Finality

In IN THE DARK, Tish Verdure asks Stride if there's anything of which he's afraid.  With some hesitation, Stride admits that he's afraid of loss.  "I hate endings, goodbye, funerals, everything like that," he says.  "The end of books.  The end of movies.  The end of vacations.  I like it when things keep going, but they never do."

This comes to mind because Marcia and I are at the end of an agonizing week in which we had to say goodbye to our friend and companion of more than 19 years, our cat Disney.  His health has been going downhill for several months, and he had a particularly bad day on Monday.  We're leaving town for nearly three weeks soon for our 25th anniversary trip, and we knew he was in no condition to survive without us, and we hated the idea of him dying of a broken heart, feeling alone and abandoned.  We struggled with the decision all week, but when we saw him at peace yesterday, we knew we had done the right thing.

As I said to Marcia, it's hard to imagine a better way to spend your last hours than to rest in a sunbeam on your mom's lap, with a belly full of tuna fish, and then to go to sleep with your friends whispering how much they love you.

So we know we did the right thing by him.  The suffering now is ours.  For almost two decades, it's been just the three of us, and the house feels empty and lonely.  We know there are many other cats out there that need a good home, and soon several of them will move in and take over, as cats do.  But for now, we simply miss our little guy.

Comments

[Betty]

I am so sorry to hear about Disney. I, too, just lost my bff, Precious, on 7/1/09 to liver cancer. She was a beautiful tortoiseshell and truly was the BEST friend and companion I will ever have. She didn't live to be but 14 3/4 years old, but oh, what a WONDERFUL life she gave me! She was fine until one week before I had to make the decision to say goodbye. It happened so fast that I still have trouble believing she is gone. Right now, I am trying to keep her brother and sister from grieving too much, especially "Buddy", as he is 13 years old. He is a black cat with the sweetest disposition and loves to give me "sugar". Aren't they the greatest?? I like to believe that my "Precious" (I called her "Sissy", too) is in kitty heaven now and having a blast! I couldn't live without believing that, as any pet lover could attest.

I just read "Immoral" and plan on reading the rest of the 'Stride' series.

A fellow cat lover, Betty (bettyscatz3)

[Phyl]

It's so hard to say goodbye to such a dear companion, especially when he's been your precious little friend for so long. You did the right thing for Disney. I like to think that my own dear Kashi met him on the other side of the Bridge, to show him the best spots to play in the meadow, and the best trees to climb.

I relate to much to when you said, "The suffering now is ours." I often tell friends who are at the point of doing this same thing that we ease our cats into peace, and take on the subsequent not-peace for their sakes. But what matters most is that our dear little friend's pain should cease.

[Mike ONeill]

Brian and Marcia - We have four cats: two white & black hairball factories (Olivia and Sassy) and two black ones (Lil Girl and Baby/Lil Boy/Mister - yeah, he has three names depending on who's talking and how we feel that day). I am not an animal lover yet I was outvoted 3 to 1 to have these four become part of our family over the last 8 years. The two white&black ones were adopted from the vet's office 8 years ago while the two black ones were saved 4 years ago with 4 others from a new litter at a home where the young kids were not nice to them (one ended up not making it and one suffered with chemical burns from laundry soap - he's doing fine as my wife's best friend took him and his name remains Stinky - he was named for the putrid smell emitted from the burns to his skin back when she saved him). So I guess I can look on the bright side that I don't have 8 cats...four is enough, did I say that(?)...well I've leave it at that. LOL

Our three-named cat looks exactly like Disney and he is our best cat as far as personality and affection goes. He loves my wife Carol and sometimes I think she loves him more than me. I am very sad to hear of your loss but it does seem like you had a long, memorable span with Disney as part of your family.

Maybe we will see Disney's name in the front of a future book "In Memory"? I am sure he gave you some looks and ideas over the years that helped you finish many chapters of excellence. I hope he wasn't the mastermind behind the scenes (you never know)?! LOL

I know you both loved him alot from your posts on Facebook and trust me, he'll miss you two wonderful people as much as you will miss him!

Meowing Memories,
-Mike (aka The Treatman as the cats know me here)

[Dru]

Sorry for your loss.