2008 
Squirt, Baby, Spot,
and Blue Steel go home
Sadly, Squirt left us on April 6th, 2005, being about 18 years old. Baby joined her this past winter (2007), also closing in on her 18th birthday. And tragically, Spot was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, leaving us on June 3, 2007. This is particularly trying for us because she was only ten years old, and also because she is so well known in this little neighborhood as well as online. Blue Steel was taking it in stride, spending much of his time following Cliff around the house and spinning “round and round” in the office chair. Cliff bought him a geriatric exam for his tenth birthday, which he passed with flying colors. Two months later, he died, suddenly, of cardiac arrest, going quickly and without much pain. In retrospect, we can see heart disease in both his body makeup and some subtle elements in the progression of his health during the final year or so. Cliff still has not come to terms with this, and may not for quite some time. The song, "Mr Bojangles" comes to mind. Blue Steel was special beyond words (to say the least). Tiger took the loss of his mother quite hard, remaining hidden for about two weeks. When Steel's death left Tiger alone, with no fellow cats in the house, he burst out of his shell, for the first time, after only a day or two of initial disorientation. It wasn't the same, though; as much as I love Tiger, I've never had a chance to get to know him. After Steel's death, the house filled up with the ghosts of all these cats, to the point where I could barely stand it. (I know, I'm an atheist, but this is what it felt like.) Buddy Guy, a purebred Russian Blue (like Squirty) brought initial confusion upon Tiger, which is to be expected. But within a month of Buddy Guy working on Tiger, he started to respond, first by swatting this little pest away. Lately, though, this has morphed into play-fighting. Buddy Guy licks Little Ti, but Tiger does not respond in kind -- yet. Despite the criticism I received from the two or three people I know, bringing Buddy into the picture is a move I don't think I'll ever regret. He is a frine cat. Now, if he'd only grow older and get out of this kitten stage --

December 6, 2008

Spot you are now gone
But the mice still flee in terror
Your heart-space: still warm
Your heart-space: still -- Ron

On August 13, 2008, the kittens turn
Ten Years Old!

    Tiger                   Blue Steel
     Coming Out              Rest in Peace,
of His Shell              My Friend.

2004:000000000000000000000000000000000000
Boo-Boo, Tux, and Sweetie found homes.
Tiger and Steely (at 23 pounds, now Blue Steel,
with spectacular-looking yellow eyes) have
become permanent members of our family.
Spot, Squirt, and The Baby are still here
(as of August, 2004) and still quite healthy
(but have since left us, as of June, 2007;
Blue Steel died suddenly in October, 2008).
Little Spot is less than six years old;
The Bay ba-Bay ba-Bay BAY Bay ba-Baby
will turn 15 on October First, with much fanfare;
Skaverty was born between 1988 and 1991.
Shadow, Jordan, and Gizmo moved away;
we later moved away from Bootie and the rest.
Smokey was hit the day Spot showed up,
and died within a few minutes of my first
hearing Spot's cry, which spookily resembled
Smokey's cry for help a few hours earlier.
                                        -- August 9, 2004