"Chloë the Flying Cat" Early 1990's photograph by Beth Bonanno

Chloë was an extremely slight and very furry cat with a tiny head. My former wife gave her to me after some unspecified outrage she had committed in her house. She (the cat) loved it when I tossed her in the air and caught her. Eventually I began to fling her up in the air higher and higher. I used to sing the Jackie Wilson song about that to her. Her light weight and fluffy long fur allowed her to glide like a flying squirrel back down to me. She was a sweet but very dimwitted cat and this was her only talent. She also exceeded in catching me by surprise when she had kittens at an absurdly young age before I could arrange to have her ovaries removed. (One night she ripped out a hole in the bottom of my box spring and gave birth inside it while I slept.) She was never harmed by her aerial antics and she died of old age, her flying days well behind her.
This picture is cropped from an old print. Some dirt was retouched out of the sky but the cat is really up there.


Higher and Higher

Your love, lifting me higher
Than I've ever been lifted before
So keep it it up
Quench my desire
And I'll be at your side, forever more

You know your love (your love keeps lifting me)
Keep on lifting (love keeps lifting me)
Higher (lifting me)
Higher and higher (higher)
I said your love (your love keeps lifting me)
Keep on (love keeps lifting me)
Lifting me (lifting me)
Higher and higher (higher)

Now once I was down hearted
Disappointment was my closest friend
But then you came and it soon departed
And you know he never
Showed his face again

That's why
You know your love (your love keeps lifting me)
Keep on lifting (love keeps lifting me)
Higher (lifting me)
Higher and higher (higher)
I said your love (your love keeps lifting me)
Keep on (love keeps lifting me)
Lifting me (lifting me)
Higher and higher (higher)

[Instrumental Interlude]

I'm so glad, I've finally found you
Yes, that one, in a million girl
And now with my loving arms around you
Honey, I can stand up and face the world

You know your love (your love keeps lifting me)
Keep on lifting (love keeps lifting me)
Higher (lifting me)
Higher and higher (higher)
I said your love (your love keeps lifting me)
Keep on (love keeps lifting me)
Lifting me (lifting me)
Higher and higher (higher)

Now sock it me

Lyrics: First claimed by Gary Jackson and Carl Smith
later, Billy Davis and Raynard Miner of Motown claimed Jackson and Smith stole it from a briefcase there and successfully sued them for damages.