In Memoriam

My beloved flame-point Himalayan, Bebe: August 2, 1990 - August 20, 2008

Bebe, aka The Beast, was born into a show-cat home where the owner decided he wasn't worth showing and sold him as "unwanted". He was purchased by a woman who said, and I quote, "I didn't know he'd shed this much!" He came to me, again "unwanted", in November of 1991.

Bebe was a gentle, loving, accepting soul who always provided comfort first and entertainment when the mood came over him. He and I moused together, played fetch together, and he was particularly absorbent whenever I needed to cry into his fur. When my first son was born, Bebe lay beneath his crib and marched over to me every time the baby stirred, as if to say, "He needs you; get up!" I knew he was responding to the movements in the crib because he was perfectly timed with what I heard over the baby monitor ;) He did the same thing when my second son was born a year later and got a real work out - baby #2 slept a LOT less than baby #1!

Over the years, Bebe used each of his nine lives judiciously. He shed enough to make a dozen cats twice his size, hated to be combed, and secretly loved his bath. In the last few months, he began having seizures and together with his vet, we made a plan to watch him carefully so that he experienced the best life had to offer while keeping him free from unnecessary stress. He had a blast this summer: he went outside and basked in the sun with us, laid (and shed) in my bed, and cuddled up with his "brothers" as much as he desired (which was a lot). Clearly, he would have voted for Obama had he been given the chance.

When the vet and I made Bebe's plan, I made him a "no pain" promise. I was able to keep that promise, and he deserved it, no matter how hard it was for me. The Beast may have come into this world "unwanted" but he certainly did not leave it that way. I will miss my loyal friend and faithful companion more than I can ever say.