Hi my sweetie,,,,,I'm sorry I couldn't write your memorial right away, but I needed some time to cope----

I will never forget when you and your sister Sasha came into my life. It was a dark, rainy night, and I was at my mother's house visiting and taking care of her. She lived on a dead end street, with a major highway at the end. As I left my mom's, it was storming like crazy, and I almost decided to turn around and go back and wait. But I kept going, and at the end of her street as I was coming to the highway, I just in time saw this little kitten right in the middle of the road and slammed on my brakes. It was your sister Sasha, chewing on the black top. I jumped out of my car and ran a big circle around her to get between her and the highway, so that she wouldn't get scared and run into the highway. Just as she started to run back into the woods, I saw you peeking out from behind a tree. I came as close as I could to both of you and knelt down on the ground. After about 10 min, your sister ran up to me, bit me on the knee, and ran back into the woods. I knew right then I had to try to save you both; all I could think was that maybe your mom had been killed on the highway, because you were alone and were both so, so skinny. As Mitch was behind me in his car, I asked him to go back to my mom's and get a carrier, but he thought I was crazy to even think of taking in any more cats. So I called her from my cell, but she had lent the carrier to my sister. I asked Mitch to help me get you both into my car somehow. After about an hour, with you, me, and Sasha soaking wet, you were in my car,,,,loose. Well, the ride to my house would normally be less than 30 min, but it took us over an hour, because your sister was freaking out :) She tried to go under the dashboard, and I had to pull over and stuff whatever I had in the car under there. Then back and forth she went from the windshield to the back window, jumping around like crazy. You, on the other hand, just curled up in my lap for the whole trip; I'm guessing you were just so scared and in shock, but you were oh so sweet just curled up on me. With your sister running around and the horrible rain, it was all I could do to keep us from crashing, and I could barely see through the sideways rain, but all I could think about was how happy I was to have found you, as I truly felt you would never have made it otherwise. And by the grace of God we made it home, and you and Sasha began your lives with me.

As you were a very shy girl, and your sister was very bold, I could not adapt you into the rest of the group, so you guys ended up sharing the main house with Thomas and Precious. You and Sasha became so close, sleeping together, sharing the window perches,,,,,and anywhere Sasha went, you went too,,,,you loved her so much. I have a photo of you both cuddling in the same bed together, and you have your front leg wrapped around Sasha, hugging her, and you're looking up as if to say 'thank you Lord for my sister and my mommy'. Sadly, I noticed after you were here a while, that something must have happened to you at birth or shortly thereafter, because your one eye was a bit smaller than the other and you seemed to have trouble focusing with it, and also your hind legs never became as strong as they should have, so you were never able to jump up on things that were too high. And that is why I call you my 'special' girl :)

You had such a soft heart my baby,,,,,even when you would play with your toys, you never let your claws out. You would just gently 'bop' the toy with your pad, and usually with your left paw,,,,so I nicknamed you 'soft paw', from the 'south paw' nickname of Rocky :)

You and Sasha also loved when I practiced for my competitions,,,,your sister would jump up on the pool table and knock balls in with me,,,,it was so funny how she would get annoyed when one didn't go in :) And you would just sit right next to the table on either the chair or the cat pole and watch, looking at Sasha like she was nuts :) Oh baby, how I miss that so, so much,,,,I haven't been able to practice since you both left until yesterday when I tried a little, but I just kept seeing you both there and couldn't get through it,,,,, I also haven't been able to sleep,,,,when I lost Thomas and Precious, who used to sleep with me, I went through the same thing. Then you and Sasha started to do it, and since you left, it's been so, so hard trying to sleep,,,,I just so miss you guys being there,,, I miss you, more than these words can say,,,,,,

I hope you know I will always cherish and be grateful for all the years you gave me, all the laughs, and all the love we shared. I can only hope you are with Sasha again and are whole and happy, and that your life with me was filled with love, fun, and that you always felt safe.

I am again so sorry you became ill and that I had to make that horrible decision,,,,I hope you and Sasha know it was only because I love you and could not let you guys suffer any longer,,,,,,,

I love you with all my heart, and that's where you'll always be,,,,,my sweet, special girl Tasha,,,,hugs, kisses, and no more tears in Heaven. Love and Light my beautiful baby,,,,XOXOXOXOXOXOXXX

If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done?
For this--the last battle--cannot be won.

You will be sad, I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand.
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years;
Please see my need through all your tears.
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please let me go.

I know that now my needs you'll tend,
And stay with me until the end.
Hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree,
It is a kindness you do for me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering, I have been saved.

Do not grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do.
We have been so close, we two, these years,
Please don't let your heart hold any tears.

Would you know my name, if I saw you in Heaven.
Would it be the same, if I saw you in Heaven.
I must be strong, and carry on, 'cause I know I don't belong here in Heaven.

Would you hold my hand, if I saw you in Heaven.
Would you help me stand, if I saw you in Heaven.
I'll find my way, through night and day, 'cause I know I just can't stay here in Heaven.

Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart, have you begging please,,,begging please

Beyond the door, there's peace I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more tears in Heaven

Would you know my name, if I saw you in Heaven
Would it be the same, if I saw you in Heaven
I must be strong, and carry on, 'cause I know I don't belong here in Heaven

'Cause I know I don't belong here in Heaven,,,,,,

4/22/22: Oh my beautiful girl,,,,today was your cremation service,,,,I brought you home and put you in the memorial cabinet, then lit all the candles for you and all your cousins,,,,,oh how sad I am Tasha,,,,,I will love and miss you always,,,,Love and Light my beautiful, 'special' baby,,,,XOXOXOXOXOXOXXX

4/23/22: Oh Tasha baby,,,,your sister had to leave also this morning,,,,,I can only hope you met her at the bridge and are together again,,,,,,I miss you so much,,,,,,

5/3/22: Hi my sweet, special girl,,,,oh how I am missing your sweet little face,,,,and I am seeing you guys everywhere,,,Sasha on the front window perch and you on the counter on your special mat,,,,is it really you or my mind playing tricks? As I told the others, I will not write my deep emotions or feelings on these pages, but can only hope you hear me when I talk to you. I miss you more than words can say baby girl,,,,I will love you always baby,,,,,Love and Light my sweetie,,,XOXOXOXOXOXOXXX

7/5/22: Hi my baby,,,,love and miss you always,,,Love and Light sweetie,,XOXOXOXOXOXOXXX

1/1/23: Happy New Year my sweetie,,,,I'm so sorry I couldn't visit your page for Christmas,,,,it was just so painful, as all of you are gone now and it was my first Christmas alone without any of you, and I just couldn't handle it. I did put up lights and your stockings in the sunroom and house, and hope you visited and saw them. I miss you so, so much, and always will. In my heart, forever,,,,,Love and Light my girl,,,XOXOXOXOXOXOXXX

4/21/23: My sweetie girl,,,today it a whole year since you've been gone,,,I just can't believe it and don't even know how I got through this year without you and all the others. Oh how I miss your 'soft paw' touches, your loving, beautiful green eyes, and the way you would hold up your paws so I could rub your belly. You are one of the sweetest and kindest hearts I've ever known,,,oh how I wish you were still here. As I told the others, I will talk to you from home but limit what I write here, so I hope you heard me today and felt all the love I still have for you, and know how much I miss you. You will forever be in my heart my sweet baby girl,,,and I will always love and miss you. Love and Light my little Tashie,,,,XOXOXOXOXOXOXXX

12/25/23: Merry Christmas my sweet baby girl,,,Love and miss you,,,XOXOXOXOXOXOXXX

4/21/24: Oh my sweet baby girl,,,you have been gone 2 years and it honestly still feels like yesterday. I just had a memory of dancing with you in the kitchen,,,I would do that with you and your sister, and oh how I loved when you'd rest your head on my shoulder and purr in my ear. I hope you heard me talking to you today, and all the other days when I'm missing you so much. You were my 'soft paw', with the sweetest disposition, and such an innocence in your heart,,,,oh how much I miss you Tasha. I hope you can still feel how much I love and miss you, and always, always will. You will forever and ever be in my heart baby girl. Love and Light my sweet angel,,,,XOXOXOXOXOXOXXX

Please also visit Asia, Brinnie, China, Comet, Ellie, Gremlin, Jasper, Jettie, Linky, Lucky, Onyx, Polo, Precious, Rambo, Sasha, Skylar, Slater, Squiggy and Thomas.