Goodbye, Ayla

I found this image on the Cat Blogosphere site and I am not sure who originated it, but thank you; it's great.  I found the Cat Blogosphere itself through Max the Psychokitty, whom I found through Mows, which I found through the online site of Dilbert.  That was quite a while ago.  One of the first cat blogs I started reading when I started clicking on Max's links was Alya the Grump.  She had an attitude, similar to Max's, but also quite different.  Her outlook was a grumpy, elderly lady cat, surrounded by younger cats, whom she called the Brats.  She often gave one of them a good thump for annoying her.  There is one in particular, called The Annoying One, who wanted to cuddle with Ayla, who definitely did not want to be cuddled with.  Ayla treasured her privacy and mostly wanted to be left alone to eat and sleep in peace.

I am really going to miss Ayla.  I feel like I have lost an old and treasured friend.  I loved her grumpy ways and smart remarks.  I am going to miss all her "Bah"s when she comtemplated the strange ways of humans.  I am going to miss all the smiles she gave me when I read her accounts of what was happening around her.  Ayla had cancer and it had gotten to the point where her Mom was wondering how she would know when it was time to help Ayla cross the Rainbow Bridge.  Ayla took matters into her own paws and left on her own.

                                        Ayla decided not to wait any more.
                                        She said her goodbyes and went off to explore
                                                The path over the ridge
                                                That leads to the Bridge.
                                       We say goodbye, Ayla, though our hearts are sore.