Winnie, also known as "The Pooh", was born on the Friday after Thanksgiving in 1976. Her mother, Wildfire, was often called my "familiar" due to the attention she gave me.
Winnie was taught that I was the "pet people" and was very shy around others. She came to be nicknamed "Nurse Winnie" because she would comfort someone if they were ill.
Though she may have been thought to live in the lap of luxury, she did have some trying times. But, like the trooper she turned out to be, she showed a surprising inner strength and managed to bounce back to her shy, under-the-bed self.
She, Wildfire, and I moved into our own house where she was definately at home. She no longer (or at least not as much) hid and was more often spotted sunning herself in a window.
Tragedy struck in 1992 when Wildfire died. I was worried for Winnie, she had spent her life (all but a few months) with Wildfire and I didn't know how she'd take being separated.
Much to my surprise, we managed to weather her passing and Winnie came a bit out of her shell. She was not nearly as domineering as Wildfire, but she was not afraid to make it be known that attention was due!
She took ill on Labor Day weekend. I was confident she would pull through, but unfortunately she didn't bounce back as well as hoped.
She will be missed.