Farewell Rosie.....Thank You For a Furry Friendship We Won't Soon Forget

I hope you'll all humour me for a few moments whilst I take some time to remember a very special "furry" friend of Gareth's and mine. It's taken me a couple of days to post about it because I am so emotional and had to keep stopping mid-way through writing this to go in search of tissues. But I think I'm ready to share this.

Stephanie recently let us know that Rosie had passed on. Her internal organs were begining to fail and as a result her belly filled with blood. So they decided to let her go as gently and peacefully as they could.

Rosie, whom Gareth and I also fondly referred to as "Her Majesty" was the cat in residence at a home I rented whilst living in Cape Elizabeth. Rosie was a playful ginger and white long-haired part Maine Coone who belonged to Stephanie, the lady from whom we rented. We all shared the home peacefully and the bond between Rosie and especially Gareth was very special. But then Gareth has this way with cats. Even the most reluctant, people-shy cats will automatically without a second thought, approach Gareth and become best of friends with him. And thus it was Gareth whom was Rosie's buddy when he was in town from the UK.

Being that Gareth was back in the UK so frequently, Rosie and I became quite close in no time. However, when Gareth was back home with me she showed where her true affections were. And when Gareth had to leave to go back to the UK she would almost mourn his departure just as much as I would. We'd both sit in the front room and cry. She would however always seem to sense I was lost without my best friend, and usually for a few days after he'd go back to the UK each time, she'd spend most of her time with me. She did however seek out the T-shirts that Gareth would leave behind for me, spritzed with one of my favourite colognes of his and snuggle herself against them for a time. She used to walk around the 2nd floor of the home, which was where Gareth and I resided, and "look" for him. She'd often look at me with a questioning expression on her face as if to ask me; "So what have you done with the lovely English bloke that lavished scritches and scratches and pats and snuggles on me?"

Rosie had tons of personality. She could be playful and dance for you....well if the price was right, usually a piece of fresh cooked chicken.......

Or she could be the ultimate diva and not move a muscle, no matter what you enticed her with....

And like all cats, when she was bad.......

She was very very bad!

But then who can resist the wiles of a cat, especially a cat as cute, soft and adorable as Rosie. She could be the ultimate flirt when she wanted.

She did have quite the mischevious streak sometimes too. I often slept with my door closed and Rosie would make her way upstairs to wake me up in the mornings. She felt I had slept an appropriate amount of time and I needed to GET UP! This happened whether Gareth was home or not. And should I not heed her repeated calls and scratches at my door, she'd become irritated with me and sometimes would pee in my shower. Awww well, at least she did it in the shower and no where else. None the less, she had quite a way of making her feelings known.

We miss her dreadfully and we're both saddened that she no longer graces the little cape home nestled not far from the sea. And we know that Stephanie must be heartbroken as well and mourning the loss of a very long time companion. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to her.

We also want to thank her for sharing such a special little furry companion with us. Cats come into your home and your heart in a unique and sometimes not well understood manner and they leave everlasting paw prints there. And Rosie definitely left her mark on both Gareth and my hearts.

Sleep well Rosie. Sleep sweetly and peacefully.