Footprints on My Heart

Sunday was not the Father's Day we had planned, and certainly not any day we would have planned. I debated about this post, and then decided that, yes, even though I will be sad, Oliver should have a tribute on my blog.

Our sweet sweet Oliver took his walk over the Rainbow Bridge on Sunday afternoon. Even though we were at the vet, he was surrounded by family and love. Stephanie, his true mama, and Dennis and I were with him. Adam was in Shreveport, LA and learned of his passing when he called Dennis for Father's Day.

Oliver came to us as a wee kitten -- Stephanie had found him in a parking lot sitting next to what we presume was his mother. When she moved out, I asked that Oliver stay with us since ours was the only home he knew, and he had bonded with Sam, our other rescue cat.

He was a British Cream, like a light creamsicle ice cream, made even lighter with extra cream. His face had a serious, studious look as if he were contemplating the answers to very important questions. He was a sweet cat who rarely meowed (unless his tail was accidentally stepped on), who ran like thundering hooves through the house, and had a habit of leaping on you when you least expected it (which was a real shock since he was not exactly a petite cat...)

He enjoyed a good book at night and, in fact, would nudge my book until I finally put it down and paid him some attention. Then he would retreat to the foot of the bed and go to sleep. His last couple of nights were spent sleeping at the head of the bed, right in between Dennis' and my heads, I believe he wanted to be as close to us as possible, because, in the way of cats, he knew he didn't have long even before we did.

his usual place, right over my head

I'll miss his tail smacking me in the face!

He had various windows that were "his"

and especially liked the ones in the livingroom that were only a few inches off the floor

The outside cats would pass by....

and he would run for the mail slot to peer outside!

He liked to play King of the Mountain

and tolerated Noli's shenanigans

and her many hugs

He even took care of her when she sprained her arm :)

 He liked to play "Run When You Hear the Can Opener 'Cause There May Be Tuna"

and Hide and Go Seek

even though his hiding places weren't exactly hard to find!

Found ya!

He liked to sneak some of the outside kitties' food

and try to fit into the smallest thing possible

He loved to play the piano, even though he knew that the bench was all that he was allowed on....

and leaping on the keys in the middle of the night was a definite no-no!

(But he certainly never did that, oh no!) Ha!

He wasn't wild about taking an occasional bath....

but put up with it,

especially when his good buddy Sam had to take one too....

They often curled up together when they slept

He rarely slept on his back, but when he did it was with no shyness!

He loved to help me work

especially sitting on the mailing boxes so they wouldn't fly away

or guarding my crochet so it didn't get tangled

 or helping me on the computer.

Such a silly boy.

I'm going to miss him.

A light has gone out, a presence diminished, but his footprints will forever be on my heart.

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~ AlphabeThursday for the letter F



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