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| Anya has the high ground, Sasha defends the landing. |
My cat Anya turns 18 today, Sasha almost made it as far but she left us at the beginning of July. A pain which is as fresh now as it was then.
Anya spent the first few days after her sister's death looking for her. She was confused and not all that sure what was going on. Then I left for San Diego, for three weeks.
While that three weeks kept me so busy that I didn't have time to dwell on Sasha's passing, that trip confused Anya. First her sister? Then her Dad? Where was everyone?
It felt good when I came home late Friday night to a cat who was ecstatic to see me again. She kept waking me throughout the night to make sure I was still there. No, I didn't get much sleep, but it felt good to have her so concerned that I might not be there.
Anya is still being a bit clingy, but I understand. Now we're getting ready to head south for the newest member of the family's first birthday. It's only a week but I am concerned as to how Anya will handle that. Our next door neighbor will do a great job of taking care of Anya, but she will still be alone a lot.
Hopefully she sleeps a lot and it doesn't bother her.
August is a month of birthdays. The cats today, oldest grandson on Monday, oldest granddaughter on Tuesday, youngest grandson on Friday, son on Saturday. September has a bunch more with a couple more in October. I look forward to celebrating those birthdays, with some, apart from others, but they are in my mind and heart always.
I'm still recovering from the long trip out to California, the long days while there, and the long flight back. Still the pain of Sasha's loss haunts me. Her passing was not the first, nor will it be the last, this I know.
It's life, with all its bumps and bruises, joys and laughter. But it the end, we all pass.
Enjoy things while you can.
Laugh, live, love.
Especially that last one, it's the only thing that really matters.
It’s nice to come home to someone (person and pet) who truly missed you. Miss Jeanie and I still miss Jenny the schnauzer, a part of the family for eighteen years. The condo here is mandated “pet free”, a poor choice of terms IMHO.
ReplyDeleteA very poor choice of terms.
DeleteIt's all you can do. To give one up to sorrow and regret is to stop living.
ReplyDeleteStill sucks, but it is what it is.
As to clingy cat, no chance of travelling with her?
And I mistook Tuna's 'draft' for scheduled. Sorry.
DeleteShe's a cat, she hates to travel. Though she and her sister did go with us to Saratoga Springs back in the early days, they didn't care for it. At her age the trauma might be a bit much.
DeleteTuna's draft? Ah yes, I see that now.
DeleteTuna's daft? Well, maybe a little loonie (he does live in California and aren't we all a little loonie these days?), but daft?
Delete🤣🤣🤣
DeleteI have a cat about that age we named Squeaker. He was my wife's cat before she passed away about 3 years ago. Lately he hasn't been eating and he's losing weight. The vet says it's cancer. So we spend a lot of time just cuddling and talking about the good times. Losing him seems that it's going to be especially hard. Now there won't be anyone waiting for me to come home.
ReplyDeleteI'll be thinking of you Larry. Love him while you can...
DeleteI, too, shall keep you in mind.
Delete👍
DeleteCongratulations to all for another trip around the sun!
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteEnjoy those birthdays, you'll never know if each is the last.
ReplyDeleteToo true.
DeleteIn my last job, I usually did onsite work about every 6 weeks, for about a week at a time. My (now-15-year-old) part-Siamese knew what was going on--as soon as I broke out my travel bag to pack, she shunned me, and did the same for a day or so after I got back. After that, all was forgiven, but she had to let me know she was displeased.
ReplyDeleteMy outside cat has been missing for four days now, & I don't expect to see her again. There are several kinds of predators around here, so I don't know the reason. That's part of living in the country. The aforementioned 15-year-old is an inside cat. Thanks to an encounter several years ago with an owl, she is the only cat I've ever known with the situational awareness to look up often for threats.
--Tennessee Budd
They are good companions.
DeleteAll the animals on our property are rescues. 6 Dogs, 2 Horses (now, was 3. Grace passed at about 30), currently 3 Cats (all inside) at one point we had another 8 or so living in our old car port. The majority of those passed of old age, but... We are also feeding an additional outside cat now. He/She will walk up to the back porch and allow us to watch her eat, so that's progress. I think she's living in the horse barn or at least getting water there. I'm ok with that, we'll negotiate a food, water, shelter in exchange for bird and rodent extermination.
ReplyDeleteThat having been said, even with that many, the loss of even one takes a while to get over, if ever. I can't look at the tree Grace is buried under with out a twinge of loss.
They are such excellent companions.
DeleteI like cats! Especially orange and white toms, and Norwegian Forest Cats!
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteSounds like you're getting plenty of family time- cat, kids and grandkids. Any replacement kitties planned?
ReplyDeleteAnya is enough for us, she's a good girl.
DeleteThat is a lot of Birthdays Sarge. As you say, enjoy them all. That is what we have, regardless of what is going on in the larger world.
ReplyDeleteSure feels like a lot!
Delete