My Little Man


(I entered the above picture into the literary magazine last semester and it got put in. I’m so glad now that tribute to him will be in the Lanthorn Literary Magazine history books for the rest of time.)



My favorite cat and first love of my life, Pumpkin, had to be put to sleep this morning.

I am at peace in a way because he was 15 years old (or would have been, in April) and had been on somewhat of a downhill slope for the last few years of his life. He had trouble keeping weight on due to some irritable bowel issues but he was happy even in the last few months. My mom was having to feed him constantly (she did a fantastic job— always switching food brands, buying the most expensive, healthy, and tasty brands, making sure he got lots of fluids, etc.) just to keep anything in him but today he just couldn’t take any more of it.

I love him so much and I miss him already. Jeremy says he’s gonna miss him too. After all, he was the only kitty that would lay on Jeremy as if he’d known him forever.

He used to come find me in my room and lick my tears when I was crying (like when my grandfather died) as if he knew what was really going on. He would stick around and not even care if I cried all over him and got him wet.

I’ll miss being able to sling him over my shoulder and carry him around like a sack of potatoes. My other cats never liked to be held like that.

I’ll miss having to tell him not to lick plastic bags and having to shoo him off the table after he spots the dish of butter. I’ll miss having to guard my flowers for fear of him eating the heads and leaves for a mid-day snack.

I’ll even miss having to get out the bottle of treats every time I go into the bathroom because he would sleep behind the bathtub and come out every time he heard someone come in. (He was such a moocher.)

I guess this also means no more mouse (or mole) presents in my slippers…or on my bed…or by the front door. I’ll miss the perky, confident, and proud air that he had when he would run around the house with the little things dangling from his mouth. He was so silly.

I know sometimes people say they don’t think cats have souls but I’ve never been able to bring my self to agree. Maybe their final resting place isn’t the same place ours is but I just can’t believe that he was soul-less. He was too sweet, loveable, loving, and understanding for that.

I thank God for putting Pumpkin and my other cats into my life. They’re all such blessings. I think anyone who has animals that they love would feel the same way. I don’t regret forming a deep bond with my cat, knowing that it would have to end some day. I’ll always cherish the 15 years that we had together. The best years of my life were spent with Pumpkin following me around like a little lamb.

I’ll miss you sweet thing.


John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”