Weekend of Remembrance

This year has been one of loss.  So many of the icons of Cat Blogosphere have gone to the Rainbow Bridge.  Mother Earth has shaken us all up with catastrophic earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires and tornadoes which caused even more losses worldwide, of humans and animals.  We are joining in on a Weekend of Remembrance with Three Tabby Cats in Vienna  and Momo at Floof and Fur.

For those in harm's way by Zoolatry.

We would like to remember some of the cats who have come before in our home...Clarence was a stray who wandered into our yard and hearts, skinny, hungry and matted.  He only was with us for 18 months when he passed of cardiomyopathy in 2004 but he took a large part of our hearts with him.

Clarence in better days.

Nick lived outside for most of his short life, a sweet but shy boy.  When he lost weight, we brought him inside only to discover he had an intestinal tumor which took his life at age 6 in 2006.  He loved being loved and cuddled right to the end.

Nick on the left with Big Guy.

Dear Manny left us very suddenly in 2007 when he was only two of a blocked urethra.  Such sweet memories of him - he loved to play with the laser toy and that was the only time he ever growled  - he was very possessive of  his favorite toy.  He loved to eat and was so excited he would run in circles instead of eating when  Mom put the food plate down.

Manny

Mom lost many of the ferals who never came inside but lived in our outdoor shelter in the yard - Big Guy our calm peace keeping head male cowcat, sweet Momcat who probably was the mother to most of them until her spaying in her later years, and last but not least, little black Bob and Leroy who both disappeared suddenly at age 6 months.

We love them and miss them still but know we will see them again one day.  Here is a lovely poem in memory of all the wonderful animals who have passed from our lives and yours.  Thank you for sharing a short time with us on Earth.

I Will Always Remember

I will always remember

the olive-eyed tabby who

taught me that not all

relationships are meant to

last a lifetime.  Sometimes

just an hour is enough to

touch your heart.

Barbara L. Diamond