As she biked up to a makeshift shrine of flowers, stuffed animals, handmade crafts and photos, she noticed a woman holding a piece of paper in a plastic sleeve. “Oh, you’re Newt’s family,” she says, recognizing Lisa. She was planning to add her letter to the pile of mementos surrounding the memorial that sprung up after Newt’s death last month.
She handed the printed page with her story on it to Lisa. “Dearest little Newt, Through losing a parent, Covid, and a cancer diagnosis and treatment, getting out on the trail and visiting with you always made things better. You brought pure and simple joy and made us better humans.
Thank you for the impact you made on us as individuals and as a community. The trail will never be the same without you. We love you, little friend.
You will live on in the hearts of so many.” Lisa hugged the stranger and cried. She and her husband, Chris, a pastor at Metro Community Church, have been stunned by the overwhelming response to their rescue cat’s death.
They had no idea the impact their free-spirited cat had on so many others. Thousands of messages flooded social media pages honoring Newt. The kitchen table is covered with photos and notes left by people who encountered a cat on the trail and developed a bond with him.
A large glass Mason jar is filled with notes for Newt. Messages scribbled on a small wooden plaque attest to his legacy: “Thank you for expanding my heart. I’ll never forget.
” “Newt lives on as a magical pa.
