Romeo Remembered

Up until now I have been unable to write anything about Romeo without crying, and since I now finally have pictures, I can put up a proper post.

On Saturday as Joli and I were getting ready to fly to Oregon, I noticed that our first baby, Romeo, was having a really hard time breathing. I thought maybe he had been running around outside and needed some water. When that didn't work I asked Joe to give him some love. As soon as Joe looked at him he thought maybe Romeo had a punctured lung. So I ran down and got the cat carrier and Joe rushed him to the Vet. Once they got him stabalized, they ran some tests only to discover that Romeo had a serious condition in which his lung were filling up with fluid. They said they could drain his lungs but it would only be a matter of time before they would fill up again and it was a very expensive procedure, one in which we did not have the money for. So sadly Joe called us as we were getting on our plane to tell us that he had said goodbye to Romeo and they were putting him down.

Romeo was an amazing first pet. He was so loyal, and I often thought of him as our little dog. He would follow us around and come get petted when Joe came home. Since we moved into our new house he had begun keeping me company while I hung laundry in the backyard, and I had started to enjoy having him run down the stairs behind me. Romeo was only five years old. Joe brought him home from the pet store shortly after we had got together, because someone had dumped him on the front steps of the store. At the time Romeo was definitely too small to be away from his mommy, and enjoyed sleeping in Joe's armpit because it was just his size! Before too long he had grown into this giant cat that wouldn't stop eating!

About four months later Sampson showed up on our doorstep, and although it took a few days, once they got used to each other Sampson and Romeo were like long lost brothers. We often joked about them being gay because they would curl up together so close that if they weren't black and white we would never have been able to tell who was who!
We love our kitties so much and we are so sad to have lost one of them. We no longer have the pepper for the salt or the peanut butter for the jelly, and there just seems to be a hole there. My heart is also breaking for Sampson, who I know whole heartedly loved his brother and I can only guess is at a loss without him. I remind Joe every time I talk to him to hug Sampson, and although we are having a good time, I still can't help but be anxious to go home and hug him myself.

I am not sure how Joli is going to do when she discovers that Romeo is no longer there either. Although we all love Sampson, Romeo was the kitty that truely loved Joli even though he tried to pretend he didn't. Romeo would let Joli crawl all over him, and just hug him and kiss him and when he had had enough would get up and go somewhere else. Even now when Joli sees a picture of Romeo she says "My Kitty" and kisses the screen, which of course makes the tears well up all over again to think of how Joli will miss him too. Our whole family has a pain in our hearts where Romeo once was.

Romeo was my first baby, and I can only hope that he's looking down and knows that even though I wasn't there in those last few moments I still loved him so much!

I love you Romeo!! Rest in Peace! June 1, 2003 - July 26, 2008