A Memorial To Tigger
 

           My sweet little Tigger.  I had thought I'd have him around for many years with me.
             But it wasn't to be.  On August 5, 1998, 12:30 pm, he left me.
             Little Tigg had such a rough life.  He almost died as a baby.  My sister found him on
             the street.  He was half starved, only a few weeks old.  And he was wounded.  I never
             thought he'd live.  But the little guy just wouldn't give up.  So neither could I.
             As he grew, he became part of the family, the only house cat.  I remember the first
             time we let him outside.  I was terrified he would run off or get lost.  I should have
             known better.  Tigger loved his family.  He never went far.
             And I remember the time he was missing for 3 days.  And I was so upset.  I was sure
             I'd never see him again.  Then he showed up on the doorstep, thin and hungry, so happy
             to be home again.
             Then his biggest trial with a blood clot.  It almost killed him.  After several months, he
              finally pulled through enough for me to believe that he really was going to make it.
             For the last months of his life, he would take spells, and I would have to put him back
             on antibiotics.  His ordeal left his right leg crippled, useless.  But he showed what a little
             trouper he was.  I even started letting him go out again.  He learned how to run on three
             legs, even climbed trees again.  I was so proud of him.
             Tigger was such a big part of my life.  He slept on my bed.  Curled up next to my legs.
             When he would get too cold he would snuggle up against my chest, and purr as I stroked
             him unil we both finally fell asleep.  He loved to play in the flowers outside.  Especially
             the marigolds.   They were his favorite.  He used to come in every night smelling like
             them.  He would hide in them, then pounce you as you walked past.
             Like all cats, he was very independent.  He didn't liked to be pet or held much.  But
             when he got lonely, or cold, he would crawl into your lap, snuggle, and purr.  Trying
             to do schoolwork with him in my lap was impossible.  He would lay and stare from the
             page, back to me, then finally lay his paw across the page, then look up at me innocently,
             as if he were saying, "You're supposed to be devoting your full attention to me right now,
             I have chosed to sit on your lap, you should be honored!"  I couldn't help but laugh at
             him.  He was such a little character.  I never knew how much he had become a part of
             me until he was gone.  It happened suddenly.  We don't know, will probably never know,
             what happened.  Not even the vet could tell us.  One day he was fine, the next he was very
             sick, and the next, he died.  It happened so sudden, it took a while for the shock to hit me.
             I was holding him when he died.  Even in so much pain, he somehow gathered the strength
             to purr for me one last time.  I was crying against him, and he started purring.  His last
             breath ended in a gentle purr.  I'll never forget.  I guess it comforted me.  But very little.
             Even now, I miss him so much.  The ache is still there around my heart.  I still wake up
             at night, and reach down to stroke him, then realize that he is gone.  Then the hurt comes
             back as strong as if it were yesterday.  But, I know that he is through all of his pain now.
             He pulled through so much.  But, it was too much.  It all worked against him in the end.
             He didn't have the strength or the will to fight anymore.  And I know in my heart that it's
             better this way.  The little guy's life would have been a series of mishaps, health problems.
             He just didn't have the babyhood that he should have.  Didn't have his momma to keep
             him healthy and strong.  And try as I might, I couldn't make up for that.
             But I'm so happy that I had him for a few years.  Good years.  He brightened my life
             and my heart.  And he'll always have a place there.  I'll always miss him.  And he'll always
             be with me, in my heart and in spirit.  And nothing can ever take away the memories.
             Tigger, I will forever love you, and miss you.  And I will never forget you.