Lincoln…
Our family lost a very special member on Wednesday. The sudden and rapid deterioration of his health came as a shock to all. It was just a few days earlier that he was playing with Chalee’s new kitty…matching his youthful kitten-ness swat for swat. He would lure Neo in with his fluffy, swishing tail and then once he was within range, he’d wrestle him with the heart and the energy of a cat half his age. Ironically, the issue of age came up during the vet visit Wednesday because really we never knew how old he was. The story of Jill rescuing Lincoln from the animal shelter is a touching story and I think highlights the underlying personal characteristcs that made this feline and his human, soulmates. The short version of the story goes like this: Jill was looking for a cat and went to the humane society and, after looking at several candidates, came upon Lincoln. To be honest, he didn’t really stand out that much. Sure he was pretty with all of that beautiful fur, but there were dozens of cats matching that description there that day. Jill held him and put him back in his cage. Instead of preening and posturing like all the other cats yearning to be adopted, Lincoln slinked to the back of the cage and curled up in a ball. “Another day, another chance gone.” He must have thought. He had no doubt been in this exact same position before: Taken out of his cage, only to be thrust back in while another, younger cat was selected. It was heart-breaking. Jill saw this reaction and knew immediately that this was going to be her new companion. He wasn’t the perfect pet at first. In fact he was downright mean. Jill called the humane society to ask about returning him and found out that he had already been returned once. Animals in crowded shelters don’t get a third chance. This phone call would forge the final bond between this nomadic soul and a heart of gold that would last through years of ups and downs. It’s hard to tell from the outside who got the better of the deal. But I’m sure Jill would tell you it was her. This journey that began with the heart-breaking scene at the shelter ended with another one Wednesday afternoon. I’m sad because I am now the fattest, smelliest thing in the house. But Jill’s emotions come from losing a bonafide member of the family. A fluffy family member with big mittens. Rest in peace, fat man.
