It’s been a surreal week of highs and lows. My oldest son turned 17 on Wednesday. The same day Beijing stopped eating. She moved from spot to spot, unresponsive to any attention we paid. I was so afraid she would die on his birthday, but she survived the night. My husband hoped that it was only an infection, and that a trip to the vet could heal her. She’s been on four medications for a year treating her heart and thyroid, but she was happy, ravenous, cantankerous…in short, her wonderful self.
Alas, the news wasn’t good. Her body is shutting down, and they’ve added probable cancer to the list. I’m going to see her now, and will be there with her as she eases out of this world. My youngest son graduates 8th grade in a few hours. I’m hoping to keep this news at bay till then.
Thank you for gracing our lives, Beijing.
Oh how sad… but what a fabulous life xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you,
LikeLike
It’s obvious that Beijing was a much-loved puddy-tat and had a wonderful life with your family. I’m so sorry for the grief you are all feeling right now. {{{{ Alsy, Mike, Chris & Mac }}}}
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your sweet words, Bunny. I know you too understand.
LikeLike
And I’m sorry that I left you a broken hug. Here’s a whole one:
{{{{ Alsy, Mike, Chris & Mac }}}}
LikeLiked by 1 person
It didn’t look broken on my phone, but thanks for double checking. That was so sweet. xox
LikeLike
I’m so sorry. Losing a beloved pet is always so difficult. Their lives are much to short. Hugs to you and your family.
LikeLike
Thank you, Lisa. I know you just lost your sweet dog. I’m so glad you’ve welcomed a new one into your home, someone for all of you to love. xox
LikeLike
All of you are in our thoughts today. ❤ Huggies to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. xox
LikeLike
I saw your fb post and came straight over Alys. What a beautiful old girl she was and how loved! It is times like this our pets break our hearts, but we are the better for having known and loved them! It was so good of her to wait until after C’s birthday too. I send you all my love and peaceful hearts and this special poem to help ease the way http://www.catquotes.com/lendmeakitten.htm xoxo Pauline
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for your love and support, Pauline.
You’re right: we are always better for having known and loved them. It’s why we keep opening our door and our hearts to the furry little wonders.
I’m off to read your special poem, with gratitude. xox
LikeLiked by 1 person
“lend me a kitten”…sweet. xox
LikeLike
Oh, Alys. I am sooo sorry. Losing a family member brings enormous grief all the way around. Please accept my humblest sympathies as you work though this. There are just no words. Huge hugs, M
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marlene, thank you so much for your loving words. I feel drained today. I’m moving about my business, but I just don’t feel the same sense of energy. You wouldn’t think it would be so obvious she is gone with our house full of cats, but of course each of them has such a unique hold on our hearts. How could you help but miss her. xox
LikeLike
That’s so very sad Alys. Hugs to you, and hope the boys don’t take it too hard.
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Cathy. We’ve all shed some tears, with the exception of my youngest son. He seems stoic about the whole thing, saying it wasn’t unexpected, but is now paying a lot of attention to our cat Lindy. That is sweet to observe. I’ve learned that we all handle our grief differently. Thanks for being here. xox
LikeLike
I’m so sorry, Alys. Much love to you all!
LikeLike
Thank you, Sheryl. I know you’ve been through it too and that you understand the love as well as the loss. xox
LikeLike
With tear-filled eyes, and slow fingers, I type the words to you that I knew must someday come: “I’m so deeply sorry for your loss of dear Beijing”. My heart is with you and your family as you grieve for your beloved furry family member. I share your sadness. I think you’re right to withhold news of her passing till sometime after the graduation celebration, if possible, lest it forever taint the occasion. Perhaps there can at least be some joy before the inevitable heartbreak. Sending you hugs, much love, and sincere sympathy, and wishing you strength.
LikeLike
Alicia, I’m glad you got to meet Beijing on your visit last fall. We feel lucky to have had her in our lives these past 14 months, when we were sure we would lose her a year ago April. She was sleeping more and more of late, but you just don’t know with cats. She still had a big appetite and loved being with us. This week was the opposite in every way. She refused food, wanted to be left alone, wouldn’t respond to pets or brushing or offers of treats. It was so hard to see her go.
Thank you for your love and understanding. You exemplify a compassionate citizen in every way.
By the way, your lovely postcard arrived today. You couldn’t have know, but what amazing timing. Thanks so much for thinking of me. xox
LikeLike
I admire your diligence in taking the time to provide thoughtful replies to your many well-wishers. Grieving is so often experienced as a period of social withdrawal, solitude. I know, though, that it can be therapeutic, especially for us wordsmiths, to process our emotions through writing and sharing.
I’m grateful that I got to meet Beijing, and that you’ve shared her story’s final chapter with me. I hope you’ll indulge in some self-nurturing, and wrap up in your family’s love. Please get some rest…. We all understand, and don’t expect you to keep up your usual pace. The world can wait a bit till you’re refreshed.
Glad the postcard might’ve provided a little levity. I often think of you, far more than you probably know. XOXO
LikeLike
Thank you, sweet Alicia.
You’re right that reading these comments, and sharing the experience is a good outlet. I cried when I wrote this, and cried again when I re-read it. I’ve learned that isolation isn’t always the best thing. I sat at my son’s graduation and cried behind my sunglasses, thinking that anyone noticing would think I was sentimental over the end of 8th grade. Funny how we often feel the need to hide, protect or justify our tears. People often worry that they ‘made you cry’ instead of realizing that we need that outlet. We need to talk about it, experience it, move through it, and make noise around it.
Thanks for your always thoughtful, and loving comments.
xoxo
LikeLike
I am so sorry to hear about Beijing. Pets give us so much joy when they are with and that is very evident in your photos. It almost seems unfair that the time they are with us is so short.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Joe. It’s hard when they go, but I can’t imagine a life without animals. They enrich my world in a thousand different ways.
LikeLike
17 years is a heck of a run. Doesn’t make the loss any easier, but the heartbreak will never come close to matching the love. Good luck.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I love that will, and I’ll write it down in my journal, “the heartbreak will never com close to matching the love”. So true, so true xK
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Will. So true.
LikeLike
I am so very, very sorry, Alys! I have never met Beijing but I’m sure you and your family gave her the best life she could’ve had anywhere in this world – because she had your love. You’re all in my thoughts and if there’s anything at all I can do you have but to ask.
Alicia
spashionista.com
LikeLike
Thank you, Alicia. She had a grand life, of that I can be sure. We loved her so much.
LikeLike
Alys, I’m so sorry to read this news. I’ve had many pets, but it never gets easier, whether they live a long or a short life. Still, it’s worth it for all that they give us. Just hard at the end for a while. I’m sure you know that soon the good memories will replace the sorrow. In the meantime, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Big hugs to you. ~ Linne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Linne. You’re absolutely right: it’s worth it. We pretend that they’ll be with us always, one of those untruths that allow us to love and let go when the time comes.
We miss her.
LikeLike
Aw, sweetie, you’ve been such a good mom and it helped your family have Beijing’s love a little extra longer. We’re never ready to say goodbye, this I know for certain. What a terribly hard day, but I’m glad you could be with her as she passed and not out of town, away.
It’s nice that there were good things for Mac and Mike, so your family had something happy to share together at this time too. Thank you for sharing this and all your wonderful photo’s of Beijing ((( Alys ))). I especially loved your caption “please hold my calls”. Really, just precious. They’re with us forever, aren’t they? If not on our lap, in our hearts.
Sending loving thoughts to all of you, we’re so very sorry for your loss. Kelly and Jim.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. We all realize that we had another amazing year with her that we might not have had. You are right though, that even though is was time for her to go, you’re never quite ready. I thought I was ready till the final call from the vet, but I sobbed anyway. C. came with me after just a moment’s hesitation, and gave her some love. He even took her picture which was very sweet. We shared our tears together, and said our good byes. He stepped out of the room at that point, but I stayed with her through the end. It was peaceful for her, sad for the rest of us.
We told M. last night. He said he was expecting it and seemed stoic. He’s been giving a lot of attention to Lindy today.
Thank you both for your love and understanding. You’re right: if not on our lap, in our heart. That’s beautiful.
xox
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww, Chris is a good fellow to have gone with you for support. Really great of him as I’m sure he found it though. Your guys are really dear, but you already know that xoxox
LikeLike
xoxoxo It’s always nice to hear it from you.
LikeLike
Sorry to hear this. I can understand your feelings….
LikeLike
Thank you, Bindu.
LikeLike
What a beautiful cat! I am so sorry that Beijing is no longer in your lives, but certainly will in your memories. X x x
LikeLike
She was a beauty, wasn’t she. We miss her dearly.
Thank you, Anne.
LikeLike
I am so sorry for your loss…Beijing clearly had a very happy, contented life with you and you will remember her with love and fondness always.
LikeLike
Thank you, Sheryl. We will always remember her with love and fondness as you say, and are grateful for the time we had. xox
LikeLike
Oh no! We knew it was coming but it doesn’t make it any easier. I’m so glad I got to see her one last time on Wednesday. I’m sure everyone is taking it hard. My thoughts are with you. Hugs to you all.
LikeLike
I’m glad you got to see her too, Sharon. By Friday morning, everything was shutting down and they thought she might also have cancer. C. came with me to say goodbye. I’m so proud of him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cats are funny creatures- I believe B adopted you for a reason.it was wonderful and hard to put her down, I’m sure of it but she loved you for being there and ending her pain. Love you Alys. Be strong, another will find you.0
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind words of support. We’re glad we could provide the home that we did. You don’t always realize the part they play in your life till they’re gone. xox
LikeLike
Poor Beijing! I hope she has a happy end, if that is possible.
LikeLike
We were with her to the end and she died peacefully. I’m grateful for that.
LikeLike
Yes!
LikeLike
Alys, I am so sorry. Thinking of you with love and sympathy…
LikeLike
Thank you, Julia.
LikeLike
I felt sad about her…. but I think she lived a happy and contented life..
LikeLike
Thank you. I know she did.
LikeLike
What a beautiful friend you had, Alys, and an untimely parting. She was obviously loved and adored–and one could not ask for a more meaningful, important gift to give an animal that joined your family. You were lucky folks, and she was lucky to have you.
Cheers
LikeLike
I’ve been traveling for the past 3 days and am just now catching up on blogs. Alys, I am truly sorry for the loss of Beijing. You said it best … a week of highs and lows for certain.
The photos you shared reveal a love shared among family members, both human and animal.
Thinking of you all
LikeLike
Thank you, LB, for stopping in. I hope you enjoyed your travels.
I know you lost your own kitty not that long ago, so you can relate to the loss. They leave an indelible impression on our hearts.
LikeLike