You left us so suddenly today, 07.06.2007. Just like that. The last
days were to hard for you, weren't they? First the toothache, which we
noticed far to late, then extracting the bad tooth... You received
infusions against the dehydration and they gave you nutricion. The
blood test showed, that everything was ok and we were sure, that you
can have real fun now, without toothache.

Yesterday evening we visited you in the clinic and were very happy to
see, that you felt a little better already. You groomed Volker's beard
and climbed on my shoulder, as you always did.

This morning at 9:30, the vet called to tell us, that you are fine and
on the mend, because you already growled at him as you usually do. He
told us, that you have to stay for another day to give you more
infusion, but that you could go home tomorrow...

And then the phone rang again...

You just fell down and left us here alone. Who will groom Volker's
beard now? Who will shred my tummy, lie on my chest and cuddle with
me?

Nobody will wait at the gateway for me to come home. How you managed
to be behind the car as I wanted to enter with the car. We made a
little ritual from it: you slipped behind the car, I carried you to a
safe spot, stepped in the car. You returnd to your spot behind the
car, I carried you again...

None of the other cats know the one spot in the house with the best
acoustics, where you placed yourself to entertain us with your
amazingly deep MRAOOOOOU. We will miss that.

Do you remember, when we first met at the shelter 'de kissel'? They
told us: Don't take him! He is aggressive! Well, we took you anyway
and you turned out to be a charming, cute and very lovable little man.
With fur like silk.

From 1994 on you were part of our life and we have to admit, that you
brought so much joy into our life and made it worth living although we
called you 'grumpy old man' lately.

Do you rememer, when someone broke your back and the vet said, that
you wouldn't make it? You showed him that you could. The vet couldn't
know that you were a great fighter.

And then the evil Eosinophilic granuloma, which we got under control
with the help of our very good vet... The last few years you were
without any symptoms.

You only were 14 years old. 14 years, in which we were your family.
You were one of our children and now we miss you terribly. Actually
you should have had some more years with us.

Did you see the lovely resting place we chose for you? There, where
you preferred to lie: next to the rhododendron and the yew hedge... We
will plant a nice bush there, which will bloom at this time.

We hope, the first Tientje and Pim welcomed you at the bridge and
showed you around so that you immediately could begin with 'la dolce
vita'.

Have fun as at your best times and good night...

In love
Inge & Volker and all who miss you