Thoughts on Thursday

Today we're thinking of our friends and their families - today the Bridge has three new angels. Yesterday both Skeeter of Skeeter, LC and Ayla and Cloud Chaser of the Cafe Cats both went to the Bridge. And now we just found out about Kelly from It's All Good left for the Bridge as well.  We know that they are healthy and whole again now, playing together and watching over their families - but we will miss them.

A Pets Prayer

If it should be, that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then, you must do what must be done
For this, the last battle, can't be won.
Don't let your grief stay your hand,

For this day more than the rest,
Your love and friendship stand the test.
We've had so many years,
What is to come can hold no fear.
You'd not want me to suffer, so
When the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me to the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you'll see it is a kindness you do for me
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I've been saved.

Don't grieve it should be you who this thing decides to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years,
Don't let your heart hold tears.
SMILE, FOR WE WALKED TOGETHER FOR AWHILE.

- Author Unknown

We've lost good friends and we're sad, but their families are really hurting right now. Please take a moment to visit The Big Thing. Mama-Ann and Kelly's Family and give them some purrs and head-bumpies.

Wednesday for Winton

Our sweet friend Winton went to the bridge Monday night. Right now, his Mommy and his brothers and sisters are all sad and missing him terribly. And we're sad too, it's hard to lose a friend even one that has battled so bravely with his illness for so long. Please take a moment to visit them and give them some purrs.


A Pets Prayer

If it should be, that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then, you must do what must be done
For this, the last battle, can't be won.
Don't let your grief stay your hand,

For this day more than the rest,
Your love and friendship stand the test.
We've had so many years,
What is to come can hold no fear.
You'd not want me to suffer, so
When the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me to the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you'll see it is a kindness you do for me
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I've been saved.

Don't grieve it should be you who this thing decides to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years,
Don't let your heart hold tears.
SMILE, FOR WE WALKED TOGETHER FOR AWHILE.

- Author Unknown

In Memorial Monday

Our Friend Kali went to the bridge on Saturday. She was a serious Tough A** Tortie, even showing her tortitude till the very end. Please make sure to send your purrs and hugs to Mom Lynn and all her family.

They will not go quietly,
the Cats who've shared our lives.
In subtle ways they let us know
their spirit still survives.

Old habits still make us think
we hear a scratch at the door.
Or step back when we drop
a tasty morsel on the floor.

Our feet still go around the place
the food dish used to be,
And, sometimes, coming home at night,
we miss them terribly.

And although time may bring new friends
and a new food dish to fill,
That one place in our hearts
belongs to them ...
and always will.

- Pearl, Bert and Jake

Furry Fighter Friday

We can't believe that we are having to say goodbye to yet another friend. It has been a very hard month in the Cat Blogosphere. But Storm asked us not to be sad or think of today as unlucky, so today we celebrate the life of an incredibly brave kitty that fought with all she had, and then fought some more. So today is a bitter-sweet day. Bitter for us because we will lose an inspiring kitty friend, Sweet for Storm because she is now without pain and free from the illness that made her life so much harder than it should have been.

In honor of her, we thought we'd share the story of how we came to know Storm.

We found Storm long before we started blogging (before we even realized how many kitties did it). Mommy was searching on lymphoma in cats, and up popped Storm's bloggie. You see, Mommy and Daddy had recently sent the first P and B (Purdy and Basil) of PB&J across the Rainbow Bridge because they had lymphoma. Mommy was worried that she hadn't done enough and had a terrible case of the "if only"s. She though perhaps there were other kitty guardians that had gone through the same thing and she could learn more.

Mommy was so happy to find the story of a kitty that was fighting, and winning against that evil disease. It made her feel better to know that even if Purdy and Basil couldn't win their fight at least there were kitties that were. Mommy rarely commented on Storm's bloggie, mostly she just read and felt better.

Then we started blogging, and we would visit Storm every once and a while - just to check in. It seems that we didn't visit very regularly till she got sick again, and even then it was hard, because Mommy would get all leaky eyed thinking of what Storm's Meowmies were going through. It brought back all sorts of horrible feelings for Mommy, but she knew how important it was for Storm to have lots of love and encouragement.



Sweet Storm, we know that one day we too will cross the Bridge and we will find you there. So we will not say good-bye, simply farewell for now Furry Fighter.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.

We though we would share some pictures of our angel kitties, Purdy and Basil. There isn't a day that goes by that Mommy doesn't think about and miss them.




- Pearl, Bert and Jake

Goodbye Sweet Friend

Darling Bonnie, you will be missed...

"Bonnie Underfoot and Victor Tabbycat" was one of the very first blogs we ever read, we loved reading about her and Victor and their exploits. They were one of the blogs that inspired us to start. And of course, they were one of our early friends - always commenting and saying 'hi'.

We will miss Bonnie's sassy posts and her pretty face, but we know she's across the bridge now telling all the other kitties what to do.

(thanks to Chase for the graphic)

When tomorrow starts without me,
and I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me:

I wish you wouldn't cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too:

But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand.

And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity.
And all I've promised you.
Today your life on earth is past,
But here life starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
And since each day's the same way
There's no longing for the past.

You have been so faithful,
So trusting and so true.
Though there were times
You did some things

You knew you shouldn't do.
But you have been forgiven
And now at last you're free.
So won't you come and take my hand
And share my life with me?"

So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart.

Author Unknown

(thanks to Zoolatry for the beautiful image)

And even on this sad day - good things happen, it's ML's Birthday!!!!!

(thanks again to Zoolatry for another super graphic)

And Sammy and Miles have announced a day of {{{{HUGS}}}} for every kitty in the Blogosphere - to celebrate our friendships and our friends! Great idea you guys - hugs to one and all!

-Pearl, Bert and Jake

Sad Days

"When sorrows come, they come not single spies,
but in battalions".
- Hamlet Quote Act IV, Scene V

It has been a sad weekend around the blogosphere. Our friends are hurting, and we hurt for them. We are purring for Mom Laura, Lilly Lu, Mu Shue and Iris...

UPDATE! They are safe - make sure to visit the Cat Blogosphere for information on how to write a letter of thanks to the brave officers that rescued them!


And of course we are purring for Miral's family...

Remember

Remember me when I am gone away,
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.
- Christina Rossetti

Purrs to one and all,
Pearl, Bert and Jake

Smudge Saturday

They will not go quietly,
the Cats who've shared our lives.
In subtle ways they let us know
their spirit still survives.

Old habits still make us think
we hear a scratch at the door.
Or step back when we drop
a tasty morsel on the floor.

Our feet still go around the place
the food dish used to be,
And, sometimes, coming home at night,
we miss them terribly.

And although time may bring new friends
and a new food dish to fill,
That one place in our hearts
belongs to them ...
and always will.



We'll miss you Smudge.

Thanks to Not the Mama for the beautiful picture and to the Cat Blogosphere for naming it Smudge Saturday.

Tuxedo Tribute

We had already posted our Monday post when we found out about Caesar, so we wanted to make sure and do a proper Tuxedo Tribute to him today.

"When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions".
- Hamlet Quote Act IV, Scene V



Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.

I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.

I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.

I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.

I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I did not die.

Caesar, you were a new friend to us, but it is clear that the Cat Blogosphere will be less without your voice, and it's hard to lose a friend - new or old.

We're sending purrs to Princess and your Mommy and Daddy during this difficult time.

- Pearl, Bert and Jake