That first day, when we picked him up, we did that in our traditional way, and that is by bike.
Stapper was put in a cotton bag, and he hang at the steer of my bike.
At home he could get out, he hided at once below the couch. The entire day he was stuck there, till the evening, when we did eat some chips. Stapper suddenly came from his hiding place, chips!!!
Since that moment we were convinced he was part of the family. He never let us down in eating chips.
Thefirst year of our marriage Stapper was our only child. We were crazy with him. Jeannette, who never was fond about a jumping cat, with his sharp nails, started to love him as well.
At the moment that our Anne was born Stapper of course got the second place. He was very intrested in our daughter, and if he ever had the chance he climbed in her bed.
We prefered that he slept at our lap or so, but a cat, and especially this one, did not always act according to our rules....
The years passed, we got our second child Thijs. As the kids grow older they often found comfort with Stapper. At moments that they felt alone, unhappy, it was so nice to go to Stapper, stroke him over his furr and hear him purring at once.
So favorite, that snoaring sound, his eyes closed.
Later, when we moved to our flat, Stapper could not go out anymore. There were some dark moments in our relation, there were some not so nice moments, and always our cat was there to give us all the comfort we need. If our Stapper could've talked, he sure could have told stories that are far more worth to read.
Luckily everything is now cleared up and Stapper was still there to see the happy family crawling up, finding a new life in Westervoort. Stapper could go outside again and he found the thrill back of the outisde life. Barking dogs, fighting cats. Stapper became more and more caughing and on a day we went with him to the doctor. The vet told that his lungs were filled with tumors and that it was the best to end up his life.
I realize that it was not an easy step for us. But, how priviledged that Stapper must be, that he could be relieved from his suffer, his bad breathing. Why should we unnecessary length his life, while he only got more and more sorrow?
How many times we wish that some human beings could end their life because they are suffering so bad? And we are not allowed to end that suffering?
I truly think that our stapper was priviledged. He had had a good life, so many love from Anne, Thijs and Jeannette,and a bit from me too. His life was good and on that sad Friday I went with him to the doctor, to let him sleep forever.
At the veterian doctor the background played Bohemiam Rhapsody. I heared it and asked the doctor to wait a second with giving the final shot.
With the words