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Our cat, a fam- ily pet for 17 years, slept away peace- fullyAprilS. He was 18. Orphaned while a kitten, Indy, (so-called after Harrison Ford's movie trademark Indiana Jones), wandered into the Stouffville Veterinary Clinic where our youngâ€" est, Mary-Lynn, had a part-time summer job before entering univer- sity. While sympathetic, Dr. Gary Gall let every- one know the stray wasn't welcome â€" at least not permanently welcome. This prompted an emerâ€" gency call. “Please, may l bring him home? Just for the weekend, Please, please, please," our daughter pleaded. “Hang on," I replied, a husband’s usual response to a household emer- gency, “you'll have to ask your mother.” The date was March 11, 1993. To my surprise, wife Jean, not an avid cat-lover, sympathetically agreed. But on one condition â€" only for the weekend. That was 887 week- ends ago. He’s been an important part of the family circle ever since. However, the initial introduction was some- thing less than amorous. For, in all honesty, this feline intruder was, with- out doubt, the scruffiest looking animal I’d ever seen. Not only was he thin and filthy, but his unkempt coat was matted with burs. He looked awful. “Are you expecting this thing to have the run of the house?" I protested. And she did. Hours of washing, combing and brushing had him look- ing like the top eat his prodigal mother prob- ably meant him to be. “Don't worry," Mary- Lynn said, “I'll clean him up." We fell in love, an infatuation that contin- ued till his dying day. Over the past 50 years. we've had several pets. These included three dogs, two ducks, a rabbit and a canary. All became close companions. Howâ€" ever. none could quite compare with Indy. He was the kindest, quietest. cuddliest creature one could ever want. What endeared him Weekend guest stayed 17 years ndy’s gone. to me most was his keen desire to co-exist with all my back yard friends. Aâ€"goldfinch could sit on his nose or a squirrel could nip at his tail, but he wouldn’t budge. How- ever, should an unmind- ful mouse cross his path, that was a different story. Seldom, to our knowl- edge, did he stray from sight.'His room was his house. Our home was his castle. He’d simply meow if he wished to go out. He'd open the door and let himself in. Watching TV was a favourite pastime, espe- cially commercials where a cat was front and cen- tre. For him, I suspect, it was much like looking in a mirror. When Jean took to playing the piano, he'd lie beneath the bench and purr the tune.~ Or so it seemed. Whether raking leaves, cutting grass or weeding flowers, he’d be there. He was part of every- thing we did. Weeks prior to his pass- ing, we noticed changes. A loss of appetite, loss of weight and loss of energy gave notice his days were numbered. Clinic vets Drs. Westermann and Thomson did their best. All suggestions of ‘putting him down' were ignored, decisions we daily appre- ciate. He died as quietly as he lived. Roaming Around So now he rests beneath the shade of a back yard maple. leaving memories of a pet that can never be replaced. A simple “you’re the cat's meow" dish serves as a headstone plus an epitaph that reads: If cats have a heaven, There's one thing we Our Indy has (1 won- derful home. lim Thomas is a Stoujfilille resident who has written fin arm rwwspapers fin more than 50 years. know with Jim Thomas rSMOKED HAM $4319.; PERCH As you know by now, we have copious amounts of these beauties around the holidays, because for every ham, there is a hock. They are meatier than usual and will be ect for pea soup, or you could just boil these up as my used to and serve them with French's mustard and scalloped potatoes. $ LB Slow-smoked over oak. . minis We may limit quantities! 'I‘heseareconsideredb mytobeone 3f tlllle bgfieatégg fres water fig 1:: es is 'cat sweet, flaky with a very pleasant and nuld flavour. The fillets are rather small, so grilling isn't really an option here ..... pan- ' or doeg the trick... anti ‘ .t ave}ka diam ave}ka thm. For many Ca 3 r ' f3mi|y_own3d a cottage at. 1%“qu P291; on Lake Eric, not In” (3. from'Port Dover, aha a rite of ev summer'was the Perch Fish-Pry at the Erie Beach Hotel. you want to get Doreen excited, start talking about this, but sure that you have lots of time. Anyway, we've got Freshwater Perch this s 9 5 1131313 week, arriving Friday morning. 0 WEEK APPLE ALLSPICE â€"â€"SAUSAGESâ€"â€" ThenextitemwillbeaBlackTigerShrimpStirPrywith o ersauceinthe8x5foils, jgtteno for a dinner for ...... s 6 “on Also, ' ' g of refreshing, C Kulam will be making some wonderful Strawberry Soup ( es!) with mint and blueberries. It is really ....but it won}; go with the roast beefsandwich, so I'm ' ' it’s either a mac lunch on a hot day, (or you could etend it's really hot), or something ‘to haye your Marb e Slab Vanilla Ice Cream. Our Curry Chicken is the frozen entree feature this Week. We use breasts of air-chilled chicken, pouch them, cube them and serve them up in a fairly mild % curry. You'll just need to heat it on and serve it over rice. Serves 3-4 - .3113: Weill be making our 5.1!!” We: QM thick is "14* with shredded Eapa cabfiage, chow'mein ndodles, rice wine vinegar and some secret in edicntx that I'm not sure of, but I 3" do know that it's very en' able man and refreshin . It will your 1/ THIS salad feature ° week. Wm We make these with our fresh coarse-ground pork, a bit of brown sugar ple cider salt, pepper and some ails ice.agt's a grea’t dinner 53 e z 1%,}; either grified or baked. Reg. $3.99,? was: Reg $15.95 each WHAT'S BLOOMING? It's availaBlc at the deli. This week we have on sale Pocketbook plants 'ust $4.99 each. Check our website for further information. for those of an who love them, our lon lasting and beautiful tropical uquets, just $9.99 a bun . We’re gettin more ceramics and containers on display every day and we ve got loads of bright and beautiful lants and cut flowers for all of our spring decorating ne . A l e shi ent of Rosemary ots has arrived in two sizes. As we our t shigment of und covers....Periwinkle, Irish Moss, reeping Wooly yme, and Hens 8: Chicks. Come in and see what’s new! WHAT’S 4 OOIGN’ ‘ A?“ m “137' AT THE DELI ~HOCKS ~ INOIPIIMNV GIOCII SPECIALS IN EFFECT UNTIL CLOSING SUNDAY APRIL 18 m Hours: Mon. 10:00-7:00 ~ Them-Thurs. 9:00-7:00 ~ Fri. 9:00-7: 5“. 9:00-6:00 â€"- Sun. 10:00-5:oo 548 Carlton Road, Unionvillc fWfiRIn/[E R IB‘ All for. ............................... Available from 11:30 on At our deli counter this week, we'll be featuring our Prime Rib Smdvziches. Thigtnof tinge as our version of a pounder, utitgetx er. ure,itisa uarter un o slowâ€"toasted Prime Rib, but we've got dig best the best en'thisweek,astheyare'CanadaPrime'gI-ade, ri tatthetopofdlequalitychain,sotospeak, You theseondxe bun ofyourchoiee (ifyouareearly ), hqneradhheidnabotormild,andsomegnvypomedontop. CREAM OF CARROT It's a gr'éat Thisisoneof,ifnotthc,v best-sdlingsou wcmakc. Westartbymakingourown 'ckcnstock,uscocalcarrots (whcp thcyl'rc avanlablc) which ‘ d 0/0 .__._A. ____- -M--_‘ What we're ' is a I o Cheddar Burgerw use 2/3 Impound chuck, 1/3 ground pork, some grated 1:“st Cheddar some sweet omon,‘ salt, pepper and a to offifiei‘huewinbemthemsizgsoitwfllfill the bun. the occasion, we’ll have some of the extra-large tomatoes as well, so one slice s will cover you. Get your man grill tidied up, because at ..... these will be what you want. 0' ” â€"â€"â€"THIS WEEKâ€" ' It's Orange Week in our Bakery. The Florida and California season for oranges is on the wane;? but the late varieties are Embale the sweetest anflay. We ..... (when théy'rc available) which 0/0 are nice and sweet, some cream, and it's 3 iced just right. on kg. 86. each ngsx Serves 3-4 www.mcvillagegrocer. com lot, the contrast pfnthc orange withva generous helpin of ‘ Grain] Marnier. Therevwill be two sizes, $12.95 and 3 .95 each 0 ....... all these items will be A) on sale this week at.... 19:}; While supplies last. WEEK 940-1770 SANDWICHES SOUP ANEVV. BURGER i“ 3.99