Samantha drew me to her.  I don’t know how – other than to say that we had an obvious spiritual connection – but, heading home from work one day (in Las Vegas, Nevada), I felt “compelled” to stop by the local animal shelter.  There, in a cage in the back room, tiny, frightened – covered in scabs and missing half her hair, because of ringworm – was Samantha.  She called out to me and I immediately said “I want that one” – she was scheduled to be EUTHANIZED that very evening.

I took her home – bathed her and medicated her sores – and she was oh, so grateful.  It wasn’t that I was LOOKING to get another cat at that time, it’s just that I was PULLED there.  I literally couldn’t resist the urge… and the minute I saw her, I knew she was meant to be mine.  I had her for fifteen (15) wonderful years – through two different husbands – and four moves!  She put up with so many different dogs, and other kittens and cats that came and went over the years (through our animal rescue) and was very tolerant of most. 

For the most part, she was healthy and happy once the ringworm cleared up… but when she was about eleven years old, she went through a bought of cancer.  She seemingly recovered, regrowing her hair – looking beautiful as ever – and then died a few years later.

I was out back, working in the yard that day – and Mantha hung out with me all day.  When she got tired of following me around, she walked over and laid down under my Suburban (to be in the shade)…  I didn’t think anything of it, as I played in the dirt, but she was under there for hours.   When I went to call her out from under it at the end of the day, she didn’t move.  Her eyes were open, so at first, I thought she was looking at me.  But then I realized, she was gone.  I reached under and pulled her out – her eyes and mouth were all dried up.  She must have died shortly after going to lay under there.  I think she was trying to let me know, and to say goodbye, as she followed me around the yard that day. 

It was so hard to let go of her.  I held her in my arms while Sid dug the hole, and I kissed her and cried.  I told her how sorry I was for how she had suffered these past years…  I really believe we were, in some way, soul-mates.  She beckoned me that day… and she knew that I had saved her life – she thanked me for it every single day.  She would lay on my chest, purring, for hours (non-stop) – endlessly telling me how much she loved and adored me.  She would stay there all night, if I didn’t move her.  We spent most of our nights that way.

We buried her underneath my Weeping Willow Tree in the front pasture.  I know she is in a much better place now, with my sister, in Heaven.  I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, SAMANTHA!