The year was 1992 and I had just made a life changing decision - to leave my husband of 5 years, who was not a cat lover, by the way. A friend of mine had a beautiful Calico female she had just brought into her home who had a litter of kittens. I usually visited her at least a few times a week, and one tiny little kitten with the sweetest little peach face kept finding her way upon my lap. You know those tiny little kitten claws really work well. Finally after several weeks, my friend informed me that the mother had stopped nursing the kittens and wanted nothing to do with them. They were all of almost 6 weeks old. My friend suggested I take a black male because I had a similar cat earlier and I love solid black cats. I kept thinking about that little peach face that never let me leave her house without saying 'Hello' and stealing a few minutes of play. My friend said 'she is the runt of the litter'. I had always only called her 'baby' because she was so small and fit in my hand and had such a small little 'meow'. I decided to take her home with me right then. I needed to christen the new town home anyway and I was lonely in the evenings. I scooped her up, put her in my purse and away we went. Baby Marie(name from my paternal grandmother), as she came to be known, never looked back. Through moves that took us to 5 states and several homes; some where she was an 'illegal alien' and never hid of course, she became the best friend I've ever had. She loved riding in the car (never in a carrier), grilling in the back yard, shoes and traveling. Baby Cakes (aka. Schookems) never met a stranger in her life. Every vet that ever seen her claimed their jobs would be so easy if every cat were like her. People who did not like cats or even animals - they all loved Baby. Of course, we had a few bad times and I know I made mistakes, but seriously I can not even remember them now. After 17 years and almost 2 months of being my companion; Baby was battling Kidney disease and I and her family of 3 brothers, 2 sisters and Dad, could not bear to see her become a mere shadow of the beautiful lively girl she had always been. She wanted to stay forever I think, however she went to sleep peacefully and I will keep her ashes with me the rest of my life. It is amazing to me how someone who never weighed more than 8 pounds in her life could leave such a huge void in any ones life. But she surely has for me.
Baby Marie and I would like to thank the staff and veterinarian's of Orchard Park Animal Hospital in White House TN, The Animal Hospital in Bowling Green, KY. and Gateway Animal Hospital in St. Albans, WV
Rest in peace my dear friend,
Love from your Mom (Shelly)