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My niece first introduced me to Neko by
gifting me with this little porcelain version (that I used as the model for
the painting) after one of her trips abroad.
The story is about a cat in Japan
(Maneki Neko) who beckoned several samurai to follow it into a temple, near
Tokyo, by raising its left paw. There the samurai took shelter from a storm
and then spread the word of the shrine and the cat who found them shelter
from the storm and brought them luck. Since then the cat with the raised paw
has been a symbol for good luck and wealth.
My story is about (our) Gravy who, like
Neko, brought nothing but good fortune to those he met. When we found him,
he raised his paw and placed it directly and very intently on my husband's
leg and there and then he entered our hearts forever. He always brought us a
wealth of love so I guess that paw thing works!
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