Booger was a grey tabby with gold undertones. She had the most beautiful green eyes in the world. She would sit and stare lovingly into my face. What a tender, sweet expression she had! I never had a cat who enjoyed looking at my face the way Booger did. She would do this for what seemed like an eternity.

Booger earned her moniker by being a bully to the other cats. At first she was highly jealous of my other cats. She wanted to be the center of my universe! I am glad that I was patient with her and did not get rid of her. After several years, she reformed. Booger became the sweetest cat in the world!

She even took it upon herself to teach the household cats to mouse. She let mice inside the house until each cat had caught one (myself included; I guess I am an overgrown feline of sorts). After that, she never caught any more mice to my knowledge.

Booger was also my computer cat. She could sit in my lap for hours while I worked on my school projects or surfed the web. She eventually learned that when she heard the Microsoft "ta da!" sound that it was time to hop off my lap. She understood that I was shutting down my computer and leaving my work station.

This dear feline loved to sleep as close to my face as she could in bed. She also loved to rub noses with me when I took a bath. She was careful to watch her footing on the outer rim of the tub because she fell in the bath water on one occasion.

A month ago I began to sense that she was getting ready to take the trip over the Rainbow Bridge. She spent less time in my lap or on my bed. Booger also began to hide under the couch and eat less. Most of the time Booger stayed in my house. She did enjoy brief forays outdoors. She never strayed far from the house, and never stayed gone very long. On Monday morning before daybreak, she asked to go outside one last time. I let her out, not knowing she would not return. There are woods a few hundred yards back of the house. She chose some spot there to make her final resting place. (BTW, I have always taken her to the vet whenever she seemed to be in pain or needed routine maintenance).

She did say goodbye to us Sunday night (July 25th) in her own fashion. For a brief time, Booger, Zoe, and Deuce (two of my cats) sat side by side in my lap as I petted them. I called out to my husband to witness this unusual site. He did, and Booger climbed down, and went under the couch for awhile. Later on she took that fateful trip outside.

I had a total of twelve cats. Of this dozen, Booger and Zoe were the oldest and the closest to my heart.

For weeks I agonized because I was not able to find Booger's remains to give her a decent burial. Late Thurs. afternoon, Aug 12, I think I found a bone belonging to Booger. The bone was near some bushes in my parents' front yard. They live next door to me.

I am sitting at my computer, crying and cradling the bone in a towel on my lap.

Although I am thankful to have something of hers to bury, there is one disturbing fact about the bone. It is a piece of her lower backbone. Unfortunately, the lower portion was covered with fecal matter. That leads me to believe that something punctured her intestine. I hope she wasn't attacked and torn apart by some animal.

Just thought I would let you know. Now I can have some closure. At least I have some part of her that I can bury. I plan to order a small tombstone. My local florist has also agreed to make a cross with some sort of cat theme on it. I specifically requested that she put Booger's name on the ribbon or on some part of the cross.

It is hard to let go. However, I have solace knowing that my prayers were answered. I prayed to find her so I could bury her and say a final farewell. If this is the only part of her that is left, my prayers are abundantly answered. God is very merciful.