My little Lujie…Such a good, sweet boy..such a great, loyal friend. From that day in April 1995 when you looked at me and I looked at you there on Kim Carson’s porch, just after a rainstorm, soaking wet, looking like a punk rocker….meowing at Kim’s two big cats in the window who were none too pleased to see a little kitty on their porch, I knew right then that you had chosen me. My heart swelled instantly to make room for you.
Do you remember when I reached for you? You dashed off like a dart, and the chase was on. You made me chase you through the entire neighborhood, over fences, under porches and through shrubbery before you let me catch you and take you home. You’ve been the very best friend I’ve ever had. When you’d go outside you’d kill mice and birds and put them at my door as gifts, and when you became an indoor cat, you’d always have the toy catnip mouse waiting for me at the front door of the apartment when I got home from work.
When I was sick, you never left my side. When my heart ached, you always comforted me. Somehow, you always knew. Oh… how I wish you were here to comfort me now. I miss you so much. I fear I wasn’t the best friend that I could’ve been, that you deserved, but you never let me feel like I was anything less than your very best friend. I agonized over you when I took you to get fixed and I always hated upsetting you when I had to take you to the vet to get checkups(but I was secretly proud whenever you wouldn’t let anyone except me calm you down or pick you up…prouder still when the girls
at the vet nicknamed you “Lujifer”).
I cherish the times we sat together sunning ourselves during the day and chilling in the cool breeze at night. I loved watching you chase the laser light around for hours, the way you’d look at me and slowly close your eyes and flick the tip of your tail in acknowledgment whenever I’d say, “I love you, Lujie” and the way you sang whenever I’d scratch your back. It was an honor to be there for you the two times you got treed by dogs, and it made me love you more than you could ever know when you repaid me for those times by not leaving my side.
You were always there for me, old friend, and I sob with regret that I wasn’t always there for you. My heart breaks that I couldn’t make you well again when you got sick this time. I tried, Buddy. I really did. I will always remember and cherish the look we shared as you passed on. I loved you as I loved my brothers. I love you still. Wherever you are now, please wait for me and look for me, for I will be looking for you when that time comes…and we will never, ever be apart again…I promise, Sweet Lujie Boy. Rest, my friend and run free wherever you are, free of the shackles of the illness that took you from me. I love you.
Until we reunite at Rainbow Bridge,
| Lujack |
| 7, June 2009 |
| Scott Summers |