Frankie Weiss and Her Magic

I could never bring myself to read the two earlier books Peter wrote about his “Travels with Norton.” It would hurt too much. I’d feel his pain again, knowing that Norton’s passing left him childless. I’m fortunate; I look forward to many years with my loving “children,” Frankie and Johnnie.

People who love their fellow human and their cats are people who will always lose a little of themselves in losing a loved one.

Peter Gethers, as many cat lovers will, did not immediately adopt another cat. The memory of Norton and the life they shared could not permit such an adoption. It hurt too much. Janis, Peter’s lady friend, and who loved Norton almost as much as Peter did, stood by his side all through the years of Norton’s illness and was a great comfort in his grief. Norton spent many a night under Janis’s roof while Peter had to travel in his work.

It was quite a while later, possibly a year or two, I again wrote Peter a letter, Janis was still by his side, and if memory serves me right, he adopted two kittenish Scottish Folds. It made me feel good to know because of the love he had for Norton that he needed a feline in his life and heart. But, Norton will never be replaced. It could never be otherwise.

In writing the above little story about Norton, the Scottish Fold and Peter Gethers, his lover and keeper. It once again reinforces my thought that the love between animal and its keeper is something unexplainable. We know more about the mystery of our solar system and its workings than we could ever decipher the bonding between a feline and human.

For keepers of the feline, in getting and reading this book “The Cat Who’ll Live Forever” you live every moment of its pages. You will enjoy the many interesting observations and you’ll perhaps shed a tear as you read the final chapter of this enthralling book. Finally, it will make you love your cat(s) all the more and be glad they are around and still part of your life and world.