Saying Goodbye to Assistant One...

Well, while my week was off to a good start, it had an awful finish. I want to thank and apologize to Samantha of Chick Lit Plus blog tours for not participating as much as I could/should in this week's stops because of, well...

Obituary for Bailey:  Septemberish 1998-May 24, 2014

Bailey, commonly known as "The Tuxedo Cat" and occasionally as "Writing Assistant One" passed away this morning at 11:22 a.m. The cat who couldn't stand to be on the other side of the door from his humans, especially his mom, crossed over peacefully in his home surrounded by his loved ones. He was helped on his way after a two-year battle with taking medications for lymphoma by representatives from the Sweet Dreams pet euthanasia service. During his life, he was given much love and good care by the veterinarians and staff of The Cat Doctor and Buckhead Pet Pals pet-sitting service.

"Yes, I am the most interesting cat in the world."

As befits a cat who entered and exited life wearing a tuxedo, he maintained his air of "cat of mystery" from the beginning. He found his primary person in a pet store in Cahaba Heights, an area of Birmingham, Alabama, in spring of 1999. She had long red curls, he liked to chew on hair – it was a perfect match. She never found out about his mysterious past, as when he joined her family at the age of seven or eight months, he was already neutered, and boy was he glad he didn't have to go through that again!

Bailey also had a phobia of car rides, which always occurred with much piteous meowing, so it was a mercy he was able to depart life at home. It was always suspected he had been dumped. His previous owners missed out on a long life of affection – who says cats are aloof creatures? He was always ready for a purr or snuggle, which will be sorely missed.

During his long life, partially as a graduate student kitty in psychology and then as an author's cat, Bailey developed a connoisseur's taste in reading material. He was disappointed when the APA Monitor changed its format from soft, comfortable newsprint to a glossy magazine. As for electronic reading devices, meh. 

"I really don't get the appeal of these e-reader things. Kinda lumpy, if you ask me."

He also didn't appreciate the transformation of warm monitors with plenty of room for kitties atop them to flat-screens. At that point, he developed a preference for sitting on the back of his mom's office chair or competing with the iThing and laptop for her lap so he could offer his opinion on her writing, and he took full credit for her success with the Lycanthropy Files series.

"Wouldn't you rather be petting the kitty?"

It was never clear whether Bailey realized he was sick aside from having to be bribed with cheese – havarti was a particular favorite – or kitty treats to not immediately expectorate his medications. Otherwise, until a week before his departure, he maintained his positive and elegant attitude toward life. He was known by many terms of affection such as "Mister Kitty," "Sweetheart," and "Handsome Kitty," but he always took pride in being named after the coffee-flavored Irish liqueur. In addition to cheese, he appreciated the rare people food he was permitted to try such as crab, fish, and chicken, and he was also known for his unusual tastes for a cat, specifically in leeks and the green tops of carrots. It was also never a good idea to leave bread unattended when he was on the prowl through the kitchen.

Bailey goes to join his adopted sister La Principessa at the Rainbow Bridge, where, we're sure, he will resume his duties as cat bed for the stripey wonder.

"Oof."

He is survived by two heartbroken kitty-parents, equally sorrowful grandkitty-parents and aunt and uncle, and the grey thing, who never much liked him anyway.

He is already sorely missed. :-(