Winston

Winston ( 1987-2/16/2007) & Chesterfield (1988 -)

Our beloved Winston has pasted away. While it was expected, due to extreme old age and illness, it was still very sad for our family. He was with us for almost 20 years.

We got Winston in the spring of 1988. He came from a local animal shelter where he had been born. Winston was an important member of our family. He was the first vestage of my adult life beyond college. He was a real lover. People who thought they didn't like cats considered changing their minds after they held him.

Winston gave me something to love, to nurture and take care of. When it took a long time us a long time to become pregnant, Winston helped fill the void I felt. He and Chesterfield were our "children" for us for a while. When each of our children arrived, Winston welcomed them and helped keep a watch for them. He knew they were part of our family, too.

Winston was a caring and thankful kitty. He would make a point of greeting you even if he had to wake up to do it. He was also very careful to be an equal opportunity pet, making sure everyone, family or not, got a chance at some lovin', if they wanted it. His wonderful purr could be heard across the room.

We have been amazed at how long we had him. He has been less than well since the late summer. We began to check that he still had a quality of life each day. We expected to wake up or come home from work/school and find him gone. We had worried that he would die during the big storms, or that the end would be awful and tramatic. Thankfully, it was none of those things. The kids and I had enjoyed going to a baking class and a Make & Take at Archivers earlier in the day. When we came home, it was clear that Winston had been waiting for us, hanging on, just barely. We got to sit with him for an hour or so while he slipped away. By that time he had mostly lost muscle control. He managed a few weak meows and looks of love. Then, being warmed by our love and ourselves, he left us. He leaves behind special memories and a place in my heart that cannot be filled by another. We now have to find a way to help Chesterfield understand why her best friend is not there to snuggle with her.