IGOT SOME SAD news yesterday when I dropped into Videos and More yesterday to find a movie to help me while away the winter doldrums.

Charlie told me that Jasper died. Jasper the cat. Big beautiful, feisty Jasper, who could never decide if he's rather curl around my neck like a feather boa and help me pick out a movie, or just settle for chewing on my fingers and daring me to try to pick him up.

I loved Jasper, as I'm certain that many of Charlie and Ellie's customers did. I loved him from the first moment I saw him, ten years ago at the old store location. He looked like a much, much larger version of my cat Luna, who died a few years ago. He could have been her big brother. He would have shown her around the store, shown her where to find the juiciest mice and how to get the wrapping off the beef jerky packages.

I will miss Jasper. I will think of him often. I guess I should rent a cat movie in his honor. Or his favorite movie. I wonder what his favorite move was? Cat Ballou? Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? The Cat who Came in from the Cold?

Goodbye Jasper. Thank you for letting me pet you and play with you over the years. You were a very special cat.
DIANA COLBY
Northfield