GIMLI
Gimli found me on August 18, 1983. I was outside looking at the sky. Hurricane Alicia was just a few hours away from hitting and it was beginning to get really dark even though it was only early evening. It was really windy and I remember thinking that I was going to get blown away if I didn't go back inside soon. As I turned to go, I thought I heard a small mew. I turned back to have a look and didn't see anything. I figured it must have been the wind. It was really howling now. I turned to go, and again, I heard a mew. I wasn't imagining this. There was a cat somewhere out here with me. I looked again, and 5 feet away from me was the cutest orange kitten I had ever seen! The poor baby. I was surprised that he hadn't been carried away by the wind. I leaned down and said: "Come here." He raced to me. I scooped him up in my arms and brought him inside. That night, Gimli stayed with me while the hurricane devastated the city. I was grateful that this little guy had found me and wasn't stuck outside where he surely wouldn't have made it to the next day.
	Gimli was such a sweet boy. He loved to give and receive attention. He was a real lap cat and he slept with me every night. I loved him so much. He was so vibrant and full of life.
He loved to chase John and swat him on the back of the legs. John would chase him back and Gimli would howl like John was hurting him even though that wasn't the case. Poor John got scolded so many times before I figured out that it was all just an amusing game for Gimli. He also loved to ride around the house wrapped around my shoulders like a stole. That was one of his favorite things to do.
	John and Gimli had another game they loved to play. John got on a stool in the kitchen when it was dinner time. Gimli would get under the stool and bat at John's tail and John would reach down and bat at Gimli below him. They loved to play this game while they waited to be fed.
I lost Gimli to a tragedy on November 22, 1984. He was hit by a car as he crossed the street to come home. The neighbors found him and came and told me right away. My boyfriend, who was a paramedic, gave him CPR all the way to the emergency clinic, but it did no good. His internal injuries were too severe and my sweet little boy went to the Bridge that night. It was the last time I ever let one of my cats outside.
For quite awhile, John would get on his stool to wait for dinner and look for Gimli below him. I think he knew where Gimli went. He was just telling me that he missed the little guy too.
I miss you, Gimli. When it is my time to meet you at the Bridge, I will give a ride on my shoulders as we cross it together.
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