You Just Never Know What's Around the Corner ...

Sometimes it's something super good. Sometimes not so good.

I was driving home from Target, chatting with Tracy on the phone about plans for an upcoming party. There was a knock on the door at home. I heard Tracy say, "Oh. Okay. Thank you." He then explained that someone said our cat was probably hit by a car. I held my breath - hoping she was mistaken, hoping it wasn't our cat or if it was one of our cats, he would be alright. Tracy quickly said, "It's Toby. No, wait. I don't think it's our cat." He found a flashlight and then - after what seemed like a million years said, "Glenda, I'm so sorry. It's Toby."

Toby came into my life by chance. My roommate's boyfriend had given him to her, but she really didn't want another cat. At that point, Toby became mine. He was funny as hell from the beginning! The silly cat loved nothing more than fresh bread. He would cut into and devour half a loaf in one sitting. He "talked" in a sing song meow just like his fellow cat roomie, Stupid. It was hysterical. Toby was best known for his antics. He liked to give me "gifts". He usually timed these gifts when Tracy was out of town. One day it was a dead blue jay in the dining room. Another time, a lovely rat in the laundry room. Toby never ate those animals, but he must have been so proud of himself when he actually killed one! Before we welcomed dogs into our home, Toby was mostly an inside cat. In the wee hours of the night, he would gain insurmountable pleasure by staring at one of us while we slept. He would stare and hold his little paw just centimeters from your nose, slowly moving it forward until, at last, he would lightly tap your nose. It was so annoying, yet extremely funny. Neither one of us could be mad at the dumb cat because he was so dang strange!! Most recently, Toby learned how to knock. A real, bonafide knock on the door. I don't know how he did it, but it would crack me up!

Losing Toby is like losing a member of my family. Toby loved to play it cool, but when I'd swoop him up in my arms and nuzzle his little face, his whole body would melt into me. He loved us so much. Every baby was welcome to pull his tail. When Abby was a baby, he would actually flop on the floor and allow her to dig her little hands into his belly.

Oh Toby! You were a wonderful cat. I'm so happy you spent nearly 16 years with me. I don't want to go to sleep tonight knowing that I won't have my kitty to greet me in the morning.

And let's not forget Opus. Opus has never known life without Toby. I think ... I think I'm just going to go cry again.

RIP Toby Cat