September 6,1982 - May 6, 2002


My Grand Old Lady

Born in the Ozark mountains in 1982, BamBam was a medium-haired tri-color tabby and white cat with large, luminous, hazel-gold eyes. Some might call her a calico, but she had some stripes she was proud of, and considered herself unique. Actually, she probably thought she was a human, until she realized in her old age that being a cat was far superior. She was a member of my family at home longer than any humans were, and my mainstay for over 19 years.

BamBam suffered the indignity of her silly name in silence, and would never tell me the real "secret name" I knew very well she had, until she was 17 years old. One day during our conversation, I said "You know, you never would tell me your real true name." She looked me in the eyes and told me, clear as a bell, "Constance". I don't know where that came from, if not from her. I never thought of it as a name for a cat. But she said it was hers, and I believed her. Since it was a secret, I never called her that or revealed the name until now. Now I know how appropriate her secret name was. Her life was the definition of constance.

She had several families of kittens in her youth, but she spent the remainder of her life running mine. After she became ill with Chronic Renal Failure at 18, our lives changed drastically. Sometimes she seemed very near the Bridge, but with her characteristic stubborness, she wouldn't go. I know she believed I couldn't muddle through life without her.

My BamBam had a magnificent heart, and the strongest, most indomitable spirit I ever saw in a cat. Several times she crashed, and rallied, and refused to leave me. She passed her 19th birthday, and took on an ethereal beauty, a pale golden aura. She wasn't in pain; she was just in a long transition. I waited for her to tell me when she was ready to go. When the time came, it came swiftly. She told me at 10:00 one Friday night. The following Monday, May 6, 2002, at 3:55 in the afternoon, she crossed Rainbow Bridge peacefully, in my arms. She was 19 years and 8 months old.

BamBam, my brave, loving, stubborn old sweetheart, what a hole you left in my life. But yes, I feel your angel wings fluttering in my heart, old girl. As long as I live, so do you.
I love you.

Please visit:

BamBam's Memorial Angel page

BamBam's framed pictures, shared with her daughter

BamBam's additional framed pictures page

The Queens and I

Les Girls

Our Feline CRF Page

Our Bridge Kitties Memorial Page