I’ve been wanting to get back on the ‘Stream and reply to comments and do some reading and visiting, but I just couldn’t do it. It is really hard for me to take care of two babies while my daughter works. She works from home, so can be flexible, but still puts 30 hours in a week, and that is time she needs to concentrate on what she’s doing, not on who needs a diaper change or wants to play with a different toy or needs to be rocked to sleep.
We travelled to the other side of the state for Thanksgiving, to see friends and relatives.
The babies napping
There were so many people who wanted to meet the twins that it was decided a huge dinner gathering with everyone would be easier than having us go around town to visit here and there, but oh what chaos! We came home late Friday, all of us coughing and sniffling and sneezing with colds. But at least the roads were dry, then, before the snows started in for real.
I hate winter. Oh, this year… I just hate it.
Bob when he was a kitten
And today – my dear cat Bob passed away, assisted by a vet tech for a smooth and painless passage. It was time. Actually it was time a month or so ago, but I was in denial, I didn’t want to go through the pain of giving him up. We spent almost every night of his 21 years together, and I will miss him.
But your Thanksgiving sounds fun. Just wondering if the twins slept through most of it. (doubtful)
Thanks, Bob was a good friend for a long time.
The boys did surprisingly well through the whole thing! Their "signals" are fairly easy for us to pick up on now, we can tell when they're hungry, wet, tired, want a distraction, etc. The hard part was being in this big house with a huge group of people and their friends and relatives, and their friends and relatives, and on and on it seemed. But, whew, it's over now.
Are you getting a lot of snow up there?
It was really really really rough. It's hard, still, to keep from tearing up, but I'll tell you about it sometime, the people were so nice!!
Your babies are so precious. I can see why you want to spend every single moment with them. I would too. Glad your holiday was great.
Bear Hugs!
PolarB ;)
Sherry
Beautiful Babies but a full time job for sure!
I'm sorry for your loss. 21 years is a long time for a cat! It's almost like he had to make sure you were going to be okay before he left, isn't it?
Hugggggggggggggggggz,
Taylor
ice
And yes, winter looks like it's starting early this year and might really be evil. I have no use for it.
Bob H
Those babies are amazing.
I hate winter too....want to start a club?
Love,
Colo (Dizzy in Dallas)
Really, Bob wasn't aware of much by the time I got around to bringing him in. I kept putting it off to postpone my own pain, which I know was unfair, but he still enjoyed cuddling with me every night.
Yes, Bob and I went through a lot of storms and sunny days together. Through all the changes, he was the constant in my life, as I was the constant in his for all that time.
I don't know if all counties have Humane Societies that are as kind and considerate to people and old sick animals as the society in my county, but these people were just great! My last visual memory of Bob will be a good one, thanks to them.!
Also, like you, I believe that some animals have a certain special something... a special sense of proctectiveness or something, that makes them willing to give up or risk their own lives to save the life of a child or any person, or a persistence in trying to communicate to a person that something is wrong, someone needs help. Such animals... I have to believe they are more highly evolved. I'm no expert in all that, but...
Am I making sense maybe?
I've lost pets in various ways over the years, from having them gently euthanized to the animals "disappearing" to having my dog shot by a sheep farmer. (She got out, and was herding his sheep, but the farmer - though he could have scared her away - was within his rights to shoot her if he perceived her as a threat to his livestock.)
All in all, I think it's the ones that "disappear" that hurt the most, because there's no closure, you don't know what happened to them and though you can hope for the best, those bad thoughts and feelings creep in. That's hard. Whatever way it happens, it is heart breaking.
Okay, the I Hate Winter Club. I nominate you for President.
nothing else to say
ice
Bear Hugs!
PolarB ;)
I feel for your loss!
You and I are kindred spirits right up to the winter hatred.
The twin's are cute! They both are so adorable.
-Chubbz
I imagine those two cuties keep you quite busy! Busy is good.
Merry Christmas!
I do miss Bob even though I am glad his suffering has ended.
And thank you again, yes, my grandsons ARE adorable, aren't they? (she says beaming)
It truly is hard to get attached to a pet, and it's true that most humans will outlive their pets (oops, don't tell Woogie
But who was it... maybe Shakespeare? who said "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." Does that apply here? It's waaaayyy past my bedtime, I don't know.
Anyway, I'm working on learning to love without attachment - and that is REAL love, that releases the person or pet to be who he or she is. And Bob was suffering and I'm glad he doesn't have to do that anymore.
The Humane Society - I don't know if they're good everywhere, but in the county where I live, I just can't say enough good things about them. They were so kind and compassionate! And I knew from previous experience I wouldn't be able to afford having him put down at a vet's office - they usually want to do lab tests first, and soak you for all they can before the euthanasia. At the Humane Society it was low cost enough for me to pay them plus make a donation on top of that.
Hamsters... ooohhhh, never had one, and I'm very glad I didn't. They're way too much like mice for my liking!