Our sweet little lady came to us on a very cold winter day in 2001. She was a stray that was being fed by a lady we knew. Her neighbors were threatening to call Animal Control, so my daughter went out in the cold to get her and bring her home. She was an expectant mommy and delivered her kittens the day after we rescued her. 5 adorable babies born in a warm house in a comfy crate. 

At the time, we were volunteers with a no kill shelter/rescue organization who agreed to take Lucy and her babies as soon as they were weened. It was hard, but at age 7 weeks, we released the kittens to the organization for adoption. Not Lucy... we grew to love her and as far as she, and us for that matter were concerned, she was home. We often wondered what this calm, sweet, loving little cat  had done to be put on the street. 

Over the 12 or so years we had her, she lived with us, for a time with our daughter and was a very brave and resilient Hurricane Katrina evacuee. She easily adapted to the nomadic lifestyle we endured in the months following the hurricane. She was such a loved member of the family that she more or less traveled back and forth staying with our daughter, or us as circumstances dictated. She was happy where ever she was and wrapped us around her paw with her shy, sweet personality and little sounds that seemed to say, "I love you guys". 

We will not forget the way she loved to have her butt patted and her ears rubbed,  the way she sat on her favorite toy so her cat brothers and sisters wouldn't get it. The way she now and then managed to slip past us and get out the door, only to be terrified and howl til we came to look for her and bring her in. 

She warmed our hearts with the way she seemed to know she was rescued from a hard life and wanted us to know she was grateful by being the sweetest, most loving , and endearing little cat she could be. That was our girl. We miss her!

She was sent to sleep on Oct 5th after a struggle with intestinal cancer, she passed away peacefully with our daughter's arms around her. 

   IF IT SHOULD BE

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

You will be sad, I understand. 
Don't let your grief then stay your hand. 
For this day, more than all the rest, 
Your love for me must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years. 
What is to come can hold no fears. 
You'd not want me to suffer so; 
The time has come please let me go.

Take me where my need they'll tend, 
And please stay with me till the end. 
Hold me firm and speak to me, 
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time that you will see 
The kindness that you did for me. 
Although my tail its last has waved, 
From pain and suffering I've been saved.

Please do not grieve it must be you 
Who had this painful thing to do. 
We've been so close, we two, these years; 
Don't let your heart hold back its tears.

- Anonymous -