Thirty years ago today, Elvis was found dead in the bathroom of Graceland.

And thirty years ago today, my beloved cat Tiger was found strangled to death in my backyard.

The culprit was a spurned suitor, a boy in the ‘hood who asked me to go out with him.

I said no. He strangled my cat. This is the sort of thing spurned suitors did in the ‘hood where I grew up - they strangled your cat.

The spurned suitor had scratches on his neck but denied doing the deed when I confronted him. He bragged about the strangling to others, but to this day he would deny it if I asked him.

So while the world buried Elvis in Graceland, we buried Tiger in the backyard.

Tiger was never resurrected by tribute artists and her grave never visited by Tiger pilgrims.

Just as well, I suppose. I wouldn’t want Tiger’s memory warped like Elvis’.

RIP Tiger.