He was the most pathetic one at the humane society that day, 16 years ago, which was kinda why we picked him. He kept reaching his little feet though the cage and yelling at us accross the room.
He wasn't pretty, he was awkward. With huge ears and too long limbs, and a coat that was uneven and kind of like ostrich feathers-sticking out at odd angles. Who knows what had happened to his face.
A broken front fang and all his whiskers missing. Once we got to know him we figured he probably stuck his noggin in a transformer or something-he liked putting his face where a face should never go.
The whiskers came back, and the broken tooth was replaced with a big, shiny adult fang within months. And he became beautiful, although his summer coat was to remain a little awkward throughout his life and his ears stayed on the big side 
He was mostly white with tan cow-spots and had a bright pink nose and feetpads and the longest, most luxurious frond of a ridiculous tail ever.
Was he sweet? Not really. He liked me ok though-or seemed to anyway, and he loooved my h. He frightened most other people. He bit strange hands to the point of bleeding-even when they were trying to feed him turkey, and one of my friends needed an escort to our bathroom, in order to feel safe enough to pass through the hallway with him staring her down.
He was a natural talker, in a big way. So much so that, all subsequent kitties (he was our first) became talkative in our household in order to get their share of attention.
He's gone now. As of today. And even after witnessing his struggle this last while-i'm crushed. So glad he's at rest, devastated at his absence.
H and I were up till all hours talking about our little friend and the time in our lives when we got him. Who we were then and are now. So much has changed within and around us. And maybe I mourn the constancy of Roo's girly little pink nose-nestled among his fur and non-specific anger-because without it-i have to wonder who I am a little.
He was my grumpy little friend and I loved him. And I really hope he liked it here with us. I hope I was a friend to him and understood him and his needs as well as he seemed to understand mine. I hope my h is ok.
This cat (a birthday gift for ME who promptly bonded so deeply with my h that we just decided I was gonna need my own damn cat) was his daddy's boy from day 1. I've been holding it together the best I could for both of them during this struggle. H was AWESOME when we lost Roo's little sistercat 2 yrs back. She shared the deep bond with me and he (h) managed that situation so beautifully during a horrible time in our lives- and now I guess I'm collapsing just a little. I hope I did ok with all this. I hope I gave support to Roo and h without being too pushy-and I really really hope that Roo is glad to be at rest.
Thanks for reading if you did, I just have really been playing it cool to keep my vibe from freaking out that sick kitty and his man-father-and all the sadness has caught up.
Feels good to relax and exhale-feels horrible to face the incomplete menagerie in the house.
