Tiger's Memorial Service begins...

On Aug 21, 12:12*pm, "Granby" wrote:
As Willow begins to file out with the other Cats, she notices an ever so
slight stirring up in the rafters above the alter.

She excuses herself and makes her way to where she saw the movement. *Hallo
dere Mr. T. V. I ceed u kum ta pay ur specks to Mr. Tiger. *Diz mus be Miz
Violette and dem Doggies is Auntis Softz dog guides. *U looks gudgud. *We
will mizz Tiger man but knowz himself will be fine at da bridje.

All the cats turn their heads in unison, up and to the right. *Willow
follows their gaze and sees a young, healthy and happy Tiger Man sitting
watching his family as they leave. *She waves a paw and he waves back.

Willow turns and stares so hard at Anais back that she hopes she can turn in
time to see the Tiger Man there looking so gud..

If she looks really hard, Willow can see Maggy May in the background,
reading a story or poem to an attentive but playful gaggle of kittens
and puppies (and a duck and a baby elephant)

--
Will in New Haven
Our tears can show love
But the lovely days show us
Happy memories

On Aug 20, 4:54*pm, "Mau, High Priestess - Temple of Bast"
wrote:
THE MEMORIAL SERVICE

* * * * It is evening at the Temple of Bast and a soft
cool breeze whispers through the palms where only
a few hours before, the hot, unrelenting sun baked
the sand, turning away even the tourists. *Now
that all the humans are gone, the temple cats open
the tall, brass doors engraved with cats in
hieroglyphic tales written by long-ago humans.
They tread inside and light pots of fragrant
incense, then scatter flower petals on the lapis
lazuli floor, polished smooth by years of soft
padded feet walking over it. *At the front, under
the statue of Bast is a small, bronze statue of a
cat in repose, with flower petals strewn all over
it; next to it is a picture of Tiger, and on a
stand, the magical memory pocket-watch Anaïs gave
to him on their last winking-anniversary just two
months ago.

* * * * The temple cats light the lamps and a soft glow
illuminates the huge hall; the dark blue robed
all-feline choir whisper meows as they review
their sheet music; Hercule Lenoir sits at the
organ softly playing the Bach Tocatta and Fugue in
D-minor. *Outside, 'porters begin to twinkle as
the community cats arrive and quietly file inside;
a large contingent of orange kitties sit together
as a group. *When the hall is filled, Hercule
finishes the Fugue, and the Temple is silent - not
even a kitten mews. *Suddenly, the organ and choir
open to a crescendo as the choir sings Orff's
Carmina Burana:

* * * * "O Fortuna, velut luna, statu variabilis, semper
crescis aut decrescis. Vita detestabilis, nunc
obdurat et tunc curat. *Ludo mentis aciem,
egestatem, * * *potestatem dissolvit ut glaciem..." * * * *

* * * * [O Fortune, like the moon constantly changing,
ever waxing and waning. Detestable life - now
difficult and then easy. A deceptively sharp mind,
poverty and power: it melts them like ice.]

[It can be heard here, click on the right:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Fortuna]

* * * * As the music fades to silence, Mau, the High
Priestess of Bast, walks quietly to the front; she
is jet black, and wearing a black robe and a thin
rose-gold collar with an emerald scarab in the
middle; her eyes too, are green, and all that can
be seen are the green of her eyes and the glowing
emerald scarab. The lights come on, and she meows
in a soft voice: "My dear cats and kittens, we are
here today to celebrate the life of a friend,
Tiger, and to mourn his departure from this mortal
coil. *Tiger was a cat who was loved by all,
including his humans, and who was a friend to
everyone in the community. *His life had a hard
beginning but a wonderful end as he found his one
true home and his wife-kitty, Anaïs, who will now
share her love for Tiger with you."

* * * * [A petite White-and-cream Persian, in a simple
black dress, carrying three forget-me-nots in her
right paw walks to the front and meows in a soft
voice.]

* * * * "Meow kitties, and fangu for coming heer tonight
to honor mine Tiger. He was a sweet kitty, and da
lub ob mine life; we just sellebrayed owr siksth
winking anibersary this Joon. My Tiger had a hard
early life. Apparently he was an indoor kitty, and
his crool humans left him behind wen dey moved. He
had to scrounge arownd da Owt for food and
shelter, and wen his Anti Lee and Unka Robert
rescued him, he weighed only sebben powndz, just
skin and bownez - eben less den myown liddle seff!
Anti Lee often tawks abowt how he would become
berry unnerfed wen sootcases or boxes were arownd;
dey musta browt up da frightenink memories ob wen
his former hoomanz abandoned hisownself. He luffed
Lee and Robert, and put on weight, getting up to
hiz full fibteen pownds: he was a big, hansum
boycat!

* * * * I met hisownseff heer on mine first RPCC 'benture
many yeers ago, and we dated fur a wile, den got
engaged, den winked. We had a bootiful winking in
frunt ob da Spinks by Miranda, da den High
Preestus ob Bast. Tiger an myownseff shared many,
many happy memoriez ob wunnerful 'bentures wif dis
kommunity heer on RPCC. I will alwayz hab dese
memoriez, alwayz. Tiger, mine luff, I will miss
you - you iz always mine Bogart, and I will alwayz
be your Bacall. Goodby Tiger!"

* * * * She steps down, and with a tear, lays the three
forget-me-nots on his picture...

* * * * Mau returns to the altar.

* * * * "Dear *kitties, it's hard for us to *lose a loved
one: we remember their sweet faces, the softness
of their fur or the warmth of their purr, and they
live on as our memories. As has been said many
times: on the other side of the Bridge is a
monument that the kitties at the Bridge put up. On
it, it says:

* * * * * * * * * * * * "...Grieve not,
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *nor speak of me with tears,
* * * * * * * * * * * * but laugh and talk of me
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *as if I were beside you...
* * * * * * * * * * * * I loved you so--
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *'twas Heaven there with you."

* * * * "But what we should remember is that the
inscription faces away from the departed's side of
the Bridge, and is visible from our side, here on
earth. They wanted it that way, so that when we
thought of a dear departed one and cried looking
toward the Bridge, the message on it would sooth
us.

* * * * And now, the Temple choir girl-cats and Hercule
have arranged a special song for his humans, who
have experienced such difficult, sad and trying
times in these past days, losing their home to a
fire, and then losing Tiger:"

* * * * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWEDB...eature=related
]

* * * * And so, my beloved children, we gather here to
say goodbye to Tiger - he's on the other side of
the Bridge now, looking down on all of us. And so
I ask you to please join us *in a banquet after
services - it's what Tiger would have wanted: to
celebrate his life over good food and drink, with
good friends. His buddy, the Inspector has put
together a banquet of his favorite foods and
drinks, and you are all invited to participate and
tell your stories about Tiger."

* * * * And now, in the name of Bast I bless all of you."
[She raises her right paw and swipes the air.
Thousands of bright sparkles rise to the ceiling
and decend on the gathering below] "May these
glowing lights bring into the lives of each and
every cat present here the blessings of peace,
prosperity, happiness, endless food, love and long
and joyful lives."

* * * * Hercule softly plays another Bach toccatta and
fugue, as the community cats slowly file out to
the courtyard...

THE BANQUET

* * * * It is now night and the cool desert air sweeps
over the courtyard, illuminated by the moon and
the torches that the Temple cats have lit.
Cushions are placed in varying arrangement around
low tables, and a many-table buffet is set up.
Hiura, the sushi chef and his assistants are
making sushi and rolls at one table; lobsters,
shrimp and langostinos are prepared in many
different ways on another table; at yet another a
chef kitty is slicing roast-beef amid platters of
assortments of lamb, veal and pork chops
surrounded by roasted potatoes - another kitty
chef is putting out platters of duck confit, a
roast turkey and duck a l'orange, and at the
closest table are platters of Breton oysters on
ice; clams, mussels and shrimp. Many champagne
flutes are being filled by wait-kitties with
vintage Chat Lunatique nip-champagne - Tiger's
favorite - and next to them is a rather corpulent,
grey Chartreuse cat in a dark suit. After the
wait-kitties have passed out the champagne, he
rises and meows:

* * * * "Bonjour chats et chatons! For zose who do not
know myself, I am Jacques, zee Inspektor wif zee
Paree police. Az an owld eetink and drinkink buddy
of Tiger's, I am onored to make zeez bankwet and
giff zee toast. Tiger wuz a cat's cat, loyal,
strong, brave, fleet ov foot and handsum; devoted
to hees weenk, and luffed hiz hoomanz. We shared
many adbenchures and many, many mealz - Tiger
luffed gud fud, a gud drink and a gud nap. He waz
alwayz zere eef you needed heem - he was a gud
friend, and I weel miss heem. But I knoze zat he
wood not want usses to morn, but raffer to
celebrate heez life at a bankwet like zees won zo
dat he can luk down at us from zee Bridje and
smile at us! Zo, zen, let us awl lift owr glasses
and toast Tiger: Farewell, mine friend, but not
goodby!"

* * * * "Any kitty who weeshes to make a toast or say a
few wurds, may do so; and let us begin by sampling
zeese Breton oysterz zat I just ported heer from
Furrance!" With that he passes around plates of
oysters on the half-shell...

--
Mrrrrrkk,

Mau, High Priestess
Temple of Bast, Egypt

[Eight cats sit unusually silent in the temple, listening to Mau and
casting sympathetic glances at Mme Anaïs and Tiger's clowder, their
spirits soaring with the music as they think of Tiger, healthy and
young, joining the party at the Rainbow Bridge.]
Ralph, Fred, Alice, Jane, Ricky, Mary, Judith, and Claude

Mosey and MeOwy look up, holding paws, and see all the kitties and doggies,
n uther animalls and stand there, also thinking about theirown winking,
and knows Tiger, TV and Maggy May would approve and the silently invite them
to their winking. Love is so wonderful.
Silently Mosey says hello to his departed friends.
Dat pome iz sew bootiful. Luvs to efferone Mosey and MeOwy
....

As Willow begins to file out with the other Cats, she notices an ever so
slight stirring up in the rafters above the alter.

She excuses herself and makes her way to where she saw the movement. Hallo
dere Mr. T. V. I ceed u kum ta pay ur specks to Mr. Tiger. Diz mus be Miz
Violette and dem Doggies is Auntis Softz dog guides. U looks gudgud. We
will mizz Tiger man but knowz himself will be fine at da bridje.

All the cats turn their heads in unison, up and to the right. Willow
follows their gaze and sees a young, healthy and happy Tiger Man sitting
watching his family as they leave. She waves a paw and he waves back.

Willow turns and stares so hard at Anais back that she hopes she can turn
in
time to see the Tiger Man there looking so gud..

If she looks really hard, Willow can see Maggy May in the background,
reading a story or poem to an attentive but playful gaggle of kittens
and puppies (and a duck and a baby elephant)

--
Will in New Haven
Our tears can show love
But the lovely days show us
Happy memories

Lilith Kitten Mahoney, Sheriff Rosco P. Catrane, & Miss Tina
Marie teleport in and take their places on various cushions
around the temple. Lilith is the first to approach Tiger's
family. She offers each of them a cheekrub. Sheriff Rosco P.
Catrane offers each of the clowder a headbutt, but when he gets
to his winkwink Stormmee, he gently licks her on her forehead.
Then Miss Tina Marie goes up to each member of the clowder and
chirps at them.

We are furry sorry for your loss.

On Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:10:02 -0700 (PDT), MeOwy's
nimble, little paws typed:

[MeOwy sniffles a little, an dabs at the tears on her cheeks. She
reaches to Mme. Anais and puts her paw on the paw of Mme. Anais.]

Furry furry byoodaful an peasful heer, Mme. Anais. Da ceremony twoowy
wurffy ob yoor wunndurful wink Tiger.

MeOwy, purrs an clinks gwasses

[Petite Persian hugs her friends, and clinks
glasses]

Well, I finks we shud do whut Tiger wood,and dats
eet! Will you join me at da buffet?

--
Purrs,

Mme. Anaïs

“I love cats because I take pleasure in my home;
and little by little, the cats become its visible
soul.�
Jean Cocteau, 1889-1963

8/21/2010 8:00:35 PM

At da bak uv da temple, DaRennieKidz an RennieFosturKittiez listin
kwietlee tu Mau. Doze hoo rememfur Tiger sit wif der hedz bowed in
rememfurins.

Oz, Voodoo, Willow, Marble, Matthias, Jordie, Cyrus, Nevaeh, Whisper,
Sadie, Oxford, Patros, Quattro, Amber, Shalimar, Mae, Larissa, Noah,
Liam, Gryphon, Aladdin, Micah Blue, Malachi, Thunder, Diana, Ryan,
Cinnamon, Sixx, Galaxy, Hope, Ulysses, Boca, Shea, Jesse, Lavinia,
Milo, No Name 1, No Name 2, No Name 3 an 19 RennieFosturKittiez

On Aug 20, 7:54*pm, "Mau, High Priestess - Temple of Bast"
wrote:
THE MEMORIAL SERVICE

* * * * It is evening at the Temple of Bast and a soft
cool breeze whispers through the palms where only
a few hours before, the hot, unrelenting sun baked
the sand, turning away even the tourists. *Now
that all the humans are gone, the temple cats open
the tall, brass doors engraved with cats in
hieroglyphic tales written by long-ago humans.
They tread inside and light pots of fragrant
incense, then scatter flower petals on the lapis
lazuli floor, polished smooth by years of soft
padded feet walking over it. *At the front, under
the statue of Bast is a small, bronze statue of a
cat in repose, with flower petals strewn all over
it; next to it is a picture of Tiger, and on a
stand, the magical memory pocket-watch Anaïs gave
to him on their last winking-anniversary just two
months ago.

* * * * The temple cats light the lamps and a soft glow
illuminates the huge hall; the dark blue robed
all-feline choir whisper meows as they review
their sheet music; Hercule Lenoir sits at the
organ softly playing the Bach Tocatta and Fugue in
D-minor. *Outside, 'porters begin to twinkle as
the community cats arrive and quietly file inside;
a large contingent of orange kitties sit together
as a group. *When the hall is filled, Hercule
finishes the Fugue, and the Temple is silent - not
even a kitten mews. *Suddenly, the organ and choir
open to a crescendo as the choir sings Orff's
Carmina Burana:

* * * * "O Fortuna, velut luna, statu variabilis, semper
crescis aut decrescis. Vita detestabilis, nunc
obdurat et tunc curat. *Ludo mentis aciem,
egestatem, * * *potestatem dissolvit ut glaciem..." * * * *

* * * * [O Fortune, like the moon constantly changing,
ever waxing and waning. Detestable life - now
difficult and then easy. A deceptively sharp mind,
poverty and power: it melts them like ice.]

[It can be heard here, click on the right:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Fortuna]

* * * * As the music fades to silence, Mau, the High
Priestess of Bast, walks quietly to the front; she
is jet black, and wearing a black robe and a thin
rose-gold collar with an emerald scarab in the
middle; her eyes too, are green, and all that can
be seen are the green of her eyes and the glowing
emerald scarab. The lights come on, and she meows
in a soft voice: "My dear cats and kittens, we are
here today to celebrate the life of a friend,
Tiger, and to mourn his departure from this mortal
coil. *Tiger was a cat who was loved by all,
including his humans, and who was a friend to
everyone in the community. *His life had a hard
beginning but a wonderful end as he found his one
true home and his wife-kitty, Anaïs, who will now
share her love for Tiger with you."

* * * * [A petite White-and-cream Persian, in a simple
black dress, carrying three forget-me-nots in her
right paw walks to the front and meows in a soft
voice.]

* * * * "Meow kitties, and fangu for coming heer tonight
to honor mine Tiger. He was a sweet kitty, and da
lub ob mine life; we just sellebrayed owr siksth
winking anibersary this Joon. My Tiger had a hard
early life. Apparently he was an indoor kitty, and
his crool humans left him behind wen dey moved. He
had to scrounge arownd da Owt for food and
shelter, and wen his Anti Lee and Unka Robert
rescued him, he weighed only sebben powndz, just
skin and bownez - eben less den myown liddle seff!
Anti Lee often tawks abowt how he would become
berry unnerfed wen sootcases or boxes were arownd;
dey musta browt up da frightenink memories ob wen
his former hoomanz abandoned hisownself. He luffed
Lee and Robert, and put on weight, getting up to
hiz full fibteen pownds: he was a big, hansum
boycat!

* * * * I met hisownseff heer on mine first RPCC 'benture
many yeers ago, and we dated fur a wile, den got
engaged, den winked. We had a bootiful winking in
frunt ob da Spinks by Miranda, da den High
Preestus ob Bast. Tiger an myownseff shared many,
many happy memoriez ob wunnerful 'bentures wif dis
kommunity heer on RPCC. I will alwayz hab dese
memoriez, alwayz. Tiger, mine luff, I will miss
you - you iz always mine Bogart, and I will alwayz
be your Bacall. Goodby Tiger!"

* * * * She steps down, and with a tear, lays the three
forget-me-nots on his picture...

* * * * Mau returns to the altar.

* * * * "Dear *kitties, it's hard for us to *lose a loved
one: we remember their sweet faces, the softness
of their fur or the warmth of their purr, and they
live on as our memories. As has been said many
times: on the other side of the Bridge is a
monument that the kitties at the Bridge put up. On
it, it says:

* * * * * * * * * * * * "...Grieve not,
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *nor speak of me with tears,
* * * * * * * * * * * * but laugh and talk of me
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *as if I were beside you...
* * * * * * * * * * * * I loved you so--
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *'twas Heaven there with you."

* * * * "But what we should remember is that the
inscription faces away from the departed's side of
the Bridge, and is visible from our side, here on
earth. They wanted it that way, so that when we
thought of a dear departed one and cried looking
toward the Bridge, the message on it would sooth
us.

* * * * And now, the Temple choir girl-cats and Hercule
have arranged a special song for his humans, who
have experienced such difficult, sad and trying
times in these past days, losing their home to a
fire, and then losing Tiger:"

* * * * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWEDB...eature=related
]

* * * * And so, my beloved children, we gather here to
say goodbye to Tiger - he's on the other side of
the Bridge now, looking down on all of us. And so
I ask you to please join us *in a banquet after
services - it's what Tiger would have wanted: to
celebrate his life over good food and drink, with
good friends. His buddy, the Inspector has put
together a banquet of his favorite foods and
drinks, and you are all invited to participate and
tell your stories about Tiger."

* * * * And now, in the name of Bast I bless all of you."
[She raises her right paw and swipes the air.
Thousands of bright sparkles rise to the ceiling
and decend on the gathering below] "May these
glowing lights bring into the lives of each and
every cat present here the blessings of peace,
prosperity, happiness, endless food, love and long
and joyful lives."

* * * * Hercule softly plays another Bach toccatta and
fugue, as the community cats slowly file out to
the courtyard...

THE BANQUET

* * * * It is now night and the cool desert air sweeps
over the courtyard, illuminated by the moon and
the torches that the Temple cats have lit.
Cushions are placed in varying arrangement around
low tables, and a many-table buffet is set up.
Hiura, the sushi chef and his assistants are
making sushi and rolls at one table; lobsters,
shrimp and langostinos are prepared in many
different ways on another table; at yet another a
chef kitty is slicing roast-beef amid platters of
assortments of lamb, veal and pork chops
surrounded by roasted potatoes - another kitty
chef is putting out platters of duck confit, a
roast turkey and duck a l'orange, and at the
closest table are platters of Breton oysters on
ice; clams, mussels and shrimp. Many champagne
flutes are being filled by wait-kitties with
vintage Chat Lunatique nip-champagne - Tiger's
favorite - and next to them is a rather corpulent,
grey Chartreuse cat in a dark suit. After the
wait-kitties have passed out the champagne, he
rises and meows:

* * * * "Bonjour chats et chatons! For zose who do not
know myself, I am Jacques, zee Inspektor wif zee
Paree police. Az an owld eetink and drinkink buddy
of Tiger's, I am onored to make zeez bankwet and
giff zee toast. Tiger wuz a cat's cat, loyal,
strong, brave, fleet ov foot and handsum; devoted
to hees weenk, and luffed hiz hoomanz. We shared
many adbenchures and many, many mealz - Tiger
luffed gud fud, a gud drink and a gud nap. He waz
alwayz zere eef you needed heem - he was a gud
friend, and I weel miss heem. But I knoze zat he
wood not want usses to morn, but raffer to
celebrate heez life at a bankwet like zees won zo
dat he can luk down at us from zee Bridje and
smile at us! Zo, zen, let us awl lift owr glasses
and toast Tiger: Farewell, mine friend, but not
goodby!"

* * * * "Any kitty who weeshes to make a toast or say a
few wurds, may do so; and let us begin by sampling
zeese Breton oysterz zat I just ported heer from
Furrance!" With that he passes around plates of
oysters on the half-shell...

--
Mrrrrrkk,

Mau, High Priestess
Temple of Bast, Egypt

[Rebecca listens attentively to the service and the music, then goes to pay
her respects to Mme. Anaï and to Tiger's clowder. She speaks quietly.]

Iz dere enneefing I kan git fur ennee uv yurownselvez, or enneefing I kan
do?

Rebecca

As Piglett is leaving the service she ses all the "DaRennieKidz" and forter
kidz, she is pleased to see all of them have come to show their reapect for
the Tiger Man. Mine gudnez, them iza big famiblee demselvez.
At da bak uv da temple,

"DaRennieKidz" wrote in message
...
At da bak uv da temple, DaRennieKidz an RennieFosturKittiez listin
kwietlee tu Mau. Doze hoo rememfur Tiger sit wif der hedz bowed in
rememfurins.

Oz, Voodoo, Willow, Marble, Matthias, Jordie, Cyrus, Nevaeh, Whisper,
Sadie, Oxford, Patros, Quattro, Amber, Shalimar, Mae, Larissa, Noah,
Liam, Gryphon, Aladdin, Micah Blue, Malachi, Thunder, Diana, Ryan,
Cinnamon, Sixx, Galaxy, Hope, Ulysses, Boca, Shea, Jesse, Lavinia,
Milo, No Name 1, No Name 2, No Name 3 an 19 RennieFosturKittiez

On Aug 20, 7:54 pm, "Mau, High Priestess - Temple of Bast"
wrote:
THE MEMORIAL SERVICE

It is evening at the Temple of Bast and a soft
cool breeze whispers through the palms where only
a few hours before, the hot, unrelenting sun baked
the sand, turning away even the tourists. Now
that all the humans are gone, the temple cats open
the tall, brass doors engraved with cats in
hieroglyphic tales written by long-ago humans.
They tread inside and light pots of fragrant
incense, then scatter flower petals on the lapis
lazuli floor, polished smooth by years of soft
padded feet walking over it. At the front, under
the statue of Bast is a small, bronze statue of a
cat in repose, with flower petals strewn all over
it; next to it is a picture of Tiger, and on a
stand, the magical memory pocket-watch Anaïs gave
to him on their last winking-anniversary just two
months ago.

The temple cats light the lamps and a soft glow
illuminates the huge hall; the dark blue robed
all-feline choir whisper meows as they review
their sheet music; Hercule Lenoir sits at the
organ softly playing the Bach Tocatta and Fugue in
D-minor. Outside, 'porters begin to twinkle as
the community cats arrive and quietly file inside;
a large contingent of orange kitties sit together
as a group. When the hall is filled, Hercule
finishes the Fugue, and the Temple is silent - not
even a kitten mews. Suddenly, the organ and choir
open to a crescendo as the choir sings Orff's
Carmina Burana:

"O Fortuna, velut luna, statu variabilis, semper
crescis aut decrescis. Vita detestabilis, nunc
obdurat et tunc curat. Ludo mentis aciem,
egestatem, potestatem dissolvit ut glaciem..."

[O Fortune, like the moon constantly changing,
ever waxing and waning. Detestable life - now
difficult and then easy. A deceptively sharp mind,
poverty and power: it melts them like ice.]

[It can be heard here, click on the
right:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Fortuna]

As the music fades to silence, Mau, the High
Priestess of Bast, walks quietly to the front; she
is jet black, and wearing a black robe and a thin
rose-gold collar with an emerald scarab in the
middle; her eyes too, are green, and all that can
be seen are the green of her eyes and the glowing
emerald scarab. The lights come on, and she meows
in a soft voice: "My dear cats and kittens, we are
here today to celebrate the life of a friend,
Tiger, and to mourn his departure from this mortal
coil. Tiger was a cat who was loved by all,
including his humans, and who was a friend to
everyone in the community. His life had a hard
beginning but a wonderful end as he found his one
true home and his wife-kitty, Anaïs, who will now
share her love for Tiger with you."

[A petite White-and-cream Persian, in a simple
black dress, carrying three forget-me-nots in her
right paw walks to the front and meows in a soft
voice.]

"Meow kitties, and fangu for coming heer tonight
to honor mine Tiger. He was a sweet kitty, and da
lub ob mine life; we just sellebrayed owr siksth
winking anibersary this Joon. My Tiger had a hard
early life. Apparently he was an indoor kitty, and
his crool humans left him behind wen dey moved. He
had to scrounge arownd da Owt for food and
shelter, and wen his Anti Lee and Unka Robert
rescued him, he weighed only sebben powndz, just
skin and bownez - eben less den myown liddle seff!
Anti Lee often tawks abowt how he would become
berry unnerfed wen sootcases or boxes were arownd;
dey musta browt up da frightenink memories ob wen
his former hoomanz abandoned hisownself. He luffed
Lee and Robert, and put on weight, getting up to
hiz full fibteen pownds: he was a big, hansum
boycat!

I met hisownseff heer on mine first RPCC 'benture
many yeers ago, and we dated fur a wile, den got
engaged, den winked. We had a bootiful winking in
frunt ob da Spinks by Miranda, da den High
Preestus ob Bast. Tiger an myownseff shared many,
many happy memoriez ob wunnerful 'bentures wif dis
kommunity heer on RPCC. I will alwayz hab dese
memoriez, alwayz. Tiger, mine luff, I will miss
you - you iz always mine Bogart, and I will alwayz
be your Bacall. Goodby Tiger!"

She steps down, and with a tear, lays the three
forget-me-nots on his picture...

Mau returns to the altar.

"Dear kitties, it's hard for us to lose a loved
one: we remember their sweet faces, the softness
of their fur or the warmth of their purr, and they
live on as our memories. As has been said many
times: on the other side of the Bridge is a
monument that the kitties at the Bridge put up. On
it, it says:

"...Grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you...
I loved you so--
'twas Heaven there with you."

"But what we should remember is that the
inscription faces away from the departed's side of
the Bridge, and is visible from our side, here on
earth. They wanted it that way, so that when we
thought of a dear departed one and cried looking
toward the Bridge, the message on it would sooth
us.

And now, the Temple choir girl-cats and Hercule
have arranged a special song for his humans, who
have experienced such difficult, sad and trying
times in these past days, losing their home to a
fire, and then losing Tiger:"

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWEDB...eature=related
]

And so, my beloved children, we gather here to
say goodbye to Tiger - he's on the other side of
the Bridge now, looking down on all of us. And so
I ask you to please join us in a banquet after
services - it's what Tiger would have wanted: to
celebrate his life over good food and drink, with
good friends. His buddy, the Inspector has put
together a banquet of his favorite foods and
drinks, and you are all invited to participate and
tell your stories about Tiger."

And now, in the name of Bast I bless all of you."
[She raises her right paw and swipes the air.
Thousands of bright sparkles rise to the ceiling
and decend on the gathering below] "May these
glowing lights bring into the lives of each and
every cat present here the blessings of peace,
prosperity, happiness, endless food, love and long
and joyful lives."

Hercule softly plays another Bach toccatta and
fugue, as the community cats slowly file out to
the courtyard...

THE BANQUET

It is now night and the cool desert air sweeps
over the courtyard, illuminated by the moon and
the torches that the Temple cats have lit.
Cushions are placed in varying arrangement around
low tables, and a many-table buffet is set up.
Hiura, the sushi chef and his assistants are
making sushi and rolls at one table; lobsters,
shrimp and langostinos are prepared in many
different ways on another table; at yet another a
chef kitty is slicing roast-beef amid platters of
assortments of lamb, veal and pork chops
surrounded by roasted potatoes - another kitty
chef is putting out platters of duck confit, a
roast turkey and duck a l'orange, and at the
closest table are platters of Breton oysters on
ice; clams, mussels and shrimp. Many champagne
flutes are being filled by wait-kitties with
vintage Chat Lunatique nip-champagne - Tiger's
favorite - and next to them is a rather corpulent,
grey Chartreuse cat in a dark suit. After the
wait-kitties have passed out the champagne, he
rises and meows:

"Bonjour chats et chatons! For zose who do not
know myself, I am Jacques, zee Inspektor wif zee
Paree police. Az an owld eetink and drinkink buddy
of Tiger's, I am onored to make zeez bankwet and
giff zee toast. Tiger wuz a cat's cat, loyal,
strong, brave, fleet ov foot and handsum; devoted
to hees weenk, and luffed hiz hoomanz. We shared
many adbenchures and many, many mealz - Tiger
luffed gud fud, a gud drink and a gud nap. He waz
alwayz zere eef you needed heem - he was a gud
friend, and I weel miss heem. But I knoze zat he
wood not want usses to morn, but raffer to
celebrate heez life at a bankwet like zees won zo
dat he can luk down at us from zee Bridje and
smile at us! Zo, zen, let us awl lift owr glasses
and toast Tiger: Farewell, mine friend, but not
goodby!"

"Any kitty who weeshes to make a toast or say a
few wurds, may do so; and let us begin by sampling
zeese Breton oysterz zat I just ported heer from
Furrance!" With that he passes around plates of
oysters on the half-shell...

--
Mrrrrrkk,

Mau, High Priestess
Temple of Bast, Egypt

(Lucy sits quietly and thinks of Chester, and all the challenges his
family is facing.)

Chester, my luff, when I see mew again, all of dis wil be behind us. I
em purring for mew and yur famlee effury night.

Our howse is full of luff for yurs.

[A parade of cats from the Second World files in silently, led by Aed
and Morgana. They form a circle of cats,packed tightly shoulder to
shoulder. Two very elderly kitties, an old boycat and and an old
girlcat, both having once been deepest black but now faded to mottled
grey, edge through the circle and takes their places at the very center.

The old cats begin meowing an ancient chant, eerie sounds that bring to
mind old mysteries. The circle of cats join in, and soon the entire
room is throbbing and humming with the sounds. The assembled cats
close their eyes to soak in the magic of the sounds. As they allow the
sounds to move through them, the music calls to minds images of Tiger
in his youth, his role in Community adventures, and his many noble
deeds. Many of the visions feature glimpses of Tiger's beloved wink
Anais, and of his family members, including Miss Violette and OT. The
visions all bring back memories of happy times.

After a few minutes the choir of Second World cats draws to an end. The
choir cats sit witih their heads bowed for a while, then they rise and
go to greet the Inspector and to express their condolences to Mme.
Anais and to Tiger's family members.

Aed leads the two ancient kitties to the Inspector, Mme. Anais, and
Tiger's family.]

My friend, I would like to introduce to you Cuchulane and Cuchulone,
the high priest and high priestess of the Second World. They lead us in
our rememberances of the those who have gone on to the Rainbow Bridge.
They have never before left the Second World, but they felt compelled
to come to Tiger's Memorial today.

[Cuchulane and Cuchulone] Dearest friends, we are most profoundly
sorry for your loss. While it is true that our loved ones leave us for
a most exquisite place of comfort and perfect health, those of us who
get left behind always grieve for the loss of their company. This is
the natural way of things. It is our hope that the Song of Remembrance
helped to remind you of the excellent times you have enjoyed in the
past with Mr. Tiger.