Fini Kitty King of School St. (20??-11/5/10)
Fini arrived one April day a year and a half ago. He was dirty, smelly, half dead marmalade kitty. It happened to be the first spring day that I brought Ziggy, my Australian puppy to the shop. My intent had to be to bring Ziggy into work for a few hours to see how she liked being the "next" shop dog. But as life doesn't always play out as planned. There slept a skinny, filthy kitty curled up on my couch. Becky, my neighbor and fellow sucker for stray pets happened to be walking by my shop as Ziggy and I arrived for work. Becky and I had a few giggles and a oh s... not another stray kitty.....I tied Ziggy to the shop tree and went to check out the cat, not sure if he was alive. He reeked of poo and barely had energy but let me pick him up and snuggled close.
Now what to do???? I took Ziggy home and brought some cat food and a little milk back to the shop. Cleaned him up and tried to fatten him up. I tried hard to find him a good home but destiny had it that he wanted to be here. Many dollars later I finally figured out it might work to keep him here if I put a kitty door in. It took him a few weeks to figure it out. He was covered in burdocks prickers one morning and realized he had figured it out. Smart cat.
He was good company always happy to meow at me on arrival to work in the morning. Certainly a conversation starter with customers; almost everybody has a good cat story. Handy to calm me down during interviews with my book publicity; he was all too happy to sit on my lap or his preference was to curl around my neck or anybody's neck for that matter. One day Becky was gardening and Fini hopped up on her back and curled around her neck. What a surprise she had. I never knew a cat that would do this. He was almost as happy to rest on my left shoulder.
Fini loved guys. I think his last owner must have been a man; who knows his story, if kitties could only talk. oh the stories they would tell. Most men that are dragged lampshade shopping often smartly perch themselves on my porch couch while their wives shop for lampshades. And the Fini's job was to keep the guys busy while their wives would spend money in my shop!!!! Good job Fini! He met many a guy that loved cats. And sometimes if he was lucky he would head for the guys neck and try as hard as he could to wrap around his neck. 
Oh so sweet. Ed with Fini. 
I was amazed how Fini could hop up on my shop displays and almost never knock things down. I'd come to work in the morning and he'd pulled fabric off a shelf and make a little nest on a bottom shelf. He found lots of favorite spots to snuggle but usually trying to sit as close to my work space as possible. 
good bye bud. everyone loved you. You had a good couple of years here and you made our lives richer with your purrs and snuggles. love, judy.
ps. the mice are going to have a hayday!