Farewell, Ghost

In 1993 the Mom saw a very dirty white kitten running through the pasture. At first she thought it might be Blanket, her white kitty who had gone missing. She soon discovered that it was a starving feral kitten. She wooed her with food and kindness and managed to tame her, almost. Ghost was never too comfortable around people or other animals. She loved her Granddad and was friendly toward her Mom, but would hide from anyone else. Her favorite spot to hide was behind the washing machine. She hated being picked up and would tolerate being petted only rarely. Because she had been so starved as a kitten, not all of her teeth came in. She lost the others to infections. She also lost an eye to a bad infection. Ghost got so she would tolerate Mia being in the same room with her, but just barely. If Mia stared at her, she would hiss. She hissed at Jade and BG if they got anywhere near her. She may have been the grumpy one, but she was very much loved and will be missed terribly.

                                       Away to the Rainbow Bridge ran Ghost.
                                       Her sweet little face we will miss the most.
                                               She may have been grrry
                                               And not very purry,
                                       But her companionship was something to toast.

Memorial Day

This is Santa Fe National Cemetery. It dates back to before the Civil War, but even then it was a military cemetery. It became a national cemetery in 1892. I have some friends buried here. There are a huge number of soldiers from the Bataan Death March buried here, as the New Mexico National Guard was training there when the Japanese attacked. Let us always remember that these graves hold the men and women who served our country to give us the liberties we now enjoy. It always saddens me whenever I go by that it is always expanding. I hope that some day we will know peace all over the world and the only new graves here will be of old soldiers who came home. All honor and respect to all who have served, who now serve and those who will serve in the future.

Hugs Weekend

It's Hugs Weekend in honor of Bonnie Underfoot. I almost missed it because I was feeling a bit under the weather yesterday and didn't turn on the computer. Give all your friends and family a big hug and tell them that you love them. I did miss ML's birthday, but Happy Belated Birthday, ML! Lots of {{{{HUGS}}}} to everyone from me.

Farewell, Georgia

If I had one of those gadgets that play music on my blog, it would be playing "Georgia on My Mind" right now. Georgia was a fine old cat. She wasn't the first cat in the household by any means, but for a while, she was the only cat and she liked it that way. She didn't approve when Gemini was added to the family, but she did mother her. Whenever she heard Gemini give a distress cry, Georgia would come running to defend her. The Mom got the most disapproving look she has ever gotten from a cat when she stepped on the tip end of Gemini's tail one day and Gemini let out a yowl. Georgia came running, got between the Mom and Gemini and just stared at the Mom with that "How dare you!!" look that cats do so well. She then comforted Gemini and made sure she was all right, then gave the Mom that disapproving look again. From then on, Gemini felt at home in the house, but she never understood why Georgia didn't wan to play with her. In fact, sometimes Gemini had to be separated from Georgia by a closed door, so she would leave her alone. Georgia was an older cat, even when Gemini first showed up. Cheysuli showed up later, but she and Georgia just sort of had an understanding that Cheysuli was welcome, but Georgia didn't want to play. A couple of years ago, Georgia was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The vet gave her a couple of months to live at the most. Georgia was a fighter, though, and she lasted another two years. She only started having a really bad time a few days ago. The Mom had actually decided to take Georgia on that final trip to the vet on Friday, today, but Georgia decided to go on her own terms, the way she had lived her whole life. Have a great time at the Rainbow Bridge, Georgia. We will miss you lots, but we understand that your body had failed and it was time for you to go.

                                   Georgia left for the Bridge from her Mama's lap.
                                   She just closed her eyes and was there in a snap.
                                           Now she's running free,
                                           Her heart filled with glee,
                                  But she really does miss Mama's lap.

Yay for Me!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures
This struck my funny bone just right, so I thought I would share it. I have also shared all the sad things that have been happening in my life, but few of the good things. This is an all good news post. My mother told me yesterday that she finally feels like herself again, after her most recent illness. She looks good; she acts healthy; she is more active; her appetite is back. I went to my own doctor today and got some more good news. Since I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism three years ago, I have lost 40 pounds. That's not much weight loss per year, but I haven't weighed this little since I was in college 30-some-odd years ago. I have lowered my bad cholesterol by 50 points since last July. I am healthier than I have been in years and I feel great. Not bad for a 60-year-old broad, eh?

Farewell, Gerber

My NOMSSFs are Steffy's rodents. Gerber was one of them and a pretty special one, all right. Steffy rescued him from a pet shop five years ago. He had a terrible skin condition and diarrhea. The pet shop owner tried to talk her out of buying him, as he didn't expect Gerber to live more than a few days more. Steffy's thought was to get him to a vet and see what could be done to make his life comfortable for the little time he had left. It turned out that Gerber was a feisty little hedgehog and he fought hard to live. And live he did. He had never been socialized to humans and at first he got all huffy and bitey whenever Steffy picked him up. After a while, he decided that he liked being held and loved on. He became a lap hedgehog, and a shoulder hedgehog, too. He loved sitting on Steffy's shoulder under her shirt. He would sit in her lap every evening as she worked on her computer. He also loved rolling around the floor in his ball. He got the name Gerber as he was particularly fond of Gerber Baby Food Bananas. Steffy got him a girl hedgehog, Baby, as a companion and they spent several years together. Baby went to the Bridge last year. Gerber never gave any sign of being ill, but five years old is rather elderly for a hedgehog. The day he went to the Bridge, he had been active and happy, but when Steffy went to get him to help her blog, he had gone. He just went to sleep and woke up at the Rainbow Bridge. I am sure that Baby was right there to greet him.

                                        Gerber went to the Bridge in his sleep.
                                        It was gentle for him, but it made Steffy weep.
                                                    Now he's having a ball
                                                    With Baby and all
                                        Of his other friends in the grass so deep.

Happy Birthday, Auntie Deb

Happy Birthday, Auntie Deb! Also many thanks for all the things you do to help the cats and people of the Cat Blogosphere. We are grateful for your organizing skills and fund-raising skills to help those who need it. You have a very big and kind heart and we love you.

                                          Happy Birthday, Auntie Deb!
                                          Though your fortunes rise and ebb,
                                                         You're always there
                                                         With help to spare.
                                           Here's a heart-felt thank you, Auntie Deb.