BYE, BYE B.B.

 Granddaughter Talia holding BB

BB died today. He spent twelve years with us. When Alicia graduated from UGA in December 1998, she moved back home for six months, and part of her college detritus included a kitten she rescued from male college neighbors who delighted in blowing pungent marijuana smoke into the kitten's mouth. She said, "Mom, they're troglodytes!"

Alicia's new apartment complex did not allow animals, so we reluctantly adopted BB, for a short time, we thought. That kitten seemed so normal, entertaining us by flipping rubber mice into the air, purring contently when scratched behind the ears, and presenting me with small dead things left at our backdoor.

One night as my husband and I watched the 11:00 news in bed, BB started his engines in the long hallway on the opposite side of the house, gained momentum, and flew through our bedroom, landing way past us in the bonus room. I described his delirium as a sixties flashback, the residual effect of those college experiences.

As time moved on, BB witnessed family get togethers, tried to escape our rambunctious grandchildren, and mentored MEENOU, the kitten I rescued from the lake last year.  In the last few years, BB aged, became wise and even more independent. He preferred to observe Meenou's backyard antics. He no longer delighted in the hunt. He grew tired of being. He preferred to rest, curl up for a nap, and dine on the special cat food I bought to encourage his appetite.

My husband is on his way home from work to bury BB in the pet cemetery in our back yard on the mountain. BB will rest next to our previous pets, Bubba, our black retriever; Meenou, the kitten I mistakenly dropped a laundry basket on; Blackie, our previous cat, and Fancy, my beautiful Maine Coon that was attacked by a coyote.

The Ancients argued that animals do not have souls. Look into an animal's eyes. They have consciousness and awareness. They feel pain, and experience joy and love. They grieve when their owners die and understand the complexity of a close bond with humans and with other animals. Pets help us realize our humanity.

We love you, BB. Goodbye and good rest.