In Memoriam

Bong Chow aka BC aka Chow

September 1995 - April 23, 2010

Sometimes it is really hard to write your feelings down for all to see. I think that is why I have put this off for a week. Our sweet little kitty has now gone on to greener pastures. Sweet, you may say. What is she thinking? Well, yes, BC was sweet. He was also annoying, determined and persistent. There were days that I could not wait for him to be gone. And then there were days I was glad he was around. He was a companion to Chad. He was so patient with the boys. In fact, he hardly ever "attacked" you unless you provoked him. Chad used to get him all riled up by playing rough. Then when he got too rough, Chad would get out the welding glove. At first, Chow would tear the glove all to pieces, but after a while, he would just look at the welding glove and walk away because he knew he could not penetrate the tough layer. Chow loved to be in the highest place possible. And he would be the first cat to come running whenever I used a can opener.

BC came to Chad through his sister-in-law, Dayna. She thought Chad needed some company at the house in Blackfoot. So, on Halloween, when she brought the boys over to trick-or-treat, she left us with a treat, BC. BC loved Chad. He would just purr and purr when Chad came home from work. It would get so bad that Chad would have slobber all down his back from BC. Just before we got married, I brought another little cat to the family, George, to keep BC company.
And that seemed to work. Those two could be found curled up in a chair sleeping away.
Chow loved to go outside. He would do anything he could just to get out there. We became very adept in the Pope household at putting a leg out to stop his departure.
BC was also cross-eyed as all get out. I don't know how he could even see where he was walking. But, he could see. For example, he would lure little birds in. Then he would trap them and just maim them enough so they would cry for their buddies, and then he would catch the other birds while jumping in mid air. Just amazing.
BC was a mooch. And the worse one at feeding that mooch was my mother-in-law, Merry. I think she had a kindred spirit with cats, and she absolutely loved BC. She would always throw a piece of food down to him when she came over to eat. And it wouldn't be just a nibble. It was usually half of her meat. But, BC would sit there, staring up at her until she would throw it down.
About a month ago, BC started showing his age and we decided the best solution would be for him to be an outside cat. He really did stick around the garage, rarely venturing beyond the back yard. His reflexes were not like they used to be, and because of that, he did not get out of the way of a tire. It was an unfortunate accident and one that still causes me pain.
He is greatly missed from our family. Matthew still asks where he is at. Sometimes he will say, "BC in heaven with Zeus?" That's when I think he really gets it.
BC, we love you and miss you. Have fun in heaven rubbing the pant legs of Grandpa Joe and jumping up on Grandma Merry's lap, because that is what you do best.