Charlie was a formerly-owned stray who wandered into our backyard and into our hearts. He would lay out on our deck and accept cuddles and snacks day after day during the summer, and we would frequently see him come out from under our shed to greet us whenever we went outside in the fall. He wore a collar at the time so we "knew" he had a home to go to, until one very cold, winter night when we found him at our back door around midnight. Afraid that he might freeze outside at night, we brought him in and gave him a meal and a warm place to sleep. We noticed that he no longer wore a collar and feared that his owners may have moved away without him. We posted his picture online and when no one came forward to claim him, we took care of him, allowing him to go outside whenever he wanted and bringing him in whenever we thought necessary. He never left our yard. He was an older cat and he developed some issues so he wanted to go outside less and less. He became more affectionate as time went on and spent time sleeping beside us and creating daily routines. He had the best manners of any cat we've ever owned. He gave the best kitty kisses with his eyes. It was obvious that we were meant to be because he came to us just as he needed us most. He had teeth that needed extraction. He developed diabetes and needed twice daily shots of insulin. Charlie never "complained." He kept us company through the first three years of our retirement and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. We spent much of our time taking care of and loving him. Charlie finally succumbed to cancer this summer, five years after our initial meeting. He was the sweetest and will always be in our hearts.

Shirley Tammick
PEMBROKE, MA