He was a special cat, my Boots. I had had cats before, but always females. I just always thought they made better pets. I always said I would never have a male cat. But one warm night in June of 1989, my late husband and I were on our way to pick up an aquarium we had agreed to buy from someone. We stopped for gas at an Exxon station. On a display of oil, sat a cute little bundle of fur, meowing. He was, what I would learn to be, a Tuxedo cat. I asked the attendant, if it was his kitten, and he said no, he said if you want it, take it. I was concerned he might get run over by a car, so I told my husband we would take him home, and I would take him to the local SPCA. Well, we took him home, but that is as far as he got. My husband would laugh and say he knew a sucker when he saw one, meaning me. It was true. I had not intended to bond with him, but as time went one, I did. My husband said he just made you love him. We named him Boots, but he came to be known as simply BooBoo. He was a real character. Always playful and cutting up. People said he looked like Sylvestor the Cat. Thru the years, we bonded more and more, to the point, that when he was close he would just throw himself against me. My husband said it looked like he was trying to get in my skin with me. He was a sweetie, and just more and more became my baby. I spoiled him, but it was so easy to. I have many happy memories of him. One of the funniest was when, I had my then 2 1/2, and 7 year old grandsons with me. It was a very hot day, and the boys were outside with Grandpa. I went to open the front door for some reason, and here came BooBoo running in fast as he could, soaking wet. I found out the younger one, Ryan had decided to give Boo a bath in the birdbath. Needless to say, Boo was not thrilled with the idea. I got a towel and wiped him off much as I could. BUT needless to say, Boo dodged Ryan fore a good while after this. I can't say I blamed him, can you? That is only one of many happy memories from the 17 years I had him. I can only wish I had 17 years more. Time may ease the pain of losing him, but he is in my heart to stay. It is one of the hardest things I have had to do, is say goodby to him, but I know how ill he was, and it was kinder to him. Goodby, Boots, I'll never forget you.