Stubby Junior October 1999 - May 25, 2007

IN LOVING MEMORY

STUBBY JUNIOR

The first thing you gotta know about Junior is that he loved people. I think everybody that met him loved him as well. Well, almost everybody. There was one person at our first apartment that disliked him, in fact she disliked all cats - and most humans, too. She was the main reason we moved out of that place. We found another home in Tacoma's "north slope" neighborhood, and Junior quickly made friends with several of our neighbors. I never had to worry when I was traveling, because there was always someone to look after him, although he took care of himself very well.

The best friend I ever had. He was always there for me, even at the worst of times. Many times I'd be walking home at night, and he'd be waiting out on the sidewalk. He knew my schedule. Sometimes he'd walk out with me as I headed out for the day, then he'd stand on the corner, watching me walk away. If I was driving, he'd watch for my car coming down the street. I think I confused him in 2004 when I got a different car, but it didn't take him long to figure out "hey! That's Ron!" He even rode with me sometimes, usually to go to mom and dad's place. He liked seeing grandma and grandpa. He just made himself at home in their house, like he'd lived there all his life.

COMET

Junior's girlfriend - I'd often see them running through the yard together. If Junior was inside, she'd come to our front door and call for him to come out. She really took it hard when moved away. She has Laurie to thank for that. If not for her, we would've stayed. Everybody else in the building was cool, they were all sad to see us go. It was a quiet neighborhood, very safe, lots of trees, the kind of place you can walk in at night without being afraid.

STUBBY SENIOR

I can't forget the guy Junior was named after. A lovable guy. He was in several of my promo films. Unfortunately, I never had a chance to do a film with Junior, but you can hear him on my "Radio Frequency" cd. Stubby is on an old tape of mine titled "Fowler St". He was in the room with me when I recorded some of the drum tracks, and spoke up when the volume got to be too much for him.