With broken hearts, we’re fairly certain that our dear Finnegan, who was diagnosed over a couple of months ago with feline leukemia, has gone on his final 
“walkabout” this week – one of his favorite pastimes. The other day, Finn hadn’t been eating much or had much spring in his step and he was no longer responding to the vitamins and steroid medication that had originally brought back his appetite and spunk earlier. He sat patiently by the kitchen door, meowing and meowing, wanting desperately to go outside. That was three days ago and, sadly, we haven’t seen him since.
We continue, every day, to look outside for him, hoping he’ll be at one of his favorite spots to relax – on one the Giverny-style benches where he’d greet guests, on the side porch on an old antique bench, or on an outdoor chair cushion. Although we are just heartbroken, we hope that he found his special place back in the woods, his favorite spot, or wherever he loved to go to relax on his “walkabouts” and take in his final time on earth. We rescued Finn from our neighbors about 13 or 14-years ago and have just loved him dearly. He was pure sweetness and full of love to the core. He even had the patience to put up with our miniature Aussie, Wrigley’s antics and playfulness as a puppy.
Finn has always been our “outdoor cat who has wanted to be our indoor cat”. But, he absolutely loved the freedom of being
outside and spending time with our other orange, tabby cat, Cooper. They were best buddies, often curled-up together at night in their bed. He was easy going and loveable. You would often find him relaxing alongside with our dogs, Ellie and Wrigley, on a lazy afternoon day. He was quite the accomplished little mouser as well!
Finnegan, our boy, we have loved you much and you have brought us such joy and love over these many years. As difficult as it is to say goodbye, we will miss you dearly, buddy. Our guests at The Inn will miss you. We’ll miss the sound of your front paws “knocking” on the glass of the slider door to come back inside. Rest in peace, dear soul. The photo of Finn (below right) graced the cover of an article in Capital Style Magazine about The Welsh Hills Inn a few years ago. He was quite the little star.
The passing of Finnegan amidst these strange, historic times remind us of a verse from the King James Bible, in Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 – also, words that the band, The Byrds, used in the lyrics of their hit song Turn! Turn! Turn! in 1965:
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
