Ode to Otis

Today we said good bye to Otis the cat and prowling lion of the farm. Though he survived 15 winters of bitter cold weather, 15 spring time shavings (which not only took his hair but also his dignity) and 15 hot & humid WI summers it was cancer of the jaw that managed to take him from us. In this Ode to Otis I salute him as a warrior who fought a good fight; though small in stature his adventures were always grand ( I can only begin to imagine the stories he could have shared if he had a voice). He was a faithful friend and loving spirit - thanks for the memories Otis, of playing dress-up when we were young, bathing in the sunshine of summer afternoons, purring a the slightest touch from a human, hunting in the backyard, and never failing to show-up on the back porch at dinner time. You were loved and you will be missed. Thanks for hanging with us :).