KITTY BOO
His name was Kitty Boo… My mom has a colorful flair for names and nicknames. He was big, tough, mean, and ornery… but not all the time, sometimes he was shockingly gentle and loving. He was a tomcat, pure white with piercing blue eyes and deaf as a stump.
My friend Hazel at http://hazel-moon-blog.blogspot.com/ wrote a post about one of her childhood pets that was also a cat and my mind automatically eased back in time to one of our childhood pets – the toughest tomcat on the block; Kitty Boo.
Often when my mom let the monster sized tomcat in the house she’d break out the vacuum cleaner and vacuum the deafer than a door nail cat like a pillow. He loved it… I also recall the times my mom would doctor the big tom’s wounds from tangling with other toms and dogs.
I can’t remember the morning in detail, but I do recall it was a day out of the ordinary. Our fearless pet didn’t hear the vehicle that hit him… It was the first time I remember my mom crying… She loved that big ole’ tomcat. That difficult life lesson my mom used to teach me the value of life. She knew it was just a cat, but God granted her the heart for even the slightest of God’s creations.
Back in those days we did things the old fashioned way. My mom and I placed Kitty Boo’s body in an old box and duct taped it up, then drove to “The Bench” in the foothills above our house for the burial. My mom wept silently while I dug the grave with a small green portable US army shovel.
If that tom cat was that important to my mom, he was that important to me… My tears poured out to match my mom’s into Kitty Boo’s grave as I dug it…
Funny how certain days from childhood stick out in vivid detail. For those of us fortunate enough to learn the realities of life in this small way, I think it begins to prepare us for the more difficult tasks in life we all must face. Death is as big a part of our lives as life itself… No one gets out alive. God’s gift of free will and the choice we make with it will determine where our soul will reside for eternity. We begin learning this lesson as children and if we’re fortunate enough, we graduate from carnival goldfish to pets, all the way up to our loved ones.
I’m not so sure if I’ll see Kitty Boo again on the other side or not, but I do know I’ll see my loved ones again. While not based on anything profoundly Biblical, but on eyewitness of the event, I think the first person I see will be my dad. I think he’ll be the one to escort me across the dimensional river home… I’m looking forward to that smile and those familiar words, “Hey son.”
And you never know, I might get to see that big ole’ tom cat my mom named Kitty Boo again…
bill (cycleguy)
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 7:23 am
Your dad. My mom. Only I will hear, “Hi honey.”
Floyd
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 10:03 am
Sweet words and memories. We are blessed Bill.
TC Avey
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 7:23 am
I think you will see your Kitty Boo again. I just can’t imagine heaven without animals, why would God have gone to so much creativity in creating all the diversity of animals if He didn’t enjoy them as well?
I think our dads are up there right now, shooting the breeze. Someday we will both see our dads again- I know I can’t wait to see my dad’s smile!
Floyd
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 10:04 am
Amen TC! And thanks, I agree with you too about the animals.
Nancy
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 9:19 am
My husband is writing a story called “Echos of the Garden” in which he details the way it was meant to be with our animals. If we look closely, we’ll see a hint of how it should be. We are their stewards and they, our companions.
Your description of Kitty-Boo sounds just like our Snow Cat. He is huge and 16 lbs. of muscle. We manage to contain him in the back via an energized cat fence Randy built. It retains all the cats – except one. He is the one we are concerned about because he escapes and runs for the fields. Our house used to be on a cul-de-sac, but they opened up the street to build more homes. This guy was used to a safe area but now the cars zoom thru.
Thanks for the sweet story!
Floyd
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 10:06 am
Thank you Nancy. I know you guys are animal lovers… well, and the fact that your kids left them with you! Keep us posted on Randy’s book, sounds cool.
Jason Stasyszen
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 10:37 am
Great story, Floyd. I agree– those hard lessons in the smaller things prepare us for the bigger. We tend to have the biggest cats around too. They are huge! The neighbors have to hide their chihuahuas. 🙂
Floyd
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 4:25 pm
Thanks Jason. I feel a little sorry for your neighbors! Although I have to admit, it is amusing to see a dog cower from a cat!
Lisa notes
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 3:40 pm
I remember my childhood pets too, and especially when my dog Rebel died. It was tough, but yes, those smaller losses (although they seem huge at the time) do help prepare us for more down the road. I wonder what’s next! ha. God will have us ready.
Floyd
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 4:26 pm
The childhood memories of pets are special for sure. I agree Lisa, God will prepare us for what He’s got in store. Great point. Thanks.
Hazel Moon
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 6:08 pm
Mt husband has shed more tears over our dogs that died, then he did when his Dad passed away. His response was, I really did not know my dad. His dad was gone most of the time.
Pets are companions and are family too. Our three dogs think they are our babies. I enjoyed several cats, but at this time, we only have dogs.
Thanks for the great memory stirrer about our cats.
Floyd
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 10:07 pm
Thank you Hazel. As I mentioned, it was your story of childhood pets that launched the memory of mine. Our pets are truly a blessing from God.
Dan Black
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 9:33 pm
Loss of a animal or loved one is so hard. I remember when my first dog died and how hard it was. I also remember how hard it was losing my father when I was 18 years old. Lose is never an easy thing.
Those who believe though have something to look forward to, everlasting life in Heaven.
Floyd
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 10:09 pm
Well said Dan. I’m sorry to hear of your early loss. Funny how God can use these things to help shape our perspective. We have that in common as well; looking forward to our revival in heaven.
Diane
Saturday, May 5, 2012 @ 4:05 am
Hi Floyd! I came over from Hazel’s blog. You are a wonderful writer! I loved the part about your Dad. “Hey, son…” How awesome that you have him and his greeting to look forward to! God bless you!
Floyd
Saturday, May 5, 2012 @ 9:21 am
Thanks Diane, and thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it greatly and may our God bless you as well.
Jay Cookingham
Saturday, May 5, 2012 @ 6:17 am
When I was younger, I had a cat named “Bootsie”, a name I believe he hated. That cat was the toughest cat I’ve ever seen. I like to think Kitti Boo and him would have been friends…
Anyways, I suspect my Mom and two of my kids (from miscarriages)will be waiting for me on the other side. Awesome post dude!
Floyd
Saturday, May 5, 2012 @ 2:00 pm
Thanks Jay. I like to think that Bootsie and Kitty Boo would be pals as well, maybe the thugs of the cat block, but fast furry pals for sure! I’m with you too, and look forward to our reunion.