Bo's Journey and Memoirs
.....as written by Bo and his mom

Me and my human mom could nebber forget my earthy journey--always somtin reminds us of each odder.....so, I guess I will start by saying membering my birtday is April 30,1983 and I was borned in Kentucky. Oh, yeah, it's me Bo doing da talkin here.

This is a picture of me with my kitty mom Boots and
my brodders and sissy's. We was so little here, dos
steps seemed like mountains ta us and my mom Boots
had da watch us real close so we wodda fall ya know!
I'm da second one from...oh, left if ya didn't guess.

This is me again with my brodders and sissers and my
mom, Boots watchin us close again. Yup, that's me
the one in da front wide awake when we possed to
be takin a nap I guess.

Well, dats the beginn of my wondaful journey and I gonna let my human mom now have her turn. She was da best human mom and always taked real good care a me ya know.

As Bo's brothers and sisters began to wean and break away from their mother, Bo just wasn't making the transition very well. He did not accept milk or kitty food like the others so I ended up making him scrambled eggs. Yes, as you can guess Bo became spoiled from the start and began wrapping me around his paws even then. He was the runt of the litter and in no time we decided to keep him. One of Bo's first nicknames was "Baby Boy". In no time he became a robust, stocky boy so that name no longer fit.

Oh, and member mom to tell them that my favorite place to sleep when I was a small boy was in one side of the bookcase headboard of your bed. I was so little and could snuggle up in there real good!

In the next few years we had moved around quite a bit but Bo always took that in stride. We moved to New York where our babies had a lot of fun in the two story house we had chasing each other around up and down the stairs. But come bedtime if my bedroom door was not open for Bo to settle down, the scratching began. Soon came another move to North Carolina and a smaller house so instead of hearing paws beating up and down the stairs, I would see Bo on top of the refrigerator or on the shelves we had in the living room. By this time Bo was about 3 years old and our final move to Indiana was up and coming. It was after this move that my bonding with Bo began to become so much stronger. Many changes were occurring in my life--divorce, children leaving, job loss and through it all Bo was always the constant in my life. Bo was so gentle and loving and at times I viewed him to be more human and understanding than a lot of people in my life. Bo slept with me each night right beside my head and woke me each morning with kitty kisses.

Oh, I member those belly rubs I used to get every night before sleepin---I would jus roll over and purr til I went ta sleep. But even 'for that I had this finger mousie--look kinda like that one above--that my mom would put on her finger and just play with me for a while. If I wasn too tired I sometimes would jump up in da air to get it.

Bo loved everyone and if you were a friend of mine, you would quickly become a friend of Bo's. He would sit a lot on the top of the couch and if you sat there and Bo liked you, he'd tap you on the head with his paw. Bo never talked much but I could always tell right away how Bo was doing by looking into his loving eyes. He had so many expressions. Another favorite toy of Bo's was a kitty tease and I'd have to play with him each morning before I left for work and when I'd come home at night. He would go over to where I kept the kitty tease and sit there looking up at me with those eyes until we played.

Boy, dat kinda looks like me, don't it? Well, I put dis out here so my mom didn't
forget to tell ya how much I like chasin shadows. It was so fun when she would
wave anything around to make a shadow and I just go off chasin it thinkin I
could get it. Sometimes she usa shine a flashlight on the floor all around and
up and down and I'd just run afer it.

One of my fondest nicknames for Bo was "Sweetie", I guess maybe you can tell by now why. He was the Sweetheart of my life. Bo seemed to know that too because there were times when he'd be stubborn and not come when I called him. All I'd have to do then was chant "Sweetie, Sweetie," a couple of times and he'd come. I also called him "Mommy's Boy" a lot especially at times when I knew he didn't feel good or I was going through a rough time. It was an endearing name for him.

Yup, you guessed it---this is me taking care of these new baby
kitties my kitty mom, Boots had. She was tired I guess and
wanted some time to herself so when these babies would
cry, I jus couldn't stan it so I'd go in there and lay with em.
Wasn't I such a good big brodder? But when they start
bitin on me or somethin I just haffa get up and out of there
quick!! I think they need their mom then to eat or somethin.

My friend and I used to play scrabble a lot and Bo being
the personable baby he was, always had to be near us.
This is him with his eye on us laying in the lid of the scrabble
box. He would just curl up there as long as we played and
sometimes he'd take a notion to walk across the board being
oh, so careful not to mess up our game.

All too soon Bo's golden years crept up on us and for a long time Bo kept pretty much the same pace in his life despite the realities of age related illnesses. Bo was a transient diabetic for the last two years of his life and fought a pancreatic disorder that we kept under control really well with daily enzyme replacement in his food. Even though Bo developed kidney disease, with my wonderful veterinarians help we were able to sustain and maintain the best quality function for Bo for a long time. Two months before I lost Bo, he once again successfully fought a serious liver disorder. Unfortunately as Bo began to lose weight rapidly and eat less and less, my vet began to suspect other causes. Two weeks before I lost Bo my vet discovered a tumor somewhere in Bo's intestines that was presumed to be cancer. Given Bo's weakness and unwillingness to eat, I realized that the strongest test of my love for Bo was soon to come. When I no longer saw the desire to fight in my baby's eyes, I knew that I must let him go to where he could once again be strong and whole. That dreadful day came on October 12, 1998 and as I held Bo and told him how much I loved him, he crossed over to Rainbow Bridge.

As I go through each day without Bo, I find myself at the oddest times remembering so many of the special times we shared together. Sometimes a special song will be playing or I will pass an aisle in the grocery store. I will always remember Bo watching out the window for me everyday as I came home from work. He's cock his head when the car pulled in and then dart to the door. As soon as I'd get in I'd pick him up and he would place two paws on my shoulders and hug me, then place scratchy kitty kisses all over my face. I'll remember the belly rubs, the purrs, hours of bird watching with him, the smell of his fur but most of all I will remember and cherish the special bond we had with each other.

Echo's mom wrote--I believe that echo would be pleased for me to offer her award to you for Bo. your love is so very evident in your work. Thank you so much Echo and mom. Go visit Echo, her mom has created a lovely site.

I chose to put the above award on this page because Bo has always been "The Wind Beneath My Wings". Even tho Bo's physical journey here with me has ended, he is still very much a part of everything I do and feel. And now Bo has become my special angel and comfort.

Only after speaking to Bo through an animal communicator could I put this poem on his page. Bo has let me know that he is okay and has no bad feelings about his journey to Rainbows Bridge.

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
and pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this, the last battle, can't be won.
You will be sad--I understand,
Don't let your grief then stay your hand,
For this day, more than all the rest,
Your love and friendship stand the test.
We've had so many happy years,
What is to come can hold no fears,
You'd not want me to suffer,
so when the time comes, please let me go.
I know in time you too will see
It is a kindness you do to me,
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I've been saved.
Don't grieve that it should be you,
Who has to decide this thing to do.
We've been so close, we two these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Take time to form a bond with a special four-legged friend. The money or time you spend will be nothing compared to what you are given in return.