First off, Quiz had to be put to sleep yesterday. Turns out she had a mass in her abdomen. She always had a round, solid belly, unlike either Lucifer or Cinnamon, who's bellies hung down when they were overweight. Anyway, my girlfriend, Norene, has been watching Quiz for the last year. Last week Quiz stopped eating. Yesterday morning I guess she started moaning. Even I know cats do not normally moan. So, Norene took her to the vet and x-rays showed a large mass.
Yes, I cried like a blubbering baby. Not right away mind you. I had to tell the ex-girlfriend about Quiz. She was going to tell The Fuskers™. After telling her I hit the fitness center and put myself through a rigorous workout. For me it was rigorous. For others it would be a light mid-day walk. So, after finishing my workout, and on the short drive to the Rock Creek Motor Stop Cafe, I started crying. Hard. Like I have not cried since the passing of my brother in 1991. I had to take my glasses off, the tears were so heavy. Which is not a good idea, considering I am pretty much blind at night without them. Oh, and I was going 70 mph. Obviously nothing happened, since I am typing this today.
Anyway.
The thing is, I did not particularly like Quiz. Everyone who knew her agreed she was Queen Bitch towards other cats. If there were two paths through a room, one short and away from other cats, and one long but would take her by the other cats, she would take the long way and give the other cats a good swipe. Lucifer would just take it. Cinnamon would fight back, and being the bigger cat, usually drove Quiz off. However, every once in a blue moon Lucifer would take it in himself to teach Quiz a lesson. I would usually have to break them up. Not because of any harm Lucifer was causing, but because Quiz would start yowling and screeching. She would not fight back, just make an unholy racket.
Yet Quiz was very loving and affectionate towards people. She was most definitely a lap cat. She did not start that way though. When the ex's daughter brought Quiz home about eight years ago she hated everything and everyone. In fact, within the first hour of being brought into the house, she managed to get out in the garage and hid under my dad's old tool chest. She stayed there for two days! When I finally decided to pull her out she tore the hell out of my hands. Eventually, though, she mellowed out and showed herself to be even more inquisitive than most cats. Hence the name Quiz.
She will be missed.
On a more positive note; yesterday was my sobriety date. 27 years dry and sober. Another 3 years and I will have my own DNR spotter truck following me. I am getting to be so dry I am turning into a fire hazard...........
Oh, okay. I will behave now.
