Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim Cat 1989 - 2009
Nearly twenty years ago, in August 1989, a small black kitten was born on the outskirts of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Only a couple weeks into his life, he and his brothers and sisters were orphaned. To their great good fortune, kind-hearted humans rescued them and hand raised them. To my great good fortune, those humans were friends of mine. Thus I first met Theo at 3 or 4 weeks old, and when he was another couple weeks old he came home to live with me. He's been with me through everything, including an intercontinental move, over the years since.
This morning, a bit after 6 AM, Theo lost his fight with cancer. He was at home with me by his side. I am beyond devastated at the moment to no longer have him in my life.
At the same time, I would not have wanted him to stay with me beyond when he could still enjoy simple things. This week especially he'd been getting weaker and fading more, but he still had that enjoyment of some of his favorite things. Yesterday we had fish for dinner just to please him (and pleased he was). Earlier in the day, he purred happily just at the pleasure of being scratched under the chin and stroked.
Goodbye my beloved fierce clever cat beast. I love you, and will miss you, forever.