LettersLetter from William Reamy About His Feeling for Gus - 23 Jul 2008
Letters From All-Creatures.org and The Mary T. and Frank L. Hoffman Family Foundation

Letter from William Reamy About His Feeling for Gus
23 Jul 2008

In the article, you said a friend told you she had more love for her pet than for any human.

I have a similar feeling, although not quite as strong, for my beloved big, orange, furry, half-Maine-coon cat Gus, who I discovered at an animal shelter, and who died nearly two years ago. I loved him more than almost all people, except for a few family members and very close friends. But as you say, it was a different kind of love. How he would look up at me in an the family room and meow and I would know whether he wanted to go on the porch or to play with palm fronds (his only - but passionate - toy). How he would get in my way on the bathroom sink in the morning and try to lick my toothbrush, but then lick me on the nose to make me smile. How his purr against my ear on the pillow would give me a better night's sleep than I've had since. He was also a brat occasionally, but it didn't matter.

I could go on for pages, but yes, these are things that no human can share with you, so you miss them very much. It's not like I don't have a life outside of my pets either. I work, I have friends, my wife and I travel, I belong to professional and singing organizations, etc. But there will always be a very large hole in my heart that time will never completely heal. And that hole has the shape of my cat's face.

-- Bill Reamy

Reply from Frank and Mary Hoffman

Dear Bill:

Thank you very much for writing and telling us about your feelings and about Gus. We know how you feel, and we've been there ourselves. And from reading your letter, it does seem that the hole in your heart is mostly filled with loving memories of Gus.

Would you be interest in our publishing Gus's and your story with some photos on our web site as a lasting memorial to Gus? We know that many of our visitors would enjoying about Gus, too.

In the Love of the Lord,

Frank and Mary


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