B: Delayed or Purr-puss-full Correction...

Editor's note:

• Selassie is now living with Shelagh Paulsson
• Please write to her for news of Selassie.
• If you want to comment on this article, why not write direct to Karen Allison?
• She will be pleased to hear from you!
• To see a picture of Selassie taken by Shelagh in his new home please click on the image below [and return here by using "Back" on your Browser]

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