[169004][169004][169003][169002][169001][169000]MY FRIEND & LOVER. I have a story to tell about a very good friend and lover of mine. He came into my life in the year 1990. He showed up at a flea market that my partners and I opened in 1989. He is not only a good friend but he is a lover. He never asked for much just a place to sleep and food to eat. He started sleeping with me in the winter, and we kept each other warm. He would come to bed with me, lay his head on my shoulder and get his body as close to me as he could. He never went out and he never would go with any one but me. We grew older together. One night he woke me up hollering in my ear. I woke up in a room of smoke: he saved my life. Now my good friend and lover has gone blind. The Doctor asked me what I was going to do. I told him that I would take care of him for the rest of his or my life. I owe him that much after he saved my life. He is now over 96 years old and I am over 64 years old. He does not ask for much, just a warm place to sleep and something to eat, and still sleeps with me but not as much as before. He is a little demanding now nudging my hand asking for attention. I put my hand on him and he is comforted. I forgot to tell you his name; it’s Freeloader. He is a stray tabby cat that came, saw, and stole my heart. He got his name for his freeloading for food when he would come out of the woods. One day he did not go back. He owned me and my heart from that day on. He may be blind, but he knows where every piece of furniture is and never misses a step. He also knows where I am every second that I am home. I love him and he loves me; one day he will be gone and I will miss him a lot. Until that day he will have a warm place to sleep and plenty to eat. This is a true story and still going on to day. I have never had a smoke detector in my house, now I have one in my kitchen, laundry room and each bedroom of the house. If it was not for this stray cat coming into my life I may not be here today because I had no smoke detectors in my house. The entire room I was in was full of smoke almost to the floor. It came from a wood burning stove. So check your smoke detectors every year, make sure that they work and live long and prosper. If you have a dog or cat and they start making noise, you had better get out of bed and see what is wrong, for many pets have saved lives.
In memory of Freeloader 1998-2005. Today, December 12, 2005, Freeloader passed away at 7:15 AM. He will be missed a lot. I’ll miss your loud BELLER when you wanted something, not a soft meow like other cats. Your claws digging in to me when you wanted attention. You rubbing your head on my hand. You waiting for your favorite food, turkey. You went blind, but now you can see again. You will be missed a lot, my friend. You will be in my heart forever; hope to see you again with all my other friends. The house is quiet, too quiet with out your BELLER. I keep expecting to hear your BELLER. It is going to take a long time before I get used to not hearing you BELLER. The house is too quiet. Snooper, Count, Satan, Cotton, Samantha (Sammy), Blackie, Missy, and Missy cat, Boots, Tiger, Alfy and Patsy. Sorry to tell you, Freeloader, but Snooper and Alfy are dogs (but they like cats.) Hope to see you all again so we can play forever in a better place. LOVE you all. There are pictures on this web site: http://www.angelfire.com/biz/shadecanopies/cats-kittens.html. Fred Lawrance, Purina Pro Club member
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