My Best Friend by Allen Forbes

My Best Friend

by Allen Forbes

September 16, 2004 Dear Sir Lancelot, My heart aches tonight with deep sorrow to have Dr. Ball put you to sleep this evening at 6:30. You were my best buddy and loving companion for 5 years, always watching over me as I traveled from room to room. Your other two cat pals show up here and there whenever. Surely Guinevere will eventually miss you and those little fist fights you had from time to time. Even Blu and you got a little feisty from time to time. When you first came to live here in Aug. 1999, you were very sickly from the Pet Store in the Mall of New Hampshire. Dr. Ball gave you a blood transfusion from Jake, the house cat and so you began a new life for yourself. I am blessed with many lovely photos and wonderful memories. I hav e a few special memoriesone of them-- upon returning from New York City last December and no cats greeting me. After investigation, found Jennifers bedroom door shut, and there you were with Guinevereno food, water and toiletassume this could of only been for a day. Somehow in fooling around, you accidentally closed the door, touched the sensor light and got the radio going. How did you manage that last featmust of put your paw on the right button. Anyhow at least a little music for entertainment. There were definite signs of clawing the rug by the door,---trying to dig your way out of this mess. You enjoyed the back yard in the summer of 2000 and 2001, rolling in the lush green grass, exploring the flowers, chasing the bugs and butterflies, never wandering beyond the yardalways staying nearby or resting underneath my lawn chair. If I asked you to roll overyou rolled over just like a puppy dog. When I talked to you, which was real often, you answered back with a coo sound like a morning dove, as if you understood my words. But the back yard only lasted 2 summers. Mr. Squirrel casually wandered in on a fall day at the wrong time. In your attempt to make a catch, you narrowly missed getting hit by a van. So the future summers were a source of temptation as you lie by the back door hoping for a quick passage. Even if I was out working in the yard for an hour or soyou were always waiting patiently in the cellar for my return. But time heals memories and this summer you gave up the idea of waiting by the back porch door. I noted you werent feeling up to par these past 2 or 3 weeks. You seemed content to just lie in one spot and stay there. You had no energy to move or jump around. Your ears were very hot to toucha sign of fever and your eyes had a distant look. Suddenly I realized you had lost weightfrom 14 lbs. to 10 lbs. Past few days you seemed better but as I pondered all morning, finally called Manchester Animal Hospital and they agreed you needed an examination. So at 5:15 I gently got you into the cat carrier and drove to the hospital never realizing I would have to make this fatal decisionbut Dr. Ball came out with the sad news you were diabetic and the worse kind. You would need insulin injections every day and you know how you would of fought the needle. Neither of us could of handled this situation gracefullyin fact it would of taken two people. So what other recourse but gently put you to sleep and relieve your body of any discomfort. I stroked your head lovingly with a kiss as Dr. Ball gave you your injection and you gracefully crossed the RAINBOW BRIDGE where we will one day meet in a joyous reunion, never to be parted again. So I leave your Soul in Gods loving care. Called your mother in New York City tonite and she feels sad and blessed to have recently seen you in August. Lots of LOVE and HUGS, Your "GRAMMIE PS You were such

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