Comments for Oh, hell

Oh, hell

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:03:01 -0600

We just got back. And the first thing I did was scan all her favorite places. It's automatic when I come home - find Little Girl. But we took her with us. And didn't bring her back. It is the first time, in 18 years, that I have entered a domicile named Castle Argghhh!... and she hasn't been here. And never will be again. Dammit. Oh, she had a bitchy voice. Admittedly, she was a bit of a fussbudget. But gollee, in her day, she was beautiful to look at. And twisted me about her paw when she was a wee three weeks old. And never let go. From her first night, sleeping in the hollow of my neck and shoulder, to her last night, sleeping in the hollow of my arm, snuggled up to my chest, gently purring away. She was always there. Even when she was mad at me for being gone sometimes for months at a time. We were entwined, Little Girl and I. The Empress of Dark ruled my world. But last night at the Jellicle Ball, Old Deuteronomy chose, and today she rode the sunbeam up to the Heaviside Layer. Heh. We’d taken to calling her “Schrody. ” Short for “Schrodinger’s Cat” because when you approached her, she could be seen to be both alive or dead, until some action gave you a clue. Towards the end, her breathing was so gentle I had to really look closely to see if she was still with us. But I knew she wasn’t ready to go as long as she was griping about the cuisine and her sunbeam was available. Then she quit griping about the cuisine, and had to be taken to the sunbeam. Which she appreciated. But she'd stand her watch. Even on Thanksgiving. Then comes today. No interest in any gustatory enticements. Not.even.bacon. Barely interested in water. Could hardly walk three steps without resting, or falling over. And then there was the snow. No sunbeam. And only a little, listless purr when she took her place on my chest. She could hardly hold her head up. I doubt she weighed three pounds. She wasn't ready, not really. God, I know I wasn't. But the spark of a little spirit that could fill big ol' me was flickering, and the flesh was weakening steadily. At least Gabby, her brother lost to cancer all those years ago, will be there to greet her. And grizzled old Ninja, who taught Rest Stop how to fight the fat cat way, where all five pointy ends can be brought into play. And Sergeant S'mudge, the only Interior Guardian to fall in the line of duty. Not to mention the Exterior Guardians Sebastian, Little Guy, Mickey, Shadow, and Whiskey. They were her servants too. Gad, there’s more of them up there than there are down here. And she was the Last of the Sooners. A Plank Owner of Castle Argghhh! I'd known the Empress of Dark longer than I've known SWWBO. All of the Oklahomans are gone. We're pure Kansas now. I’m starting to feel the weight of entropy. Sigh. Touch me It's so easy to leave me All alone with the memory Of my days in the sun If you touch me You'll understand what happiness is Indeed. Dammit. Stand down, Little Girl, take a break. You've earned it with all that you gave me. I relieve you, Miss. Rest Stop, you have the watch. Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance sing a spirit to the Laser Dot and Feather Toy Batting Facility. Or you could be the Bar Cat at Piddler's Green, across the road from Fiddler's Green. Fare thee well, thou good and faithful friend. Great farkin' gobs of spittle, I *hate* entropy.

Comment from Big Al on 2008-12-01

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:05:24 -0600

Love knows no limits it's said. And there is no more special love than what one receives from those special gifts from heaven, our "pets". Far more family than many blood relative, often the place they share in our lives cannot be equaled by fellow man. Surely heaven holds a place for these that give us so very very much. Heaven they say is perfect, so it must be so... If God has a mansion for me and for you, certainly there must be a sunbeam there for your Little Girl and the rest.

My sympathy. Been there.

Comment from MAJ Arkay on 2008-12-01

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:57:20 -0600

It's been that kinda year for our feline friends. We lost Madeline, our 22-year-old, in October. It was sudden, an inoperable tumor that blocked her from peeing. She was happily purring at us as the sedative took effect, and quietly left us, to join all the other cats who await our coming.

Condolences, John and Beth, but know Little Girl loved and still loves you.

Comment from FbL on 2008-12-01

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:18:54 -0600

You've been in my thoughts all weekend, I just didn't have the words to say. I still don't.

*hugs*

Comment from Mikey Lee on 2008-12-01

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:49:32 -0600

I feel with ya, I just put down my buddy Scooter after several months of advanced kidney failure. So, on this day, I hoist a glass of good single malt to toast the life of one of my best friends ever! I hope everyone who has lost a companion will join me.

Comment from fdcol63 on 2008-12-01

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:46:37 -0600

Please accept my sincerest condolences and sympathy, John.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-12-01

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:33:26 -0600

Thanks, all of you - and TRK, that was really rather sweet.

Comment from htom on 2008-12-01

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:17:37 -0600

{{{John & Beth}}} They ask so little, give so much, and are so soon gone. May you meet again, someday.

Comment from AFSister on 2008-12-01

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:41:04 -0600

*SOB*

I'm so sorry, John.
My oldest critter is about 20, so I'm pretty sure she'll be joining Little Girl before long.

*SOB*

Comment from Kathy on 2008-12-01

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:44:26 -0600

Well, you told me it was coming, but I didn't realize it had happened. I am sorry, John and Beth. She was a good friend. Do you suppose she'll watch the big game this weekend?

Feel my big sis arms around you and cry until you are done.

Note to self - keep some mascara at work.

Comment from MikeD on 2008-12-01

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:56:09 -0600

Sir, you have my deepest sympathies. We had to take our 17 year old Pom in for the same a couple of weeks ago. It's hard as hell letting them go, but when it's harder still for them to stay, it's the right thing to do. Doesn't make it any easier, I know, but it is right.

Comment from Damian on 2008-12-01

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:06:46 -0600

Geez, you can write raw with the best of them, John. It hurt just reading that.

Condolences to you and SWWBO.

Comment from HomefrontSix on 2008-12-01

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:19:21 -0600

I read somewhere a small boy's reasoning as to why our pets live such short lives: 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'

So true.

She'll have good company up there...my Cracker, Pinney, Valley, and J.R. are waiting to play. And dad's holding the laser pointer.

Comment from Jack on 2008-12-01

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:38:46 -0600

John,

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I've experienced similar pain, when I had to put down a cat who was my best friend at the time because he was poisoned with anti-freeze by someone who lived next door in my apartment complex.

Entropy sucks.

Take care.

-Jack

Comment from TRK on 2008-11-30

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:10:02 -0600

=^..^=
    .
    .
    .

Comment from KCSteve on 2008-11-30

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:13:35 -0600

The pain is deep because their love is pure.
Heaven can only be where they wait.

In the last year or so before we lost HaiMao he was on Senior Cat duty, with the sole responsibility of looking up when checked on.

Comment from Meryl Yourish on 2008-11-30

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:24:36 -0600

A friend of mine said that we have an unwritten contract with our animals: We give them food, shelter, love them and when it's time, see that they go as painlessly as possible. In return, they give us unconditional love.

Sounds to me like you fulfilled the contract.

Comment from Cowboy Blob on 2008-11-30

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:26:04 -0600

Aw, damn. You got me cryin' now. Hang in there.

Comment from Rod Thorsen on 2008-11-30

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:23:19 -0600

I'm very sorry, the furry folk can be such an important part of our lives.

Comment from Murray on 2008-11-30

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:31:03 -0600

She can sit back to back with Jess and they can ignore eachother while they wait.

Comment from MaryAnn on 2008-11-30

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:27:05 -0600

Aw, damn. Hugs to you and SWWBO, John.

Comment from Barb on 2008-11-30

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:45:12 -0600

Damn, I'm sorry. They stay with us for much too short a time, and are sadly missed when they depart.
{Hugs}

Comment from Walter Garbotz on 2008-11-30

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:54:02 -0600

I lost my friend, a 20 year old grey long hair, this last June 30th. My thoughts are with you both.

Comment from AW1 Tim on 2008-11-30

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:53:13 -0600

Damn, John...

My condolences to you.

Comment from Katherine Optima Maximae on 2008-11-30

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:01:45 -0600

Sad.

Love to you all out in the back 40.

Comment from kate on 2008-11-30

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:27:04 -0600

wow.

blessings to you and beth for loving her so much. now i gotta go blow me nose.

Comment from SangerM on 2008-11-30

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:20:10 -0600

John, I am very sorry to hear about your cat. Really.

I'm not an animal/pet person so much, but we've had a dog now since late February (supposedly thereputic an' all), and while we're still both a bit wary of one another--me more than her, I find I am becoming attached to her. Not willingly, for sure, but inevitably, I suppose. I know the deal, but your post doesn't bode well for me since I'm a bit of a sap... ah well...

Again, my regrets.

Comment from BillT on 2008-11-30

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:40:27 -0600

Of a size and temperment with KC, and sharing coloring.

They'll get along great...

Comment from Casey on 2008-11-29

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:58:26 -0600

Oh, my Lord, John. I'm so sorry to hear that.

Reminds me of a grey tabby we had when I was a lad just on the edge of manhood, yclept Snoopy. When he was about 2 or 3 years old, Snoopy disappeared for a couple of weeks, and we had decided that he had found a new home, when he turned up on the doorstep missing his back right leg from the lower joint down.

The only thing we could figure is that he escaped either a varmint trap, a sadist, or both. My older sister took him to the vet, stood for the bills, and brought him back healthy. And I'll tell you, I've never seen anything like a three-legged cat run flat out. Nimble little bugger.

Or when he wanted to scratch behind his right ear; he's walk up to you, look you in the eye, and work that back leg as if he could still scratch. Clear as day, he was saying "help brother out, willya?" :)

Alas, in the fulfillment of time he succumbed to certain ailments of the older male feline variety.
Miau, mi amigo.

Comment from bob dunning on 2008-11-29

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:22:22 -0600

It does hurt so much when you lose a furry friend ,one who picks you out to love. It takes a special person to love one who has a shorter life span then you. but you accept the pain to enjoy their love
God bless
Shogun,Yoshi and Storms human

Comment from RightGirl on 2008-11-29

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:14:36 -0600

F-you for making me cry! So glad I gave her a cuddle before I left, but I didn't think it would happen so soon. Love and hugs to you both and the remaining menagerie.

RG

Comment from DL Sly on 2008-11-29

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:01:47 -0600

Aw, man! When one of the furry friends has been around that long, it's sooo hard to let them go. And the hole they leave in your heart seems never to close. My heart goes out to you and SWWBO. Know that Little Girl is able once again to execute the full-body wrestling moves that put fear into the *heart* of many a stuffed mouse, and the laser dot no longer stands a chance. You wil be in my thoughts.

Comment from Bob on 2008-11-29

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:37:16 -0600

Yeah, entropy do suck. Condolences.

Comment from Justthisguy on 2008-11-29

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:29:44 -0600

My most earnest heartfelt condolences. That sounds kinda dry, but yes my eyes are a bit wet.

Comment from olga on 2008-11-29

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:34:16 -0600

((((HUGS))))

Comment from Foxfier on 2008-11-29

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:26:40 -0600

Rest well, Cat.