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My Memories of Teddy:
I found my beautiful white Teddy in June, 2001 around Midnight in my driveway after he had been badly beaten up by a stray cat. I found out at the Vet, that he has feline leukemia and was not expected to live and she suggested to euthanize him. I refused, had him taken care of, neutered and brought him home. Over time we had several health problems, but together, we beat them all and Teddy was a happy and loving cat - wherever I went in the house, he would go and even when I went outside, he would always find a way to be right there, sitting at my feet, watching and listening. He loved to sleep on my desk while I was working and, once in a while he would lift his head and let me pet him, and then roll over and go back to sleep. Every night he would curl up in my lap and we would watch TV and then he would sleep at the foot of my bed. After I bought BooBoo, he would join him there and the two of them would groom each other, play and be best buddies. I believe, that Teddy somehow knew, that I was trying to save him, because even when I had to give him medication, which he hated, he always loved me and was close to me. He gave me many, many hours, days and month of pure love and devotion, and I will never ever forget this very special little cat, who not only stole my heart, but that of the vet, the vet's staff and lots of friends and neighbors. He was a very exceptional, brave little cat and I believe, that he died trying to find his beloved little buddy BooBoo. I love you very much, Teddy and BooBoo and will never forget the joy you brought into my life.

My Memories of BooBoo:
I saw BooBoo in a local pet store one day in May, 2002 and he looked so tiny and lonely, that I brought him home with me. He quickly became the center of attention with his quirky antics, lovable and cute as he was. Teddy immediately fell in love with him and together, they were quite a funny couple. BooBoo would jump up and hang on Teddy's neck until Teddy would start grooming him and then he usually fell asleep in Teddy's arms. BooBoo loved to play outside in the grass and since he was so tiny, sometimes all you could see were his ears sticking up. He also loved to curl up in my arm and lick my arm and hand and he would then purr up a storm and look very happy. He loved to climb on a limb of the neighbor's tree, which is hanging into my property, and on Thursday, September 26, 2002, the neighbor's pit-bull got to him and  killed him. For 3 days I asked everybody in the neighborhood if anybody had seen my darling BooBoo, but nobody had. On Sunday, September 29, 2002, Teddy apparently decided, to go look for his little buddy and climbed the neighbor's fence. At Midnight I heard an awful fighting noise and had to helplessly listen to the pit-bull killing my precious Teddy, because I was unable to enter the neighbor's backyard due to a 6 feet high fence and thick bamboo jungle on the other side. By the time I was able to wake up the neighbor, the pit-bull had run away with my lifeless Teddy in his mouth and since then we have been unable to locate my beloved cat. I pray, that the 2 buddies are playing together happily.

Papaya was brought to me by a neighbor in 2005, who found 3 tiny kittens in her garage and didn't want to take them to the shelter to be destroyed. I took care of them and named them Callie, Ojay and Papaya. Unfortunately, Papaya was too tiny to survive and after 1 week I found her one morning in her basket. Callie moved in with my niece and lives her life as a spoiled princess and Ojay remained with me and is happy and healthy now.

Lizzie was adopted by me at the local shelter at the age of 13. She was declawed and had developed back problems due to that and was very shy and gentle. Her favorite spot to sleep was with me under the covers or on "her" shelf in the hall closet where she had her own blanket and she opened the door all by herself. She was not able to eat dry food, so I always made sure there were enough cans of her favorite wet food around, which she also generously shared with the other cats in my home. She never hissed or growled and loved to lay on my belly when I was watching TV and her paws would be just below my neck and her whole body would be stretched out on top of me while she purred constantly.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here,
that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

As I pass the place
where we once played,
I feel a tear start to fall.
As I remember,
that was when you were here.

I wake with a start,
did I hear your sweet voice?
I rush to see and
say Good Morning,
But then I remember,
that was when you were here.

I see a Butterfly and think of you,
I think of how you ran
and seemed to dance,
as you went from place to place.
But then,
that was when you were here.

I wait for the day when I can say,
This is where we are now.

And God asked the feline spirit
Are you ready to come home?
Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul
And, as a cat, I am most able
To decide anything for myself

Are you coming then? asked God.
Soon, replied the whiskered angel
But I must come slowly.
For my human friends are troubled.
For you see, they need me, quite certainly.

But don't they understand? asked God
That you'll never leave them?
That you souls are intertwined for all eternity?
That nothing is created or destroyed?
It just is...forever and ever and ever.

Eventually they will understand,
Replied the glorious cat.
For I will whisper into their hearts
That I am always with them
I just am...forever and ever and ever.

--- A Poem for Lizzie ---
They will not go quietly
The cats who've shared our lives.
In subtle ways they let us know
their spirits still survive.
Old habits still make us think
we hear a meow at the door,
Or step back when we drop
a tasty morsel on the floor.
Our feet still go around the place
the food dish used to be.
And, sometimes, coming home at night
we miss them terribly.
And although time may bring new friends
and a new food dish to fill.
That one place in our hearts
belongs to them ...
and always will.

Music: Amazing Grace by Mantovani

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