SUSAN LOESCH

CATS IN THE STACKS

Last Friday dawned cool and overcast.

“Please don’t let it rain,” I kept thinking. By mid-morning the sun was bright and the sky was blue, just as you would expect for Remembering Big Footsie Day at the School for the Blind.

I have to admit to butterflies in my stomach as I came to work.

Starting early, students and staff picked up “Remembering Big Footsie” stickers with his picture on them, and black ribbons.

Even Alex wore a sticker and ribbon. On a table in the main hall, we displayed pictures of Footsie and his kids, a copy of Big Footsie’s Story and his newly-put-together memory book with a page created by each of our elementary students.

We had pages for the older students and staff to sign. There was a bouquet of cat tails and orange flowers – Footsie’s favorite color, just like his Harley-Davidson bandana – bound by ribbon with black paw prints, and his collar and tag.

Our speech teacher made a memory book page with a picture of Footsie and one of the Twilight series of  books – Foots was always willing to be part of the speech students’ projects. The picture looks like he chose Eclipse as his favorite book… what it doesn’t show is the treats nestled just below the edge of the book to hold Footsie’s interest!

In the late morning, our 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th graders hiked down to our school sign which read, “We Remember Big Footsie.”

We gathered ‘round the sign and then released one orange balloon carrying the message “We love you, Big Footsie!”

Footsie would have been very unhappy if we had released more, being a very environmentally-conscious feline. With waves and a shout-out to Footsie we watched the balloon rise and drift northward. I wonder if I was the only one with a lump in my throat.

All day people continued to sign Footsie’s memory book. Some of my older students surprised me.

“He was so good at ASB.”

“RIP Big Footsie. All cats go to heaven.”

“I’ll miss U Big Footsie. You are my favorite cat ever.”

“He was always there when I needed him. I could always talk to him about anything, because he was there to listen. I will always have a special place in my heart for him that nobody else will take. He was truly my best and closest friend.”

When the school day ends I am always the first one out the door but Friday I dragged my heels; I couldn’t make myself leave. I feel like Footsie’s day has really marked the end of his era.

He has been a daily part of our school for over 8 years, including the first month of school this year.  Now it is time to let go and move on, but that doesn’t mean we will forget him.

One of my seniors is fairly new to the Arkansas School for the Blind, but I think what she wrote sums it up best.

“I only knew you for a couple of years, but you were so impressionable and lovable…I know you’re looking down on all of us, watching us all grow up with your big green eyes while you run around heaven – 100% healthy.  God bless you Big Footsie.”

SUSAN LOESCH

CATS IN THE STACKS

This is a big week here in the Arkansas School for the Blind Library: Friday will be Remembering Big Footsie Day.

Students are finishing their pages for Footsie’s memory book. My first-graders added a star to their pictures of him because he had a star-shaped tag. One student drew a green box – that is Footsie’s home after he was cremated.

I have become somewhat of an expert explaining cremation and explaining why it isn’t so that if he’d been buried instead of cremated he would be coming back to life!

Even as we anticipate Footsie’s day and look back and remember, we also are moving ahead.

“Is Alex here?” One of my students put her bracelet on Alex’s tail and he just purred on.

Maybe he is really getting the hang of this Head Library Cat job!  Maybe we all are getting the hang of having him on the job.