Jupiter
Yes,
I know. Jupiter was a just a cat, but we're
all "just
cats" in a way, and we all deserve to
be remembered. If only just a little.
I'll have a real cartoon on Friday. I spent
the whole day fighting for Jupiter's life and,
frankly, politics seem rather petty right now.
One final thing...
Jupiter had three siblings who are all very
hale and quite hardy. They'll be ready for
new homes in four weeks so if you're in the
Dallas area and would like a free kitten (two
yellow tabbies and one brown tabby) just
use the magic word, "Raging Pencils".
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Addendum:
In violation of probably too
many local laws I laid little Jupiter to rest
in my backyard, beneath the shade of a
massive oak tree I planted 15 years ago.
He sailed off into eternity with a bag of kitty treats close at hand, just in
case he gets hungry along the way. To keep him warm I wrapped him in a towel
on which his whole family had slept.
There was no eulogy but I quietly asked Mother Earth to take back her child and
to keep him safe as I gently folded her earthly arms over him.
Deep down inside I think I always wanted to keep Jupiter as my own. I guess I
got my wish.
Strange as it may seem, since I have seven cats in and around my home, I haven't
had to trust a pet to the mercies of the earth in over 45 years. I was ten and
his name was Speedy. He was a young black cat we raised from a newborn. I woke
up one frosty November morning to find his body stretched out on the patio as
though he'd simply gone to sleep and never awakened.
I cried then, too, hoping that he would wake up, shake his ears clear of loam
and slink off into the field for a dinner of fat mice before the last spade
of
dirt
was laid into place. It's hard to forget a pet you bury with your own hands.
Currently I have a pair of twelve-year-old cat siblings, plus two that are at
least seven years old, all pure black. The oak tree awaits them, too, as it does
us
all, but hopefully not for many, many more years.
Thank you one and all for your kind words today and for letting me to share
my
grief
among
friends without seeming like the sentimental dolt I am.
=Lefty=
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