Sunday, September 30, 2007

Aya Hahatula, 1996-2007





איה החתולה
1996-2007


It is with great sorrow that I report the passing of our beloved Aya on Friday evening. An abrupt seizure took her away from us in a matter of seconds, unexpectedly and without warning. There is solace in that her demise was quick and painless but her sudden departure from our lives, without preamble or warning, has plunged us into sadness and regret. If only we had just one more day with Aya to hug and bid farewell. Her high-pitched friendly meows still linger, echoing from the crowded bookshelves of our small apartment. Not even Yohanan's cries of sorrows can overcome them.

Aya's eventful life spanned two corners of the globe. She enjoyed hunting Israeli cockroaches in her early days in Givatayim, and towards her 6th year undertook a transatlantic voyage with Yoav to seek novel opportunities in the new world. In Boston however, the absence of a work visa and a vexing empathy for squirrels resulted in early retirement to a carefree life of leisure. She greeted each morning sun stooped beside the window sill, taking a breath of fresh air to induce an appetite. She would then park herself in front of her food bowl for lengthy amounts of time, occasionally grazing at her semi-private wheat garden to facilitate digestion.

Aya was never particularly agile or cunning, and was therefore put at a disadvantage for gaining food over Yohanan's adversarial behavior. She compensated by her keen sense of hearing, clumsily rushing from the bedroom to the sharp opening sound of a can of cat food to beat her competition. She was a keen lover of corn nibblets and on the rare occasions in which she was offered them, she indulged in roasted beets. She loved company, and would often jump on the lap of formal guests, or a juicy plate of chicken legs, which we have since abolished. Each night she fell asleep at our feet on the communal bed, and that is how I will remember her. To her last day, Aya was a "cat's cat" --- outgoing, cheerful and boisterous. We are so fortunate to have had her.

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