1990 - 1999

Black Cat was left behind by the same owner who abandoned Eddie and Lizzie when she packed up and moved out of state.  Black Cat, of course, permanently set up residence at our place when she found that not only was she being fed well, but she was loved by humans as never before.  After we moved to our present home on the property, Black Cat began "hanging out" at Rodger's nursery.  She loved to ride on Rodger's lap as he drove the tractor; many times she would enjoy just riding and sleeping in the pick-up truck as Rodger made his rounds around the nursery property.  She had a permanent limp from a previous leg injury, and many times projected a 'poor little ol' me' persona - at least until she spied something she wanted to chase.  The handicap suddenly disappeared as she whizzed past everything in her path in the frenzied scurry after her hapless prey, which she never actually caught.  In the mornings she usually would be waiting for Rodger in one of the greenhouses, sound asleep, until she would hear his voice - then she'd jump up and hop from table to table until she reached him so he could pick her up and bestow on her that much-needed love.  Then as he would go from table to table, checking his plants, she'd follow close behind, once again hopping from table to table to keep up with affectionate kitty and lovingly greeted everyone who came by  -- but she adored Rodger, and she loved being at the nursery with him.   She loved me, too, but not quite in the way she did Rodger.  Black Cat was not totally without flaws, however, in that she and Eddie would frequently have spats with each other; some of their fights could be ferocious. We had her just eight years before her life was cut short in a freak accident.  Rodger and I grieve for our Black One and miss her terribly--and we always will.  We console ourselves with the fact that she's waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge - and have no doubt that she has a John Deere tractor there for her to ride on. `