The mind is an interesting thing to follow. And it can surprise you! Not in a bad way but in a humorous way. Not too long ago T.S. Eliot’s Jenny Any Dots popped into mine out of the blue.
Jenny Any Dots is a character in T.S. Eliot’s poem “The Old Gumbie Cat”. Wikipedia states “Jennyanydots is an “Edwardian do-gooder” who enjoys making sure everything is in order. During the day, her human family thinks she is lazy because she sits around doing nothing. However, she goes to work once the family is asleep, forcing the household pests to undertake productive activities. She teaches the mice music, crocheting, and tatting and employs the cockroaches as her “troop of helpful boy-scouts” to counter their destructive habits. She even created a beetles tatoo and taught them how to tap dance. She is also very protective of the kittens and does not allow any of them to touch Grizabella initially, though by the end of the musical she accepts Grizabella back into the tribe.
Jennyanydots’ titular song (“The Old Gumbie Cat”) involves her leading the cast in a tap-dancing number. It is sung by Munkustrap and the “Gumbie Trio” Bomalurina, Demeter, and Jellylorum. (Other cats.) During the song, the character’s “fat suit” is removed to reveal a bright orange and yellow flapper-style costume underneath. Jennyanydots is a tabby cat with a coat that is covered with tiger stripes and leopard spots.
I recommend seeing the original Cats. It is a wonderful musical. Just why she popped up in a flash I am not sure. Do I feel a bit Jenny Any Dots? Perhaps. I will think about this? This kind of thing is not a bad thought to crop up.
Anisette Studios & Shibui Fine Arts 