Today I lost my baby, my best friend.
She was the runt of her litter, just a tiny little thing. Her mother, a stray named Psycho, had abandoned her litter at the house where my brother Joe and his friends lived. They cared for the kittens, feeding and raising them by hand. I think this made her personality what it was. As a very young kitten I adopted her. She would curl up under the blankets and sleep along side me in bed. I was so terrified I would squish this delicate creature.
She liked to be around people. Just hanging out, being a part of the conversation. I always would imagine her sitting there with a mini cup of coffee, her elbow leaning on a pillow in the corner nook of the couch. Everyone who crossed her path fell in love with her and adored her sweet and gentle nature.
As a kitten, no roll of toilet paper or box of tissues were safe. She would unroll entire rolls and carefully pull one tissue out after another. The tissue habit continued as a way of getting attention or treats for years. She would look you straight in the eye and absently touch the tissues with her small oval paws of fuzz and slowly draw out the next kleenex.
She had eccentric tastes in treats. She would come running for chickpeas, squeak in the tiniest of voices asking so nicely for corn and would be ready to jump in the fridge when she heard me grind coffee beans, knowing a small dish of cream was in store for her.
At night, after we would turn off the lights for the evening, she would leave my side and patrol the house. She almost never made a peep except for on these nightly rounds where we would hear her all through the house, into the basement, lightly meowing, "meow meow meow!" She would return to my side and sleep on my pillow. She would stretch out in her sleep, somehow managing to take up a third of the bed. I would have this wonderful warm ball of fuzz buzzing and purring in my face every night.
We needed to leave her behind when we moved to England. It was a difficult decision, but it was the right one. We missed her and thought about her every day. While we were away, she was off having wonderful new adventures of her own and making new friends. She couldn't have had a better life or have been more loved.
We are so lucky to have had her in our lives. I love you Bean and miss you. You will always be in my heart and I'll keep your spot warm on my pillow.
Greenbean 1997-2008
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