Alexander Orangehead

On July 5, 1987, in an apartment on the south side of Chicago... a little orange-head kitten was born. Many weeks later, a strange visitor from Texas arrived to take him home.

For the next 19 years he was my faithful companion through all the ups and downs of my life.

As a youngster, he was a bit of a terror... jumping at the walls, tearing posters, scratching doorframes... and was so proud the day he tore open the kitty litter bag and spread it all over the dining room floor. Look, Mom!

He loved to sleep on my head... and the heads of guests found worthy.

He loved to climb, and during our many years of apartment living, he often climbed our balcony to "visit" the upstairs neighbors!

turn-ons: leather, chasing string and shoelaces, constant attention, visitors, and chewing off Sebastian's whiskers

He was a true freckleface whose nose and paws got more and more spotted as the years went by!

He greeted me at the door every night, giving me a good bawling out for being gone

At 15 he patiently endured the introduction of young whippersnapper Sophie - and even liked her.

As he started to get a bit deaf, he took to letting out earth-shattering yowls late at night, scaring the beejeezus out of guests

he was a patient, easygoing and loving pal to the end.

I still can't believe both my boys are gone, but I'm so grateful for having such a long time with them.

study buddy

my boys.

My Bass

Sebastian came to live with me in January 1987. He was an orphan and had a few neurotic tendencies to get over!

he had huge green eyes like big marbles; big, thick claws; and short whiskers and eyebrows (thanks to his brother!)

"Regal boy" liked to lie with his front paws delicately crossed

Turn-ons: Pushing open the screen door and escaping, milk, pizza, no visitors

unwanted bugs in the house - no problem with the Sebastianator. I'd lift him up in the air over my head and run around so he could catch moths...

he insisted on an open window even when it was 0 degrees, with ice on the panes

my apartment got robbed, and in the midst of the chaos sat Sebastian. I KNEW he could identify those crooks, but he never said a word.

driving with me to Chicago, after the air conditioning broke down he would crawl up to the front seat every hour or so to pant in my face to tell me he was hot and why wasn't I doing something about it?

whenever he was feeling feisty, the bridge of his nose would swell - whenever he had "big nose" I knew he was up to no good

he was hypnotically drawn to curling ribbons anywhere in the house and would immediately try to eat them and immediately throw them up (bleh)

he loved to get 'up high' on closet shelves (he could never manage to get down and always meowed for me to come get him!)

he always attended our poker games, hanging out on the stool with front paws hanging way down

In the end he'd spend hours out in the backyard - safely fenced in - lying in the grass and sunshine, king of the jungle.