In Memory of Spooky
We're sad to announce that Spooky, one of our two store cats, passed away unexpectedly on the morning of Wednesday, October 6, 2010. It was a quick and quiet passing; as best as we can tell, she had a heart attack.
Spooky came to us in October of 2005. She had been living (along with a few other, wilder strays) in a scrap heap behind a metal plant where I was working at the time. She would come out of hiding to eat whenever one of the employees left food for her. When the plant prepared to move to Wisconsin, we worried about our little feline urchin; since she was used to being fed, how would she survive?
Ken and I decided that we would take her in; she could stay at the shop. With the help of a sympathetic and amazing friend (Thanks, Julie!) I brought her back to the shop. (She refused to go in the cat carrier, but she did allow me to hold her most of the way; anyone who's met Spooky will know how amazing this is.)
Our other store cat, Lady Frieda Harris, was none too pleased to suddenly be sharing her space with the new arrival. The two never did become friends, but they did learn to tolerate each other; they each had their favorite places, and when their paths crossed they just sneered in passing.
Spooky could usually be found either curled up sleeping on 'the throne,' our big fancy chair (which she decided was hers) or relaxing on the computer where Ken rings up customers, snuggling up right next to the monitor and occasionally smacking Ken when he tried to use the keyboard. (She had Attitude with a capital A.) Now and then you might have seen her racing around the shop having an attack of the Crazies, or tossing and chasing a toy mouse.
In spite of her aloof appearance, sometimes-crabby nature and occasional nippiness, Spooky was a sweet little cat. She was always petite, perhaps in part because of her harsh former life. I'll remember the way she purred quietly when I scritched her head and nipped me very gently when she decided it was time for me to stop. (And anyone who has been in the shop with food will remember the way she'd sit by you and stare until she got a taste.)
Spooky was a beautiful, exotic-looking little thing whose grumpy behavior hid a secretly-sweet nature. She became very dear to us; I'm so glad we were able to rescue her from the scrap heap. We'll miss her greatly.
Our little Spooklet has returned to the arms of Bast; she's being cremated, and her ashes will continue her work of guarding the store. In her honor, go and hug your animal friends and your loved ones.
--Maria
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