Dusty was given to me by my parents seventeen years ago on my tenth birthday. He was a cute little fuzzy thing and we named him because he was light with seal points, although he got considerably darker with age. As a kitten, he would hide under our pool table and jump out at unsuspecting passersby. Hairy legs beware!
My niece, Robyn, would detour around through other rooms to avoid his friendly attacks. He always slept in gameboard box tops, and, would chirp at birds through the windows. When he was allowed outside, he would regularly bring gifts (unfortunate birds and rodents) inside for my mother.
She LOVED that.
He was born in South Carolina and lived there with us until he was 3 years old and then he traveled abroad with our family and lived in Germany until he was about 9. He was always a big cat, and, very beautiful. Even people who didn’t like cats, admired Dusty.
His move to Texas turned out to be a good one, because he met Dr. Ballard. She is a wonderful person and a tremendous doctor. She took care of Dusty for many years until this year, when he moved back home to South Carolina to retire with my parents. I saw him at Thanksgiving and was so glad he was back home where he belonged.
My mother called this afternoon, my father’s birthday, to tell me that he had passed only moments before. She said he fell asleep in one of his favorite spots and didn’t wake up. What a good boy, to have waited to be back home with Mom and Dad and to go in such a dignified way. He meant so much to my family and me and he has left such an impression on us. There will never be another cat for us.
He set too high of a standard. But, now he is somewhere, napping in a patch of sunlight, and, I know he’s content.
And, we miss him.
Forever Grateful,
| Dusty |
| 12, Dec 2003 |
| Ken & Liz Dorey and Kari Archer |