Ian and Linda were clients. I first met them, many years ago when I was asked to look after their cat Jess, who was 19 years old.
Ian and Linda were a lovely, warm couple, instantly likeable.
Linda had owned Jess’ mother from a kitten, and she had lived to the age of 22.
What wonderful continuity!
A nice relationship developed, and we looked after Jess for some years, until she sadly passed away in her late teens, knowing herself to have been loved from kitten to elderly cat, as her own mother had been.
I sent Linda and Ian my sincere condolences, and sadly returned their keys.
Not long afterwards: I heard from them again ….. they had adopted another cat and wanted my Cat People to be their cat sitters.
What can I say about JJ?
I went round to Ian and Linda’s home again, to meet JJ and collect their keys, and whilst we sat and chatted, I realised that JJ was quite unusual. She was sweet and friendly and everything a normal cat usually is, but…. She was utterly obsessed with Ian!
It was understandable: Ian was a lovely chap: large, smiley and with a beautiful aura, but JJ clearly just couldn’t get enough of him!
Over the following years, we looked after JJ frequently, she clearly missed her Dad when he wasn’t there, she was such a Daddy’s girl.
Every time I saw Ian and Linda, there was JJ: wrapped around Ian’s neck like a scarf, on his lap, round his legs, never letting him out of her sight.
I wondered how Linda coped with the competition!
One day, whilst Ian and Linda were away, JJ became suddenly ill. I rushed her to the vets, knowing that this cat in particular was too precious to lose. Thankfully, swift Veterinary intervention worked, and JJ was well again by the time her parents came home.
They sent us another email after their return, along the lines of “ Thank you for looking after JJ, please pop round, we have a little something for you”
Yet again, I’m sitting in their lounge, having a lovely chat, and watching JJ adoring her Dad, in a most unusual and un-feline way!
The gift was a beautiful, deep maroon orchid, which has flowered happily, prolifically and continuously ever since.
I always think of JJ very fondly when I water it.
Linda and Ian retired, and moved to their dream-home, sadly a long way away from us, but Linda and I kept in touch by Facebook.
Inevitably, we lost JJ at a great old age and Linda and I had some consolation chatting about JJ’s orchid, and how it continued to thrive.
Last week, Linda messaged me to tell me that Ian was gone. He had been diagnosed with cancer last May, and had passed away at home gently and peacefully.
Linda told me that during his final weeks, they had talked lots and discussed his wishes.
But Linda had a confession to make to Ian…
When JJ had passed away, Linda had wanted to have her cremated, and to keep her ashes.
Ian didn’t agree, but Linda had done it anyway and kept the knowledge to herself.
When Linda finally told Ian, as he was entering his final weeks, he was so glad, and he asked for his own ashes to be mixed with JJ’s, so that they can be together forever.
Which they are.
Much love to Linda who says ” feel free to share whatever stories about Ian and JJ: Their legend lives on.”