Today Benin left our lives with sadness and rivers of tears at the age of 19. He left us with dignity, honor, and love.
It all started with Benin. Without his outgoing, "love me" nature, I never would have found my precious kitty and his brother.
Benin loved pets and laps. He was so adept at sneaking into a lap, he earned the title "Stealth Kitty", which is impressive considering he large size. He followed people around, and always wanted to be at the center of all social gatherings. Benin was long and tall, he could reach up to the counter top and pull things from the edge that he thought contained dairy or other treat.
Benin traveled far and wide, living in the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, as well as various
places I called home around the U.S. He loved meeting new people and was never put
off by living with new cats. Every cat that came into the home found Benin
as their friend. Somehow he just exuded kindness, love and approachability.
Benin was also a favorite of children. He motivated at least one to crawl. Kids could pull on his tail, pet him hard, whatever, and Benin would take it and just walk away. He never once hissed at a child.
Benin loved sunshine, going on walks outside and anything involving a lap. He was the
gentlest of souls. I loved to watch him eat grass, or go next door to the stream to
drink water. He was obsessed with water. From the sink, often pawing at the counter
top for a sink full of water. His favorite water was the water in your glass. He'd
stick his head in a glass so far his face would smoosh. He loved birds, and believed he could catch them. Even
in the last month of his life he was stalking a bird that got into the house.
But most of all Benin loved being on the people he loved. If stretching, he'd climb up on the back, or stomach. Rolling over, no problem. He became adept at walking from stomach, to side, to back, without having to lose contact. Sit for a second, and he was on the legs, or lap. Benin taught me the power of loving touch.
Benin's eyes were the most expressive I've known. With a glance I could tell if he
wanted up, down, out, or in. Food, pets, lap, whatever. He'd come up on the bed
and paw for pets, or just want to snuggle under the covers. He was truly a people
cat.
And so the circle is complete, and it all comes back to him, 19 years later.
I cannot express my thanks to Benin enough for all that he has given me in these years. He has been there for half my 20s, all of my 30s, and a third of my 40s. I've cried rivers of tears with him, danced under the moonlight with him, and sailed under the Bahamian stars with him in my lap. My sadness cannot be expressed properly, and I will cry for many years to come. He has been so much of my being for so long, I cannot imagine this world without him. I lay him to rest beside his brother, and will cry and talk to them both - asking for their wisdom, love, and kindness.