Thank You Obi

It is difficult to measure the presence that a being has in our lives, today one left our physical world … a wonder, a caring, a friend, and beautiful cat, Obi.

Obi entered my life 15 years ago, he and his brothers lived with Connie. I would visit and watch him grow, play, be a sentry, and explore the world. Nine years ago I would share a home with him up until today. These last two months he struggled through sickness, IV fluids, and medications. He was courageous, loving his treats, and in moments could deeply connect with his tired eyes.

Obi found his way into my creations, twice as the center piece, once with his two brothers curled asleep on a bed floating in a dream. I will always remember him, sleeping coiled like a cinnamon roll, greeting me at the door with his bird-like chirps, and his quirky playful way of being … rolling on gravel, drinking from sprinklers, chasing a ball bouncing down a stairway or spinning on his tail to catch an elusive tiny beam of light.

Thank you Obi, from the first to the last moment you shared a place in my world. Thank you for places you brought me. Thank you for the joy and love you added when I least expected. And thank you for your inspiration without an intention to collaborate with my creating. I will miss your little chirp, when I called you a little bird, and hold the memory … as Hope is The Thing With Feathers (by Emily Dickinson) or a Thing With Fur.