I will never forget how you literally "dropped into" our lives 11 months ago. We were having sub-zero temperatures.The other 3 animals kept looking outside and acting very strange.I was scared because I thought someone was outside and it was night time and I just happened to be home alone that particular night.I looked outside but didn't see anything or anyone so I went to bed thinking whatever it was would be gone in the morning.When I got up,the other animals continued to act strange,looking outside and up on the roof of the home gym.When I looked out,I SAW YOU!You were half frozen,and I took you to the vet.The vet had to remove half of each of your ears and almost all of your tail.It took a couple of weeks,but you recovered and YOU WERE SO HANDSOME!When I found you,you had a collar on your neck that had been choking you for quite some time as well.Now,the collar had long been removed,so with the weight you had put on since being with our family,the half ears,and the cropped tail,you looked like a snow leopard and you won everyone's heart!Every morning you would be waiting outside our bedroom door because you knew it was time for your canned cat food!I took so many pictures of you as you continued to get fatter,happier,and cuter with each passing day!You were a bully when it came to our other cat,Faithy,but you were one big chicken when it came to the two dogs and would sometimes jump on the top of the refrigerator to make your escape!I can still see you laying up on that frig eyeing your surroundings until the coast was clear!You and I had our issues when it came to you jumping on the kitchen counters looking for any morsel that I may have left by mistake,but now I miss hearing you jump down and hitting the floor.The things that used to upset me are now the things I wish I could have back.I would give anything to hear you jump down from that counter again.I also would give anything to see you waiting outside my bedroom door anxious for your breakfast,or to see you sleeping in your cat bed all sprawled out looking more like a bobcat resting in our home than a just another cat,which you never were "just another cat."I will miss how you used to growl whenever my husband would try to pet you,even though he wanted you to love him so much,you just didn't care much for men,no matter who they were.I would just laugh when you would growl,but you would never ever bite or scratch!I will miss how you would only come home,or come in the house,when you would hear MY voice.You learned your name in only one day with me.I remember taking you to the vet the very first time and you continued to softly cry in the cat carrier.I would say"Pops,it's okay"and you would answer me back with a soft "meow."I named you Popsicle because of the circumstances surrounding how you came to me.I lovingly called you Pops,and you gave me love for 11 months.I can't recall when an animal has taken a place place in my heart in such a short time,but I will never ever forget you my friend.When you were found this morning,you were on your way home.We looked for you everywhere last night,but finally gave up and went to bed.We concluded you must have snuck outside when we let Faithy in,but your escape went undetected.You were found only a few feet away from the front yard,you had been hit by a passing vehicle sometime during the night.You passed one day after my birthday and I thank the Lord He didn't take you the day before.Thank you Pops for coming into my life.No matter how many times I called you "that darned cat!" you know I meant it lovingly,just as through all my tears this morning I cried softly,shook my head,and said out loud "you darned cat! At least you died doing what you loved.Prowling the neighborhood and then running home for food,a warm bed,and your people who love you.I hope those were the last things that went through your mind before you went "home." We love you Pops,thank you for choosing us as the ones you wanted to live with for your final year of life on this planet.You will never be forgotten and every time I go down to clean the cat box I am sure I will still be watching at my feet thinking you are there racing me down those stairs so you could be with me...some things,like your memory,will never die...