Among the welcome additions to Decatur House are resident Jane Martell and her 12-year-old cat, Harry.
A retired teacher with an irrepressible sense of wanderlust, Jane has visited every state in the union, and has trekked many miles on her numerous European walking tours. “An advantage of being a school teacher is you have summers off!” says Jane.
“My first [walking tour] was in Scotland, which I love,” she said. But Nova Scotia (which is, ironically, Latin for ‘New Scotland’) is Jane’s favorite destination because “It’s a fabulous place—like the old Cape Cod.”
Jane’s spirit of adventure was influenced by her dad, who once found cross-country skiing ‘too boring,’ so took up more rigorous downhill skiing instead. Among fellow skiers, he was known as “the silver fox,” she says, with a grin.
Jane enjoys sailing, swimming, yoga, and brisk daily walks around town. “I enjoy any kind of activity, as long as I’m moving my body.”
As for Harry, he is a majestic-looking fellow described by Jane as her “personality cat.” “He gets me up in the morning, by 6 a.m., and then he showers with me,” she said. “He even talks, and carries on conversations.” Indeed, Harry does seem to converse with visitors, in a soft, meowing voice, head tilted, as if expecting a reply. His smoky gray coat will soon disappear though, when he undergoes his seasonal shearing in preparation for summer.
Whatever his hairdo, “Harry has a mind of his own, and wants things his way,” Jane said. “But he’s good company – especially in the pandemic.”
Welcome to Decatur House Jane and Harry!
