Something I never wanted to do, but knew one day I would. Writing something for my best friend.....Gatsby. He passed away on August 18, 2002 after 14 years as my buddy. I'm having trouble writing this one.....a little more than the one I wrote for Milo. Writing this for Gat means I'm closing a 14 year chapter of my life. Gatsby came into my life as he left it, by strange circumstances. The end of Summer, 1988...... first Summer out of high school, new girlfriend, new job, new life. Nothing out of the ordinary until one day in late August I couldn't sleep late because of some poor cat just crying like crazy. I thought maybe there was an injured cat nearby, didn't really think much of it. The meowing was getting to the point of intolerable so I decided to get up and close my bedroom window. That was when our paths joined. There he was, a tiny, dirty, lonely kitten, sitting in our flower bed in the back yard. That alone was strange being that our fence was about 6 feet high with no space underneath. Him being so small and the fence being so high, I figured someone had to toss him over or something. Hell, now that I think about it, who cares how he got over?!?! That became one of the important parts of my life. I threw on some clothes and ran out to check out the situation..... He just kept meowing, looking at me. He never ran, much less moved from his spot even though this 6'3" creature was coming toward him. I couldn't help but pick him up. That was when he finally stopped crying. He was dirty, full of fleas, underfed, and obviously not well taken care of. My girlfriend, at the time, Monica and I, got some flea shampoo and a flea collar. We spent an hour or so bathing him and showing him the attention he deserved. He had no problems with that. The way he fit in my hands showed me that he was very, very young. The vet I took him to said he had to be about 4 weeks old. I knew that was pretty young, but there were no special instructions for feeding him, just some soft canned food for a month or so, then on to Kitten Chow. That was the very beginning of 14 years of unconditional love from him. My mom wasn't too keen on cats, so I couldn't bring him in the house. I made him a nice bed and kept him in an out-of-the-way part of the garage. For about 3 or 4 months, he wouldn't let me go to bed at a decent time. Whenever I called it a night, I would make sure he was in the garage and closed everything up, then sat with him for about a half hour or until he dozed off. I would lay him in his bed thinking all is well, but it never failed, he would start crying the moment I went into the house....... crying verrrrry loud.....hehe.... So there I was, back out by him for another half hour or so. I didn't mind at all. This little guy was my first pet so to speak. I learned alot by having him in my life, such as the word "pet" is an understatement. He became my friend. I could go on and write a book with the memories he has given me, but who has the time to read ALL of it? hehe..... besides, I like the idea of keeping most of those parts to myself. So many things about him were unique. He used to travel with me and didn't seem to mind. We moved to Colorado in October of '89 and he just loved my old Camaro. He sat on either the dash or in back on the deck between the speakers, just enjoying the sun and scenery. He even liked coffee.....strange, huh? My dad used to do lots of handy-man stuff in the garage on weekends. He had his coffee to start him off. Leaving coffee undattended was nothing less than temptation for Gatsby. He used to hop up on the work bench when my dad wasn't looking, and help himself to some caffeine. He really liked my dad. The only one to get Gat's to meow on command was my dad. After all, it was dad that came up with the name. He used to say "Gaaaat...." in a certain tone that Gat would respond to. Even after many years of no contact, it would take only one "Gaaaat" to get him to come out when my parents visited. Speaking of parents, my mom grew to like him. The only cat she ever liked. Looks like he became part of the family, ya think? That was confirmed when my sister Teri and her family came to visit. After we moved back to Texas from Colorado and back home with the parents, he was allowed indoors. Now was his chance to soak up some more attention with more people coming......hehe.... Sure enough, the first night my sister and her family were there, he climbed into bed with her and her husband and snuggled her. That only led to her adoring him too. Some time later, my other sister, Wendy, and her family came for a visit too. Well, once again, he got tons of attention. My nephew was young at the time, but wanted to play with the kitty.....all the time. Gat never really spent time around kids, so this was going to be interesting. My nephew, Adam, used to start out giving a hug to Gat, then stand up but not let go. So there was Gat in a head lock, but not freaking out. He would wait for his chance and slip out then take off to who knows where...... I'm still trying to find a way to keep this short of epic, but it's so hard. He was such an important part of my life. He was a family member, he was my best friend. I still have trouble sleeping in bed, because he used to hop right up and take over my pillow or sleep half on my head. His unconditional love is so very much missed. I'm just glad my wife got a chance to have him in her life too. He loved her just as much. Milo Jr. is still lost without him. The two of them got very close and used to snuggle on the couch. They even bathed eachother. Onyx isn't the same but took on some of Gat's habits, like sleeping on the pillows. Gat kept up with the quicker, more feisty Onyx. They all used to play like crazy. Gat never really slowed down much. That is why I have trouble still, accepting him not being here. Even the day he died, he was fine, laying in the sun. My sister, Teri, and her family came for a visit to check out our place and just spend some time. Of course, Gat loved the attention and remembered them well. So there we are hangin out, shootin the breeze. Gat is normal. He walks over to the patio door, looks outside and falls over into a seizure. My wife, scared, gets me to come to the living room and help Gat. I got scared, but kept my head.....this is my buddy after all. I tried to open his airway because he was choking or so it sounded. Then he stopped breathing.....right there in my hands. I pressed his ribs in over and over, got him breathing again, but he stopped about the time I put my head to his chest to hear a heartbeat. At that point, his heart stopped, while my wife, Jackie was on the phone with the Emergency Vet Clnic. I got it to beat again, but not for very long. I felt him slip away. I picked him up and just held him and to feel the last of his warmth. All I could say to my wife is "He is not here anymore." We didn't quite give up yet. We still took him to the Clinic, but it was just too late. The vet checked his heart and told me "there's nothing." That was like an arrow through my heart. That was the hardest thing I had to go through. I keep hearing the same thing, "better that he went quick and didn't suffer." It just doesn't seem to ease anything. I believe he shouldn't have gone at all. He was 14, but not showing it. He was healthy, vibrant, loving, and still full of vigor. I guess I just have to find a way to let myself heal. This page is a huge part of it. To Gatsby: I'm gonna miss you big guy. You won't be alone, you've got Milo, Sr. You are forever in my memories. Thank you for the last 14 years. Take whatever pillow you want, beat up your favorite toy, eat all the 9 Lives chopped steak 'n' gravy you like. Onyx and Milo, Jr. are taking good care of us. Milo is giving me the licks that he gave you. You taught them well. I love ya buddy.