Never thought it would really happen.....

I talked to my dad on the phone yesterday. That, in itself, is not the shocking news, but rather what he had to tell me.

My dear, sweet, sixteen-year old cat passed away. Wally is gone.

The loving, sweet little furball that has been with me my entire adult life is gone. The kitty that has seen me through the best and worst times of my life. The little guy with the club foot that would yowl if he got up on a high table that he couldn't get down from. The kitty that would get lost in the dark in the house and meow indignantly from a corner. The lap-warmer that LOVED to be petted and purred so loudly he rumbled. The little guy that was ALWAYS coughing up disgusting hairballs and leaving white fur all over the place. The best cat in the world. Without a doubt, the most endearing and biggest personality-having cat of all. The one who was more like a dog than a cat, as he would follow you from room to room and beg for treats and attention. The one Glynn called, "my dog Wally". The one who could somehow look down his nose at you in such a regal manner that Karis nicknamed him, "Sir Walter Wally." The cat that all kids loved, especially Jenna and Brady (although he didn't love them back so much). My dad's best buddy, and mine too. The cat that would stay up late and study with me through high school, college, dental school and residency, and when he thought I needed a break, would come and sit on my books and look at me as if to say, "Enough already. Just give it a rest, woman." The one that would come hobbling in the room the minute I walked through the door to greet me with a big meow-ow-ow. The one who would talk to me on the phone. The little guy that walked along the walls as if he needed a guide. The one that would play up his limp whenever we had company, when in real life he could scoot as fast as any other cat could run. The kitty who never let his disability get the best of him, who would stand up on his hind legs and bat at me with his club foot to get my attention. Who would never let you read a newspaper because THAT'S the moment he needed you to pay attention to him.

The best cat in the world. My little Wally is gone. I never thought it would really happen. I always thought he'd live forever, kinda like some weird magical-type thing where he would be with me my entire life. God knows he's been there through the biggest part of it.

Today is a sad day. Even though Wally hasn't lived with me for the past almost four years, (we thought the move would be too tough on him), he's never stopped being my kitty, although my dad would disagree. I loved going to visit my parents because I got the added bonus of spending time with my little Wally-walls.

I miss him. I keep breaking out in tears for the loss of this incredible little creature. He will always have a special place in my heart, and there is not a cat in the WORLD who could ever take his place.

I have this special thought that he and Grandma are up in heaven together, sitting in her lap in a comfy chair in the sun. She loved him too. I like to think they're reunited now.

That's all I can do for now.