My household has lost another dear family member today. Ulysses was 18 years old, and was originally born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He moved here with me to Victoria, BC back in 2001. He was my constant companion, confidant, and hunter of mice. Ulysses had simple loves, and simple tastes. His two favorite toys were a black rubber shrink tube that he stole from me when I was working on a custom electrical project, and his arch nemesis, the ever elusive Red Laser Dot of Frustration. His favorite drinks were the condensation licked from the side of a Doctor Pepper Slurpee from 7-Eleven, and the gently dribbling water in my bathroom sink. Ulee was an often cantankerous old soul, who never hesitated to give anyone his opinion. He was not a fan of change. Though he often came off as aloof, or antisocial he never raised a paw to anyone (...Unless it was in the defense of his sister, Persephone, then all bets were off!) He much preferred making his opinions known by leaving a smelly present for those people he took offense to. He could quite accurately target your possessions should you cross him. More than once, he supplied me with such gifts when he didnt get his way. Though he was hard to get to know, when he liked you he would give you his very rare and precious affection. Ulee could count the number of people he would show affection to on one paw. Yet, he never forgot a person that he loved. Those he gifted with his hugs were rare souls indeed, and always humans of only the highest caliber. When he was a kitten, his nick-name was Tractor, because when he purred, the deep diesel sounding rhythm was so loud you would feel it in your chest. When he started his purring, there was no one who heard it who couldnt smile. Im sure my neighbors down the street could hear his rumble. Theyd find themselves smiling away, and not knowing why. Since he first discovered his voice, Ulysses loved not just to purr, but to complain. How he so often managed both at once, Ill never know. He would be purring happily at me, whilst simultaneously yowling and giving me shit. I guess he just loved to complain to his human so much, he couldnt contain himself. For 18 years I havent know a day without his sounds or his voice. Wherever I went, Ulee was never more than an arms reach away. Thats how he liked it. Even when he desperately wanted attention he would always move just out of reach within a pet or two, making you chase him for hours. He delighted in making his humans work for it, and we always did. His tail and back legs were always ticklish, and if you tried to hold them a second longer than he liked, or stroke them in a way that wasnt just so, he would vocally tell you. Ulee had many complaints in his life, but they were mostly limited to, Thats MY tail! and I cant believe you touched my back feet AGAIN. By Holy Bast, you humans are annoying. Even the Red Laser Dot of Frustration was not immune from the rules about touching his feet or tail. If there was a way to get into something, Ulee found it. If there was something to explore, Ulee explored it. His curiosity made him a joy to be around, and his antics were always entertaining. Everyone who met him liked him, even if the feelings werent always reciprocated. There was just something about this skinny little gray demon that made people like him. He was crazy, but it was crazy in a good way. He was an eccentric entertainer who always put on a good show. Ulee was predeceased by his sister Persephone earlier this year. Despite an always respectful distant kept between the two, Ulysses took it hard. He mourned for her for weeks, and never fully recovered from the loss of his life long companion. Ulysses passed away after a long and hard fought battle. Until the end, he wouldnt let me leave his side. If I put him down for more than a minute, his plaintive call would bring me back to him, and him back to my arms. My home now stands too empty. My heart, broken. My home is silent now. But I retain all the love my dear friend gifted me with. He made me earn it, and that made it all the more precious. I will carry it with me always. Ulysses, I will miss your amazing green eyes, and your silky grey fur. I will miss your attitude, your loyalty, and the zest for life you found in all things. I am richer for having known you. Thank-you for being such a huge part of my very small life. You will never be forgotten.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 07:34:16 +0000
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