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We'll never know her exact age -- and
as a real lady, Stella would appreciate that -- but Stuart
and Chris took on the Stella challenge 11 years ago. Stella hadn't
fit into the plans of a couple moving to a "no pets" residence, so
she ended up with a friend. Stella was feisty, scared, terribly
matted and, compared to the sweet kitten the friend had also taken
on, a terror, so the friend was going to take her to the pound.
Having never owned a cat, Chris took a deep breath and, with the
help of Auntie Kim, got Stella cleaned up and introduced her to
Gastown loft living. This was Stella's urban cat phase.
Life changes brought the three of us to Den Haag, The Netherlands,
in the late '90s, where Stella enjoyed a small taste of the outdoors
in our back yard patio. Otherwise, she's spent a safe and comfy life
inside. She had her first and only fight in her European home,
which resulted in a tiny notch in one ear. While she enjoyed her
stay in Holland -- including taking a nip out of our friend and
catsitter Ralph (perhaps he didn't learn Mary's trick of appealing
to Stella's only weakness, food) -- she felt it was time to
return to Canada.
Stella enjoyed finding her inner hippy cat on Hornby Island, she
experienced cat seasickness on the short and, on the day, choppy
ferry ride to Denman. What fun it was travelling back to Vancouver
via Powell River and the Sunshine Coast. A truly well-travelled
feline.
There was also a short stint in Ottawa, where our gracious one could
not abide the cold, nor the rough and tumble political environment.
It was time to do what many Canadians ultimately do: retire to
"the Island."
Stella loved to get under a blanket "tent," where she felt she was
safe and hidden away. We will never forget those pouffy, soft, soft
paws, that we must have nuzzled and kissed a thousand times. She
tried her hardest not to be lovable, but, boy, did she fail. We
loved "our little girl." We'll miss our morning cuddles, her
"escapes" onto the deck to enjoy the sunshine. She also loved to
sit on the window seat cushion her loving Aunt Kim made her, and she
relished leaving her furry mark on the black pants of anyone who
came to visit. It will be tough for a while to go into "her" room,
where she "watched TV," our term for her gazing out into the garden
at night, waiting for her furry suitors to come by.
Cancer claimed our dear one today, May 9, 2005.
Stuart and Chris hope their Stella is in "all tuna, all day" land,
where her tummy doesn't hurt and where she knows she's loved and
missed. Stuart will miss giving her her manicure.
Bye, Snookie.
Chris Brower and Stuart Money
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