It’s all but official. “Bessie” is the name that’s going to stick to our new cat.
She came to us with the name she had been given, “Betsy.” Not a bad name, but it had been randomly selected by one of the colony caretakers. No special meaning.
We considered a few other names, like Cleo, short for Cleopatra, because of her striking facial markings. But Cleo, Kali, and Kini sound a lot alike, and we decided would be confusing to all the cats.
We circled back around to Betsy, and then I recalled my dad had an Auntie Bessie. Both Betsy and Bessie, along with others including Betty and Liz, are diminutives of Elizabeth.
And, as a friend pointed out, “Bessie sounds Scottish.”
Bingo. That sealed the deal. Bessie she is!
I found a card featuring a photo of my dad’s Auntie Bessie, standing with a fine looking bicycle. Date unknown. Sometime late 19th or early 20th century.
Elizabeth Johnstone Lind, always known as Bessie, was the older sister of my grandfather, William Grace Lind. She was born in 1868 or 1869 (records I’ve seen differ), in Scotland. Both siblings came to the US in the first decade of the 20th century and ended up in California.
According to my sister’s research, Bessie had an aunt, Isabella, who was married to a Robert Fairley, an upholsterer who came to the U.S. from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1890 and settled in the San Francisco Bay area. When Isabella later became ill, she asked her neice, Bessie, to come and care for her. After she died, Bessie and Robert Fairley were married. Records show that was 1907. For decades, she was a resident of Mount Hermon, a small community in the Santa Cruz mountains. She died in 1951.
Her son, William “Bill” Fairley, was my dad’s cousin. He had been a partner in a predecessor of Haas and Haynie, a large California construction company that had projects in Hawaii in the 1960s and 1970s, including the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and, as I recall, The Halekulani. He was also president of his own firm, Fairley Constructors, of Belmont, California. When my father started his own small restaurant supply company in Honolulu in 1959, Bill Fairley put up funds to make it a reality, and became a shareholder in the closely held company. And when Meda and I lived with my sister in Palo Alto during the summer of 1969, he generously opened his home, his swimming pool, and his poolside bar to us. He died in Menlo Park in 1974 at age 66.
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Good choice! Such a sweetie. How old is she?
We don’t know how old she is. She was a relatively recent arrival at a cat colony in Aiea. I suspect she was dumped up there, as she is very sweet and friendly. Nothing feral about this cat. I would guess she is a couple of years old. But she’s still waiting for her appointment with our favorite vet, who might be able to make an educated guess.
So, Bessie it is! Whenever I hear that name my thoughts immediate turn to Bessie Smith There also was Bessie Coleman, an early African American aviator, and Princess Bessie, a sister of Queen Eleonor of Aquitaine and an accomplished painter.
“Once I lived the life of a millionaire
Spending my money, I didn’t care
I carried my friends out for a good time
Buying bootleg liquor, champagne and wine
“Then I began to fall so low
I didn’t have a friend, and no place to go
So if I ever get my hand on a dollar again
I’m gonna hold on to it till them eagle’s grin
“Nobody knows you when you down and out
In my pocket not one penny
And my friends I haven’t any
But If I ever get on my feet again
Then I’ll meet my long lost friend
It’s mighty strange, without a doubt
Nobody knows you when you down and out
I mean when you down and out
“Mmm, when you’re down and out
Mmm, not one penny
And my friends I haven’t any
Mmm, well I felt so low
Nobody wants me round their door
Mmm, without a doubt
No man can use you wen you down and out
I mean when you down and out”
Fortunate feline
Good name! Bessie with Liz Taylor’s eyes. Hey, there’s a song there.
Excellent choice and fine tribute for a wonderful Christmas present family addition!!
Here’s to Bessie!!
I’m a dog person who now takes care of a stray cat that adopted our family a few years back. Question: Do you think your cats know their names? I’ve Googled this issue and learned; I’m just curious what your experience has been, as this cat stuff is all new to me. Mahalo.
My cats (3) definitely know their names. Hope that’s helpful a little.
yes, cats will learn and recognize their names.