Day 23 | Benjamin's choice, a gentle response from a small town!

Recently, every day I come to the library, I discovered this little cat statue that changes outfits every day. Sometimes it wears a hoodie, sometimes it wears this little sweater with hearts, and even when it rains, someone will put a raincoat on it.

I leaned in and saw a passage written under his stone tablet carving:

Benjamin had a lovely home with lovely people
but he wanted to be a special sort of cat –
a library cat.
So one day he came to the library, and stayed.
Soon he made himself the Devonport Village cat too.

Out of curiosity, I looked up some relevant information;

I didn't expect this little cat to actually exist; his real name is Benjamin. Benjamin was a cat living in the Devonport Library on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. He was born in 2000 and passed away in 2017, living for 17 years.

Although he originally had a warm home and a master, he "chose" to become a special cat — a library cat. One day, he walked into the library by himself and decided to stay. From then on, Benjamin became a part of the German Port Library and a mascot for the entire village.

He is not only loved by the local residents but has even become the "unofficial landmark" of German Port. However, due to the nature of cats, he is kept at a distance by the "dogs." Humorously, the inscription on the stone tablet reads: "Everyone misses him — except the dogs."

After Benjamin's death, the locals erected this statue in his memory, and residents or staff often dress it in clothes and occasionally change its outfit, which is a continuation of love and memory.

This is not only a tribute to a cat but also a reflection of the warm community culture of the town's residents. For many children, Benjamin is one of their fond memories of going to the library in their childhood.

To be honest, when I saw this story, I was still deeply shocked inside, a powerful sense of inclusiveness and kindness materialized at this moment!

How gentle and tolerant love people need to have: instead of driving away a cat that walks into the library, everyone chooses to accept it, accompany it, and even ultimately treat it as part of the community.

Not only allow it to exist, but also give it respect, remembrance, and continuity.

Now it just quietly stays there, yet everyone feels warmth and meaning. After it leaves, everyone erects a monument for it, dresses the statue, not wanting it to be forgotten.

This is a very simple yet precious community spirit: this love happens quietly, without ostentation or intention, but it flows steadily and becomes a part of the community culture, influencing every generation!

This is actually an ideal life that we all long for: a place that is willing to remember you simply because you exist quietly.

And Benjamin just happened to meet such a group of people.

So good!