Shasta
"So happy you're home!"
As of a few hours ago, Shasta has gone missing. She seems to have snuck away while I was in the shower and the rest of the household was preoccupied. She may turn up eventually today, but I'm working hard at accepting the fact that it's her time. It may well be that she is ready to go off on her own and not come back. In any case, I have some thoughts I'd like to share in these last days with her.
Most of you know how dear this cat has been to me.
She came into our lives as a super spunky bright white kitten in summer of 1991.
Mom and I were swimming in the pool late one warm summer night- there was a full moon. This little white cat came to the edge of the pool and mewed at me. We still had Zora, my mom's old cat, but we brought some food outside for her, because she didn't have a tag or collar. She decided to make us her family.
In time, we adopted her and named her Shasta, because she loved to play with the tall, white Shasta Daisies that grew in our yard. The name worked well, and also drew to mind to the mountain in northern California- her pure white fur is the color of the snow and her eyes bright blue like the clear mountain sky.
She has remained energetic, intelligent, healthy and good tempered throughout the 19 years I've known her. It was only recently when she began to show signs of aging. She loves to sleep in my room, and often enjoys being around family, especially in the evenings. Once she grew more mature, she began to cuddle with my mom or I at night, burrowing under the covers and snuggling up very close. She is famous for waking us up in the morning by touching her paw to our nose and gently poking our nose with a single extended needle-sharp claw.
Shasta is a special cat, with a seemingly perceptive mind and wonderful personality. I remember how she would often be outside waiting for me to arrive home from work or out for the evening with friends. She would shadow me until I went up to bed as if to remind me it was bedtime. She loved to eat fruit- her favorite was orange, but she also has been known to enjoy all kinds of melon as well as persimmon.
I'll miss too much about her to list it all here, but if anyone would like to share a memory of her, or would like to remember their own beloved pet, please comment below.
Your support is appreciated.
