If I hear myself say the things I am thinking...I realize how silly it seems to care so much about a pet. Especially considering the fact that I have the three most beautiful little boys sleeping soundly right upstairs who will undoubtedly bring us infinitely more joy than Tim could have. Still...I feel so sad saying good-bye to Tim. We had such a strange relationship...but over time...we became each other's "best bud" when it came to hanging around the house.
I met Tim the first time I went to pick up Autumn for a date. I didn't know it at the time (not the best first date material) but she'd received him as a V-Day gift many years ago. And if you know anything about Autumn's dating habits...you know that she was rarely on time. So Tim and I met as I was waiting for her to get ready. Like anyone else...I couldn't help notice that he didn't have a tail!!
It's a breed thing and we always joked that he was really sensitive about the "tailless" topic. He pretty much hated me at first...and when Autumn and I hung out together he was never around. When we got married...I quickly learned he was a night animal because he would wake me up every night meowing...playing with the blinds...basically going out of his way to keep me awake.
I'm a really light sleeper...so the noises he used to make drove me crazy. I can recall numerous times when I would chase him around the house at 3am trying to get him to shut-up! I would toss rolled up socks at him...even shut him behind other doors just so the noise would stay at the other end of the house!! But...I would always feel guilty and let him out a few minutes later. Needless to say...at first...I didn't like him and he didn't like me.
But as he grew more used to me...and I more familiar with him...we began to get along great. Tim wasn't the kind of cat you could force to love you..he had to choose you.
Over time...Tim realized I wasn't gonna smother him...pick him up...I was just gonna let him come to me. Strangely...that seemed the best way to get his affection and after awhile he would hang out with me for extended periods of time. Not long periods...but long enough to know he'd warmed up to me.
The past year or so...Tim became my real buddy. Autumn is my best friend...but Tim is the "guy" who hangs out with me when I watch TV...or who would jump up onto the bed when I would call...he would harrass me to feed him his wet food...or jump up in front of the computer monitor when I was working..just so I would play with him. More recently...he began crawling onto my lap without any encouragement. He would just sit there and purr. If you knew Tim...you know he just didn't do that.
I'm gonna miss Tim. It is already hard walking around the house expecting him around every corner. But the family life was not for him. The boys freaked him out pretty good (he wouldn't go upstairs where they were for an entire week after they got home!)...and living with 3 toddlers chasing him around was not gonna be good for him either. So I guess...if this had to happen...I'm okay with it happening now. It was hard giving him the attention he grew to need and enjoy.
Tim was a great cat. He wasn't super affectionate like Teddy...and he wouldn't force you to pay attention to him...but he did make you earn his trust. And with that trust...he gave you the love, admiration, and respect that made it all worth it. Good-bye dear friend. We won't ever forget you!!
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Thanks, Jeff, for such a well written and heartfelt ode to Tim. I hope Autumn gets a chance to read it. It was lovely (and yes, you'd probably prefer a more masculine word, but that's the best way to describe it). I had to say goodbye to Max, my Schnauzer, about 6 months after Logan was born...our animals were there for us often when we needed them the most. Looking back, guess I can see God's purpose with all of these wonderful animals He gave us.
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