It was a short time after Shadow (10/30/09) gave up her struggle with hyperthyroidism that I met Miki. He wandered directly across the Sanctuary lawn, stood on his hind feet, gently placing his front legs on my thigh. He said take me home. I did and little did I know what a busy, vocal little boy he would be. He fit right in with the eight other felines and was the first one at the food bowl when the can opened. If the food didn't appear fast enough, a black furry paw was there to pat the can to empty it quicker. All things were toys. Of course, why couldn't he climb the curtains and hang from them like fruit? Yes it was easier to just jump 3 feet up rather than climb from the bottom.
He was different than Shadow, but he was my shadow. It was his job, at the end of the day to come into the office, lay down between my arms, rest his head on my forearm and wait. He couldn't wait long without grabbing my forearm and rubbing his head back and forth. This was the sign to log off, the day is over and now it's Miki time.
He was only 54 weeks old. I don't have many pictures of him. The changes were quick but subtle at the end.
When I wonder why, I don't have an answer, just bad luck. I cherished the time with him and miss his antics and bold swagger. He didn't walk normally, he had a swagger, tail arched in a U that said he had a presence. When he wanted something another feline was eating, he just put his paw on their shoulder. When he wanted to play, he ran along side, jumping in the air and patting his playmate on the shoulder with his paw. No harsh words were ever spoken. Of course, he could nuzzle Robert the Dog as well.
At the end, he was in my lap. He rolled on his back and stretched, rolled to his side and grabbed my forearm with both paws. He rubbed his head back and forth a few times.
I look up into the heavens each night wondering why my little boy was taken from me so young. I cherish our short time together. He, like all my other creatures have left this mortal world but will be in my heart forever. They're all locked there and I feel sometimes I can reach out to them. Maybe, if I could have anything, I'd like the knowledge that yes, on this earth it's ashes to ashes, but I'll see them all again and we'll all be together forever.
Godspeed my little boy.
