Tiberius: March? 1992 - November 17, 2005
I have sent you on a journey to a land free from pain, not because I did not love you, but because I loved you too much to force you to stay.
In 1993 I moved to Illinois to start graduate school at Northwestern. I needed critter companionship so I went to the local animal shelter C.A.R.E to adopt a cat. In September 1993 I brought home two kitties who were about 1.5 years old, a boy and a girl. The boy I named Tiberius for James T. Kirk. Tiberius is the first boy kitty I ever adopted, my boy.
I had Tiberius for over 12 years. For 12+ years I got to hear his purr, dig my fingers into his thick rich fur, touch those wonderful big paws, but best of all hold him... and boy did he love to be held and cuddled. I will never get to say his name to him again; it was such a joy just to say his name to him. He wasn't all light and goodness; he could be a mean kitty at times. He growled and hissed and smacked at both people and other critters but he is MY BOY and I love everything about him even his temper. He was my dear friend for over 12 years.
I wonder sometimes about what our kitties looked like as babies, I never adopted a baby kitten before. I imagine Tiberius was a soft round little mewling ball of white with black spots and lots of attitude. Where was he born and why were he and his sister abandoned? At least once we found each other he had a forever loving home with me.
He is:
Tiberius, My Boy, Mister Kitty, Mister Tiberius, Ti, Tiber, my water kitty, Ti Ti, pizza face kitty, my cow boy, bowl full of kitty, devil cat, my little man, handsome, pretty, belly boy, jelly belly boy, kitty under foot, helper kitty, melty kitty, dog cat, Mister Bi-polar, my shadow dancer.
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Dear Mister Tiberius,
I miss you my sweet boy, my first boy. I miss holding you and hearing you purr when I say you name. I miss your big paws and thick fur so thick I can bury my fingers in it. I miss giving you a good all over body scritchen. I miss your nose that seems to change color from white to dark pink. I miss petting your head and you meeting my hand. I miss you flopping on your side in the basement and "barking" for attention with all the cuteness that is you. I miss seeing you waiting for me when I get out of the shower. I miss your company and your companionship. I miss seeing you every morning and every night and being amazed that such a little critter can love me so much. I miss giving you a kiss and I miss the funny little mouth noises you make when you are really really happy. Most importantly... I really miss you.
I love you Tiberius. Some day when I am old and grey and I pass on I will meet you at the bridge and I will get to say your name to you again with all the joy I felt when I said your name to you on earth. I love you so much Mister Kitty, I made you a promise that it would be ok and now you are ok. You are no longer suffering from cancer, you are big and healthy again and even your chin has cleared up from the acne. You are young again and have all the energy in the world to play with the dancing lights and shadows and of course energy to pick on the other critters waiting on the bridge. You were a joy and a true gift for over 12 years. Thank you for being my friend and companion and for always being my boy.
Anna Riley - November 21, 2005
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This just doesn't seem like that long ago but this picture was taken on July 23rd, 1998 by my husband (then boyfriend):
These were my 6 kitties as of July of 1998. They all enjoyed catnip so that night I put some on the floor of my kitchen in my apartment and my husband took pictures of the catnip frenzy fun. It feels like yesterday, it just doesn't seem like over 7 years ago... and it just isn't right that 5 of them are gone now. The sounds they made have faded from my memory a bit but I can still remember exactly how their fur felt. All were of course adopted/rescued and all are special and wonderful but Taliesin and Tiberius were some how a little more special to me.