I came across Jan's St. Louis Meezers blog several years ago and then decided to create a cat blog of my own (the former Tristan and Crikey are Living the Dream). Jan was my very first CB friend.
We commented back and forth for months and months until one day Jan asked me if she could call me. That's when our real friendship began.
Jan was kind, gentle and loving. She called me at work one day (she was crying) to let me know that Fat Eric had died. In fact, she called me often to discuss this cat and that cat. Jan loved cats! But more than that, Jan loved the blogger friends behind the cats.
I was beyond excited the day I met Jan in person. She had a smile from ear to ear and she let out a squeal when we ran to each other with a huge hug. We were so happy! I loved her and she always told me that she loved me when we ended our phone calls. She was genuine.
Recently, we had a conversation about how we missed being the active members we had once been on the CB (I had moved to a new home, and then started a new job. Jan had retired and moved to a new town and home, as well). We spoke of how we missed our CB friends and how we should start blogging again. Crikey's new blog and my commitment to blogging is in her honor.
Jan's service was held today. I listened as her family and friends told of her love, kindness and sense of humor. Jan was and is loved by so many. I'm heartbroken but yet I'm able to smile when I think of how I am so blessed to have had her in my life for the past few years.
Thank you to The Island Cats' Mom and to Ann from Zoolatry for jumping to the task of making this graphic for Jan's memorial. You are true friends. It was displayed as one of the photographs near where she rested. I know that Jan smiled down on you today.
~Angela
