Goodbye to a friend

When I first created this site over a year ago I thought that I’d have much more content by now, and this entry certainly isn’t how I thought I’d restart this effort…but, life never really goes according to plan.

After one of the coldest, most extensive winters we’ve had in the last few years, everything is finally turning green, beginning to bloom, and the garden is starting to look like itself again. And while we’re talking about renewal, and getting excited about what’s to come - we’ve unfortunately had to face a reminder that renewal also has a counterpart.

Hombre showed up on a random afternoon in early February nine years ago - again, as we were coming out of winter into spring. He was one of the myriad of stray cats that inhabit the areas below our neighbor’s decks and their garden sheds, or make homes in the small, scrubby woodlots that surround our neighborhood. He was every bit a part of the back garden as the birds and other wildlife that inhabit it, as well as the plants and flowers that grow there. Unlike the other strays, he came back every day, and clearly intended to stay. As the saying goes, we didn’t adopt him - he adopted us.

In the years since he became part of the family, we bought the house outright and began dramatically transforming the back garden into what it looks like today. And Hombre was there every step of the way as the garden grew and evolved. While he was more than happy to become an indoor cat, he still loved to go outside, even more so if we were out there too. When he was younger he used to wander more often, but as he grew older he was content to stay within the general bounds of our backyard, or at least within eyesight.

Hombre was boisterous yet calm, full of life and love, and ever curious. He was a steadfast companion and always seemingly grateful to have found a home with us, and he absolutely loved spending time in the garden - perhaps more than we do. Other than occasionally chasing a mouse or vole (or, at least once, a garter snake), he rarely did harm - preferring to watch birds rather than chase them, and paying no mind to larger animals like rabbits or squirrels. All he really wanted was to spend some time in the sun, preferably alongside our other cats and with his favorite humans.

Yesterday was a beautiful spring day - sunny and in the 70’s - and my partner was doing some garden work outside while the cats accompanied her. I was stuck in my office, but hoped that I’d be able to knock off early to get out there and join her. I had a break between calls, and came out to find Hombre in the hallway, clearly in distress. At first I thought (and hoped) he might have just eaten too much grass, or at worst been stung by a bee. Unfortunately it was more severe than that, and we took him to the vet only to discover that he was suffering from heart failure and we were not going to be able to bring him home again.

(Ironic, for an animal who had such a large heart.)

For anyone who has ever lost a pet…you know this feeling. It can’t be fixed and you just have to live with it. And you do, and you get by - but it hurts…a lot

In the coming weeks we’ll spread his ashes in the back garden - perhaps we’ll add a memorial of some sort some day - who knows. And there’s no shortage of stray cats that will show up on the back deck looking for food and shelter - but, Hombre is one garden helper that will never be replaced.

We’re going to miss you, little man. You were unique, and a true friend. Not just a good boy…the very best.