No Recipes Today!

Yesterday was a tough day for my family. My wife’s kitty was laid to rest after more than 20 years with my wife. Growing up in a dog-loving household, it was surprising to me to discover how attached I had become to her cat, Taffy. I can remember when we got married we had a discussion, although short lived, about whether the cat would come to live with us or stay at home with her parents. That became my first dose of the reality of married “compromise” and on how to properly lose a discussion with my wife.

Taffy was a great cat that ruled our household. From the good morning meows to the surprising times she would just crawl up and snuggle with you. She taught me a lot of fun stuff, like where to scratch her ears and just how full her water dish should be (because ¾ full is not enough). She also taught me how different cats truly are from dogs. I mean when you look at a dog and say, “Get off the couch,” man, they go running; however, a cat, well, she’ll just look at you as if to say, “I’ll move when I am damn well ready; this is MY couch!”

Taffy never liked riding in cars and didn’t care to share her house with much of anyone else. The dogs kept their distance, with only the occasional sniff here and there. I remember bringing our German Shepherd home that first day and it immediately being belted in the head by Taffy. Taffy made a lot of adjustments to living with dogs and new family members, all of which she dealt with well. She had a wonderful life and could not have been more loved in any other household.

The things I’ll miss the most are the good morning greetings. Every morning she would come meow at me to let me know she was there and hungry. I’ll miss her snuggling at my feet while I was working on my computer and the random pawing at my leg to let me know that she wanted to be petted. I’ll miss her ability to snuggle like no other animal I have ever had the joy of living with. And I’ll miss how happy she made my wife.

My wife enjoyed Taffy for over 20 years, and Taffy had been her best friend since she was a little girl. It really breaks her heart walking through the house and her kitty not being there now. I know with all my heart that Taffy is in a better place and at peace. I hope she always knows how much she touched our hearts and how much she will be missed.

Last night there where no fun meals cooked. We just enjoyed a few martinis and desserts, while spending time together with our dogs.

It’s surprising, still, to me that I could of grown so attached to Taffy. Pets don’t live nearly long enough to use up all the love we have for them. Do me a favor and snuggle up to your pets tonight and truly appreciate them for the love they provide today.