This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE (12-14-04)

If you don’t love animals, you won’t like this commentary.
It happened back in 1983....Ronald Reagan was President.
He was proposing a star war defense against possible Soviet missiles. Sally Ride became the first woman astronaut to fly into space....and we had the usual details about various crises around the world.
One wintry day.....a small kitten found its way to the front door of our studios on Oregon Avenue. The staff began a discussion on just what they should call this new addition to our staff.
They decided that Promo.....short for promotion would be an ideal name for a radio feline.....so that’s what she was called.
As the years went by.....Promo was adopted by every member of the staff....old and new. She became adept at negotiating the twists and turns of the building and could be found anywhere at any time.
She adapted well to all the changes that have occurred.....mostly the move into the computer dominated operation....as well as to any new employees. She adopted them one and all.,...and played no favorites, although she could be lured by little handouts.
At one time, our newsman taught her to do a number of tricks by rewarding her with little tidbits.....but as the years went by....she wasn’t quite so agile. She’d rather occupy one of the sales peoples chair or perhaps wander into Bob’s office and prowl a bit.
She became the landmark of the radio station....even had basically her own room and bed, and everyone knew that she was the favorite child of the management and treated her as such.
Gradually.....as with all of us.....her age began to creep up on her.
She didn’t jump as high.....nor run as fast.....and more often than not one could find her asleep somewhere.....almost anywhere as she showed no favoritism.
Then one day another little black kitty cat appeared at the radio station door. Again....the staff convened, discussed and decided that the new female feline should have an appropriate name...so they adopted the new arrival and dubbed her Spot. After all...a radio ad is called a spot announcement.
Promo, however, continued to be the senior and quietly, but with class....she tolerated the new arrival. Spot, however, was constantly trying to take over the operation. The two never really quarreled, but for Promo it was the equivalent of a mother cat...tolerating an infant.
However.....one day last week.....Promo succumbed to the problems of old age.....and climbed up on to one of the chairs...and quietly went to sleep.....and off to the land where cats are king...where there are new friends to greet.....where the limits of this side of the great divide know no bounds.
Promo is gone.......but memories of her linger long.

            This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.