Goodbye, Sweet Casper

Casper and Jasper came into my life as twin kittens in June of 1996. Truly a great year, 52-20! Casper earned his name. As a kitten I could see him jump on the bed like a ghost in the darkness as he came to nuzzle my chin. Casper and Jasper were my constant companions through under grad and graduate school. Many weekends I would lock myself in my apartment to study and they always kept me company. Girlfriends seemed to come and go, but Casper and Jasper always remained. A students life matured into a professionals life with them by my side. A bachelors freedom became bound by marriage when I married Betsy and Casper and Jasper were there to share our happiness. Betsy and I had many adventures together and Casper and Jasper were always there to greet as when we returned home. Betsy and I became blessed with a son, Wil, in '08 and Casper and Jasper were there to share in our joy. Sadly we lost Jasper later that year due to diabetic complications. God blessed us again with the birth of our daughter, Elsie, in '09 and still Casper was there to share in our joy. Casper initally did not mind these human kittens. As Wil and Elsie began to crawl and subsequently walk he thought that they always wanted to pull his tail and they often succeeded. During the last year Wil and Elsie had learned not to pull Casper's tail, but to pet him and play with him. It was fun to watch their freindship develop. Casper started losing alot of weight in the fall and was diagnosed with cancer at Christmas. Essentially we placed him on hospice and used his purring to gauge his happiness. He received high doses of a morphine derivative, love and affection. We explained to the kids that Casper had Cancer and would die and to appreciate sharing time with him before he went to kitty heaven. Our old friend Casper stopped purring on January 27th and was laid to rest on January 28th 2011. Hopefully, Jasper was there to greet him in kitty heaven and perhaps Pa could even give him a welcoming thump on the nose. Both brothers were buried under white gardenia bushes near the driveway. Casper and Jasper had long and happy lives. They will return to us each spring when the white fragrant blossoms bloom and remind us of their sweet kisses. So long to our Great White Polar Kitties of the North! We miss you, Casper and Jasper!