In The Arms Of The Angel
We had to say goodbye today to one of our best-ever cats. During 21 years of faithful companionship, from the day he showed up unannounced as a kitten on our deck in 1988, to the present day, Fluffy was a bundle of sweet cat-ness and a joy to have around.
He loved to: eat, sleep, sunbathe, play with us and the other cats inside and outside, chase and retrieve cat toys, wallow in catnip (above), and lay in laps (especially the ladies laps... my lap was usually his reluctant second choice). And, for the last couple of years, he had taken to sleeping cuddled up next to me at night, often gently grabbing my arm and and laying his head on it as he slept. That was killer. That I'm REALLY going to miss...
But, at the end, as arthritis, frailty, failing coordination, and generally failing health got progressively worse, it became painfully clear that it was time to let him go. 21 cat years, after all, is something like 100+ human years; and he deserved and received a mercifully peaceful passing.
Rest in peace, old friend. Thanks for all the good times. Sweet dreams...
Tom sent this on to me: you and Fluffy were lucky to have each other for so long. It sounds like he was a wonderful kitty. You will, most likely, meet sometime again 'over the Rainbow Bridge.'
ReplyDeletelee
Thanks, Lee (and Tom). I'm hoping for the Rainbow Bridge also. But, just in case (or until then), I guess the trick is to be as appreciative and loving in the present moment as possible.
ReplyDeleteAnd, with Fluffy, who had about the slowest fade out possible (the past 3 years), we took every opportunity to be in the present moment with him. :)