by Alice Volovar
In June of 1987 I lost my cat of 18 years to cancer. On October 10, 1987 I adopted two 8 week old kittens and named them Pepsy and Shafer. They brought me such joy. They loved going out in the backyard and chasing whatever came along - a bird, a feather, a blade of grass. They really enjoyed play wrestling with each other. As they got older they would keep me company when i was planting flowers, raking leaves or just relaxing in the backyard. Pepsy and Shafer were inseperable. Where one was the other was never far behind.
Then the unimagined happened. In the beginning of December 2000 Pepsy wasn't feeling well. The doctor gave him medication to see if it would hep - it didn't. On December 16, 2000 Pepsy was brough back to the vet who took xrays. I was told Pepsy had a bad heart and his lungs were filled with fluid. He told me Pepsy was suffering and it would be best to surrender him to heaven where he would be at peace. That was the hardest decision I've ever made. I went home with him and buried him in the backyard near my first cat, Soupy.
Shafer doesn't understand where his best friend and partner went. I tell him that heaven has him now, he is watching over us and one day we will all be together again. Meanwhile, Shafer and I are coping with our loss as best we can.