It’s hard to encapsulate what Black Tuesday is or what it means. It’s a painful, heartbreaking event. I lost my first love, my orange Maine Coon, Brandy Rai. He traveled across the country with me. He was my first buddy.
Brandy Rai, my brand’s man. My homie traveled thousands of miles, sitting beside me without a carrier. Brandy was the only cat I’ve ever had that I trusted on my waterbed (at that time, I had a waterbed).
Brandy Rai, you were my first Maine Coon. You will always be my first Maine Coon; we know this to be true.
He was my first orange fluff. He was my best friend. My ex-wife and I would playfully banter about Brandy Rai, how I loved him more than her. And in some regard, it was true, but also wasn’t.
When I moved to Arizona in 1994, I came without my guy, but it didn’t take long before I made plans with my parents to get him out here with me, where get belonged.
He is a special kitty; he lived with me in three states, more than any of my other boys. Brandy was with me in New York; he was with me in Arizona and for that one-year stint in Florida.
I’d call Florida a mistake, but “Andrea” would probably get pissed at me.
While Brandy Rai is remarkable as a kitty, he’s memorable for all the love he received from me, my friends, and my family. I have so many fantastic memories; I’d be frozen.
Brandy Rai, you are and will always be so amazing to me. Nothing, nothing can or will touch that, change it, blemish it. You… You are far more important than people know.
Your companionship got us through so much. You were so fucking important in my life; some knew, others didn’t get it. But I did. You were my guy. My first “my guy,” and nothing can change that.
And with that, it’s time for us to go some shots.
