We have had to let our beautiful Jasper go.

I found him in the window of a furniture store 14 years ago in New Hampshire. He was hiding behind some cardboard boxes and he drew me in.

I loved him at first sight and even though he hid behind the boxes, my husband and I quickly asked to have him. It was a freezing cold night and he crawled inside my husband's coat and purred incredibly loud. I wonder if Jasper knew he was home.

Jasper quickly fell in love with our cocker spaniel, Oso, and they were best friends. They slept together, ate together and kept each other warm on cold nights.

Jasper moved with us as we wandered around the East Coast and he was always a terrible traveler meowing at the top of his lungs. Jasper quickly adopted every new home and was a complete house cat.

He slept every night on the bed and never failed to come when he was called.

Jasper would happily watch from the window for our cars and you could hear him jumping down on the other side of the door to greet us. I never entered my house without him greeting me and my favorite memories of him is seeing him in the front window with his tail waving.

Jasper cuddled every night with me on the couch, always found a sunny window, and loved sleeping on the cat tree.

He was so sweet, so HUGE, and just a wonderful loving companion. His purr was very loud. Jasper had silky black fur the color of midnight which turned brown in bright sunshine. His eyes were bright amber and very intelligent. I often felt he knew exactly what I was saying to him.

We often called him Joe as he would sit with us at dinner and rest his gorgeous head on the table.

I cannot believe he's gone, but I am thankful that we had 14 wonderful years with a cat that truly loved his home and his family.

Rest in Peace my little one. Good bye Joe.