Dear Leah,

You're right. My two boys were litter-mates and brothers and Perspicacity Purrsonality is called Cassy and Sassafras Root was called Sassy. It got very confusing at times with friends and neighbors. [Uh, it sounds dumb but I did it deliberately -- wasn't too sure how seriously the association's rule for 'one pet only' was to be taken. Have since learned that it's not taken seriously at all. Still thought it would be easier to pass off two cats with sound alike names than two cats with distinct names.] (Sometimes even I'd yell, "You there, what's your name, stop it." Not effective at all, but yelling 'no no' at cats generally isn't anyway. )

Sassy was a big boy and his adult pelt was a medium length about the shade of British Blue. He was almost 15 pounds -- kind of a gentle giant type. He loved heights -- so far he's the only cat who's figured out how to get on top of the china cabinet and the tall cabinets over the refrigerator... I used to tell him he was a little drop of heaven's love come down to earth in a cat suit. (Yes, we would get soppy when we cuddled.)

One Saturday last February he laid down for a nap and didn't wake up. We had just celebrated the boys 19 month birthday a couple days before. It was hard for me and very hard for Cassy. I'd never realized how cats can mourn, too.

I'm tearing up while typing this, but it feels good to give a little tribute to my sweet Sassy boy. (Thanks, Leah, for asking! And thanks, Logan, for the opportunity to give tribute to all the 'good boys and girls' of Pet Talk.)

[ December 11, 2001: Message edited by: AmberLee ]