It was just another day in the summer of 1985. The front door was open, the screen door closed. Then there was a cat there....paws on the screen, looking in and checking out the house. The screen door opened, and he walked in. He was not neutered and he had the scars that you'd expect to see. Asking around the neighborhood, everyone seemed to know him, but no one knew where he lived. My mom and dad got him neutered, vaccinated, got him a collar and a tag and let him go about his business figuring out that if he went "home", the humans would see the phone number and call. Never happened. He was extremely proud of his collar and tag.
He was named Roger Ramjet. Our hero. He was a friend to all, meaning he seemed to know everyone, including the possums and the raccoons, cats and dogs...you name it. It didn't take long to figure out that he must have been President of the local cat union. My mom and dad didn't know at the time where the meeting place was located, but they were certain he was leading the meetings. It was only a couple of years ago that we figured out that the local cat union meetings were being held at a local auto body shop the kitties could access down a cul-de-sac and through a fence. The kind man who owned the shop was feeding homeless and feral kitties for years. The kind man passed away recently and the shop is no more.
Roger hunted and brought back his bounty for the family. He would eat exactly half of a mouse and leave the other half on the doorstep. He always shared what he had. He loved milk more than anything in the world. Instead of calling him to come in at night, all mom would have to do is get the plastic milk jug and scratch her fingers on it. He'd come running. He'd join cereal time with the neighbor kids and walk into their houses to get in on the milk.
He loved playing in fall leaves.
Roger left us in the summer of 1990 after a battle with kidney disease. He was only with us 5 years, but his legacy has lasted forever. It was 4 months after Roger left that Maxfield showed up. We asked, did Roger send you? Yes, he did. Roger has been sending us lost, scared, starving and alone kitties ever since.
Forever Autumn
The summer sun is fading as the year grows old, and darker days are drawing near, the winter winds will be much colder, now you're not here.
I watch the birds fly south across the autumn sky, and one by one they disappear. I wish that I was flying with them, now you're not here
Like the sun through the trees you came to love me, like a leaf on a breeze you blew away
Through autumns golden gown we used to kick our way, you always loved this time of year, those fallen leaves lie undisturbed now, 'cause you're not here
Like the sun through the trees you came to love me, like a leaf on a breeze you blew away
A gentle rain falls softly on my weary eyes, as if to hide a lonely tear. My life will be forever autumn, 'cause you're not here
~Justin Hayward
