Loss of a Pet
Brutus the Maine Coon, our "buddy"
We lost our beloved Brutus on Thursday morning, July 2, 2009. He had traveled with us from near Boise, ID to Florence, OR for the July 4th holiday. His sudden death brought the vacation to a quick end as all we wanted to do was get him home, and we did by driving straight through for 11+ hours with only short breaks. Brutus loved to travel going with us to Jeep Jamborees in Moab, UT & Elko, NV, and just camping up in the Sawtooth Mtns. of Idaho. He was a big cat weighing in at 21 lbs. when full grown with a beautiful dark brown & rust Tabby coat, a huge white ruff that started w/a white mask on his face, extended down his chest, around his neck, covering his entire tummy and all 4 legs, with cute black "dots" on the back of his ankles on the back legs. He was a "social animal" constantly wanting to go and visit our neighbors homes where he would snoop around or sit on a front porch, and then come home. Everyone who met Brutus liked him, especially kids, and all thought his name fit him to a tee. Brutus bonded with my husband and would demand for him to sit down in his leather recliner so he could "plant" on the left leg after kneeding on his chest 20-30 times. Brutus was my husband's buddy, following him everywhere out in the back yard and shop. Brutus was a "displaced" kitty given to me by a co-worker who had taken him in but couldn't keep him. He lived with us for 6 years, entertaining us with a variety of antics (sleeping in sinks, nipping you when getting into the shower, trying to squeeze into boxes much too small for him, giving you a "high-5" for more food, banging on the blinds when he wanted outside, sleeping under the covers with his feet planted firmly against your back, and tolerating the other 2 cats and 2 dogs.) The house seems so emply without him. No chirps or twitters, no soft "baby kitty" meows, no crazy, wild runs through the house. I can hardly go into the motor home where he died. 400 miles of crying hasn't made the pain go away. He will be cremated next week and buried on our property in one of his favorite flower beds. Rest in Peace, Sweet Brutus. There has never been, nor will there ever be another cat like you. Miss you Big Guy!
