Eulogy for Rascal

Rascal in Zambia 2012

Rascal, nee Milkyway, died in Lusaka Zambia on May 11th 2013 at the age of about 15 years. He is remembered for his faithful companionship and incredibly soft fur and beauty. He was born into a litter of three kittens in Oak Park, Illinois. His parents both were free range cats with a love of wanderlust. His owners spread the story that he and his littermates would be taken to the forest reserve in River Forest and dropped off to fend for themsleves.

The McAuley children brought this woeful tale home and their parents succumbed to their pleas. Within a very short time it was clear that Milkyway had been misnamed. In his first few weeks he crossed a freshly oil painted floor and tracked grey paint through the house and all over Amy's blue sweater. Even turpentine could not remove all traces of paint.When he discovered the sticky mouse traps under the kitchen sink and came out covered in them a quick call to the vet revealed that mineral oil could be used to remove them. Cleaning off the mineral oil was more difficult as Milkway was so slick and greasy that soaping him up and keeping him under a stream of water was almost impossible. About this time Amy decided he should be rebaptized Trouble however not wanting to brand him for life he was instead named Rascal. Rascal quickly bonded to Christopher who carried his kitten wrapped around his neck. We wish we had a picture of the night Chris came to dinner just wearing Rascal but we failed to get this photo. Rascal was young and often terrorized Christopher trapping him on the stairs and clawing him up and down his legs so Rascal was sent for declawing and neutering at an early age. This did not deter his playful nature.


Rascal and Chris 2002

He grew up with Mundy our lab-mix, thinking Mundy was his mother. Mundy took on the role of mother with grace. Although Rascal lurked on the stairs and pounced on Mundy from the banisters, Mundy would willingly play. Often she saw Rascal coming and would look sideways with a wag of the tail. Even when she had Rascal's head in her jaws, she was gentle and never growled. If Rascal began to get a bit fierce she would send him across the floor with a shove of a paw. Unlike Mundy, Rascal never led anyone into a Wisconsin cornfield, got picked up by the police on Christmas Day or ended up at the pound after being a little too friendly on the corner of Church and Wesley. Rascal's worst adventure was being dried in a dryer and left there for several days. This occurred at a busy time, when the washer and dryer where located in the basement. Amy noticed the clothes were still damp and turned the dryer on for a quick 15min more. She thought the clunking sound she heard was probably some tennis shoes.....three days later the family was in mourning, notices and photos had been put up around the neighborhood but there was no sign of Rascal. When he was finally discovered it was not a pretty sight!

Rascal's best qualities were his doglike desire to be close to family; sleeping every night on someone's bed usually Christopher's, sitting on the keyboard as you attempted to type, climbing into a lap during a quiet time, curling up next to you when you came home exhausted from school, running across the yard when called and meowing when meowed to (really only Chris and John were able to get him to do this), sitting next to Amy while she stretched her neck in the cervical collar or under her feet as she painted.

Rascal and Chris 2013

When the family moved to Zambia we thought it would be difficult for him to remain in the US. In his final two years of life he was allowed outside and enjoyed the breeze, the birds, lizards, grass and gardens. Sometimes he just sat and smelled the flowers.

Having grown up with a dog he was curious and excited but a bit fearful of Gambol the German Shepherd we had last year for a few months. Gambol treed him several times which amazed all of us since the tree he routinely climbed (without claws) was almost a 90 degree climb.

Rascal is survived by his beloved family and two refugee cats Gus and Mama who could not return to the US with their previous family. We will all miss him.

Wedding Anniversary Celebration

May 4th Jim, Ruth, Chris and I headed out for dinner at a local restaurant. You may not have realized that an orchid is the gift for the 28th wedding anniversary. Ruth managed to find a lovely white, rose and purple orchid! I'm now the proud owner of a Zambian recipe book and can make caterpillar soup, mouse fritters, roast termite, moringa porridge and nshima with relish.

Thanking God for another year!