Loss of an old friend

[beetiger]

I've been away on a big escapist amusement park trip with lediva, and it's been really lovely, but I came back last night to a call from bard_bloom letting me know that Omaha, our cat and family companion for the last 17 years, passed away. I think that I'm going to come home this morning. I want to be with my family, and I'm pretty worried about Rhys being afraid or confused, since from his perspective I think it might look like Daddy just left Omaha at the vet and is being stubborn about not wanting to go pick her up, and since I'm away, but *am* coming back. I don't think I should be leaving all the talking about this for Bard to do, since Omaha was really his cat and he's got a lot of his own processing to do I'm sure. And I just don't feel like rollercoasters and cotton candy right now. So even though that will mean driving than roller coasters, I think I'm going to go home as soon as I can get lediva up, and try to owe her the rest of this trip when we get together in July.

Comments

[ben-mouse.livejournal.com]

The loss of a beloved pet is traumatic, in the same catagory as the loss of a friend or the breakup of a marrage. It is to our sadness that we almost always outlive those small animals that become our companions and friends.

When my pet and friend Puma died in 2004 after 11 years of friendship, it took me some time to parse. I eventually decided that I would get a new pet, not only to fill the void, the spots in the sun and the shadows on the stairs, but to celebrate how Puma had enriched both my life and my opinions about cats. I knew there would never be another Puma, but I eventually rejoiced in the chance to get to know another animal which, adopted from a pound, desperately needed a loving home.

Clyde, my current cat, is the gift Puma gave me. When Clyde passes in due time, I will honor his memory, celebrate his life and enrich my own by adopting again.

I hope that it may be possible that your family is in the position to adopt, if they choose to do so. In the meantime, please know that 17 years is a long rich time, you are richer for having known Omaha and now she can do all those things cats love to do, free of pain or fear, forever.

You are in my thoughts.