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As I look back...

A little orange fuzzy piece of heaven on Earth was lost- today...

It’s been a while since last on the website but as many people know life always seems to get busy. But as I logged into the site know the reason I was making a few changes tears just couldn’t stay in their place. Scrolling down the page for Milo I am brought back to the times when he was a little overweight, would sit up for a treat, hide in bag or holiday totes, or meow at you when you called for him I now realize that is gone. And for a moment I sit and wonder maybe I should have tried to spend more time with him. He was that friendly stray who would walk me to bus each morning and guide us down to my parents business each day. He survived one of the coldest winters Wisconsin has seen in decades… but he pulled through living in his garbage can outside filled with blankets. Man I wanted a cat so bad! I am not sure why he was brought into the mud room at the first of the year but I am so glad he found his way in there. We were such naive cat people, in fact my parents were not big fans. We picked up litter on accident at one point and placed down for his to use. Within second he made his way in we were so excited. He remained in the mud room… we were worried Shadow and Rusty, the two dogs we would antagonize with the words “find the kitty” or “get the squirrel” would be a little too excited about their new toy. He stayed in the mud room for a few weeks, sitting up by the window reaching in with his paw tapping it as if there was a toy dangling there. One evening someone was carless enough to not close the door and Milo came bolting in- he headed straight under the cedar chest. Shadow and Rusty barely lifted their heads then went back to sleep. Milo became our first family kitty. He never had any health problems but loaded with quirks! There would be times he would blot outside to realize his front wheel drive no longer worked going up trees or smashing every stuffed toy I owned from fluffing it so much. In a nutshell Milo was just a “great cat”. The domino began when I moved away to college and I wanted to take Milo with. I went rounds with my parents but I think the real reason they didn’t want me to take him was that they were going to miss him equally. Time had past and I ended adopting Tigger and Tucker. The day I brought them home I will never forget. When introducing them Milo wanted nothing to do with the newest additions to the family. In fact I could swear he would turn his back to me when I would call for him. I hope he knew he was never going to be replaced. It didn’t take long for him to warm up and begin to play them. Its fun to think back of all the memories had but cant believe that its all they will now remain since he is gone. We never quiet knew what Milo’s age was but we knew he was getting up there. The battle he had was not too long but gut wrenching to see whatever it was take him so hard. He seemed peaceful sleeping in his wicker bed with a new blanket mom sewed up for him. I even tried to find the raccoon puppet he loved snuggling with so much but a beaver puppet had to do. The last few days were hard- trying to force feed him, giving iv injections… he laid there so good too. It was hard to see the cat from these pictures fall a part so fast but all I can think of is how glad he was able to let us know it was time. Selfishly though I would argue it wasn’t. No matter what anyone says it just doesn’t seem to ease the fact that Milo is gone. The one cat who changed the families views, who gave us countless laughs, and even some sleepless nights. About getting caught up in life makes me now see that it’s times like this make all the other issues so trivial and that I really do need to cherish every moment with my pets. There are never too many pictures or too much playtime. And for all the times I kick them off my lap will now make me think twice. I am glad I held Milo last night even though his body seemed so fragile and only regret I didn’t go to see him more. He certainly held a special place in each of our hearts but to strangers as well. Milo will be forever missed and never forgotten…