A hard week and then it was over.
Hi knitters,
There are many stories I wanted to tell you over the last few months... some I even took the photos for and started writing in my head, but putting them into a useful narrative always got confusing. I'm interrupting my blog procrastination in honor of Arlie, my very favorite kitty, who died last week on November 8th.
Bill and I are really having a sad time with the loss of Miss Arlie. We've been so insulated from death in our lives - our parents & granny are still with us. Arlie is the first of our cats to ever get sick, let alone die. And we feel terrible about her last week, which involved a lot of intervention and attempts to jumpstart her digestive system. Poor kitty. She really told us at the end that she was D.O.N.E. *sniff*
Arlie Barley Pudding and Pie Parker was about 15 months old when she came to us in November 1995, so she was 14 years old. We wrote these Ten Good Things About Arlie to remember her best attributes.
1. Arlie had an M between her eyes, bull's eyes on her flanks, and a short, bent tail that tapered to the end. She had soft, thick fur and a tawny undercoat. She had four black paws.
2. Arlie always came to visit anyone sitting quietly, especially if the bathroom door was open.
3. Arlie liked to meet new kitties, like Peanut and Benny, Squeaky and her adopted siblings Jasper and Sierra. She was hopeful and positive that each new kitty would be her friend.
4. Arlie spent a lot of time with shy or quiet people. She made sure they had someone to interact with in large groups.
5. Arlie could find a rubber band anywhere in the house. Nom, nom, rubber bands, mmmmm. She was persistent.
6. Arlie was good company for sick people and took especially good care of Mary after surgery.
7. Arlie's stubby little tail was very active and expressive, waving around to indicate interest or vexation. "Who am I?" Nan asked us once, wiggling her thumb above her closed fist. "Arlie!"
8. Arlie asked people to play with her by bringing a toy (mrrrow, mrrrow!) late at night or sitting near the toy she wanted to play with and looking Very Intently at the people. But she never nagged or made a scene. Just hoped.
9. Arlie picked her own scratching post - the wooden X frame of the laundry hamper. She used it vigorously and covered the floor with splinters.
10. Arlie liked to sleep in her special chosen spots: the back of the purple chair in the sun, on the settle in her kitty hat, on the bed on top of the purple blanket.
Our very good, very empathetic, very socialble kitty is now buried in the back yard and we miss her so so much. We are grateful to everyone who reached out to mourn with us. Even though Arlie was just a kitty, she was a big part of our lives. Good kitty. Good-bye.
[See some of Bill's photos of Arlie the love bug over here.]
There are many stories I wanted to tell you over the last few months... some I even took the photos for and started writing in my head, but putting them into a useful narrative always got confusing. I'm interrupting my blog procrastination in honor of Arlie, my very favorite kitty, who died last week on November 8th.
Bill and I are really having a sad time with the loss of Miss Arlie. We've been so insulated from death in our lives - our parents & granny are still with us. Arlie is the first of our cats to ever get sick, let alone die. And we feel terrible about her last week, which involved a lot of intervention and attempts to jumpstart her digestive system. Poor kitty. She really told us at the end that she was D.O.N.E. *sniff*
Arlie Barley Pudding and Pie Parker was about 15 months old when she came to us in November 1995, so she was 14 years old. We wrote these Ten Good Things About Arlie to remember her best attributes.
1. Arlie had an M between her eyes, bull's eyes on her flanks, and a short, bent tail that tapered to the end. She had soft, thick fur and a tawny undercoat. She had four black paws.
2. Arlie always came to visit anyone sitting quietly, especially if the bathroom door was open.
3. Arlie liked to meet new kitties, like Peanut and Benny, Squeaky and her adopted siblings Jasper and Sierra. She was hopeful and positive that each new kitty would be her friend.
4. Arlie spent a lot of time with shy or quiet people. She made sure they had someone to interact with in large groups.
5. Arlie could find a rubber band anywhere in the house. Nom, nom, rubber bands, mmmmm. She was persistent.
6. Arlie was good company for sick people and took especially good care of Mary after surgery.
7. Arlie's stubby little tail was very active and expressive, waving around to indicate interest or vexation. "Who am I?" Nan asked us once, wiggling her thumb above her closed fist. "Arlie!"
8. Arlie asked people to play with her by bringing a toy (mrrrow, mrrrow!) late at night or sitting near the toy she wanted to play with and looking Very Intently at the people. But she never nagged or made a scene. Just hoped.
9. Arlie picked her own scratching post - the wooden X frame of the laundry hamper. She used it vigorously and covered the floor with splinters.
10. Arlie liked to sleep in her special chosen spots: the back of the purple chair in the sun, on the settle in her kitty hat, on the bed on top of the purple blanket.
Our very good, very empathetic, very socialble kitty is now buried in the back yard and we miss her so so much. We are grateful to everyone who reached out to mourn with us. Even though Arlie was just a kitty, she was a big part of our lives. Good kitty. Good-bye.
[See some of Bill's photos of Arlie the love bug over here.]
posted by spinnity at 11/18/2008 01:14:00 AM
7 Comments:
I'm so sorry about your loss.
Diana
Its so hard to lose a favourite pet - they are so much part of the family.
I like your top 10 list. That's a great way to remember a beloved pet.
Oh no, I'm so sorry...
I'm so sorry about your loss.
I'm so sorry to hear Arlie is gone! She was a sweetie and will be missed. Big hugs to you two!
So sorry to hear your little love bug passed.
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