Prissy LOVED licking the lid of my Starbucks’ Frapps. A more spoiled cat never lived – and few have lived as long. Maybe Starbucks really is as magical as I believe it is.
Under the category of frustrating, I’m filing this fact: Thanks to the ice storm, we still don’t have any power. We have a few lamps, the computer, and (was there any doubt) the coffee pot running off of a generator.
And I’ve always loved winter so much.
Under the category of positively heartbreaking, you’ll find this: We lost our 20 year old much beloved, pampered, cherished, and beautiful cat Prissy two nights ago. This past year, alone, she lived through two strokes as well as slowly going blind. Her toughness was only surpassed by her beautiful attitude.
Two days ago, it became painfully obvious that I was losing one of the brightest lights of joy in my life for over 20 years. My husband and I have said, all along, that if there was ever a sign of suffering (in any way), we’d make the most painful drive to a vet imaginable.
Prissy decided to spare us the agonizing trip and went peacefully on her own terms.
I knew the end had come when she stopped eating. Food, to Prissy, was what coffee and chocolate are to me. Her passion for eating honestly could only be compared to my passion for the two C ‘s. Saturday morning, when I opened her packet of Whiska’s and, instead of meowing happily, she just kept hanging her head, tears ran down my face as I braced myself for saying goodbye.
I wrapped her in her pink baby blanket and held her in front of a heater. She never stopped purring. That always amazed me about her. Until her blindness and first stroke (at 20), she had only been sick once – a sinus infection when she was only 4. The veterinarian, then, remarked about her wonderful nature. She never lost it.
Saturday night, I had her all bundled up and lying in her warm bed but she wandered out of it in favor of lying on the floor. So we did that.
I told her how much happiness she has brought into my life and lost track of the number of times I told her what a good and beautiful girl she was. She was incredibly, incredibly vain so she lapped up the compliments like she once lapped up salmon. She honestly laid on the floor purring. Toward the very end, she was breathing kind of heavy and let out a few odd meows – but each time I kissed her head or rubbed her…. she purred.
I’ve had cats all my life (and still have 3 that I love terribly). I’m fascinated by their independence, their intelligence, their playfulness, their arrogance, and their beauty. Whenever a cat purrs, I’ve always thought of it as their way of smiling.
Prissy always smiled. Hopefully in a few days I’ll remember how it’s done.
Keri says
Joi, I am so sorry for your loss! That is so sad. 20 years is a really long time! I’m glad she made you so happy though! Love, Keri
Keri’s last blog post..100 things about me
Keri says
I have been so concerned about you and the state of Kentucky. It looks awful on tv. Has this ever happened to you before? Did you all have to go to a building or something for blankets and food? Where was there heat available?
Keri’s last blog post..100 things about me
Sunny says
Oh that’s really sad. I can imagine your sense of loss. Pets can be really a sources of happiness in one’s live. I hope you can get another one soon.
ARTs Musings says
Joi, I feel for you. I actually smiled with lots of love when I read how incredibly, incredibly vain your Prissy was. We too have one of those beautifully independent and colorful creatures that has weedled his way into our hearts. The love, laughter, joy and gratitude that we feel by being blessed with his presense in our lives can never be fully described or understood – except by those like you that feel it too!
Our hearts go out to you. Remember to remember her and don’t bury her in your pain. She’s obviously brought you so many gifts that are the true treasure of life!
joanne says
what an amazing love to have had in your life for so very long…how much you must already miss her…and what an extraordinary gift she left you with…thank you for your courage in writing about your loss…still so fresh and new…i hope that in time your memories bring you again to a place of smiles and gentle comfort as your precious little one continues on in your heart…
joanne’s last blog post..silver lining
jan says
Dearest Joi,
I am so sorry to hear of the lose of your dear one. I am glad her passing was with you. How dear, tender, and fortuitous, for her to be with her mommy…All was well. All is well.
May time heal your hurts.
I found a poem for you today in one of my favorite prayer books: Bless the Day by June Cotner. It is titled, “For One in Grief.”
“We know you’re feeling sorrow
And sense your grief is deep;
But you have a thousand memories
That you will always keep.
To live in hearts still beating—
Is not to die in vain—
For love and thought are endless
and forever will remain,”
~Joan Stephen
Thinking of you this day. All Love, Jan
jan’s last blog post..It’s All About Love…
Julie Smith says
My heart goes out to you having to say good-bye to your dear, dear friend. It is so hard to let them go. Sending you so much love and blessings as your heart heals.
Julie
Julie Smith’s last blog post..In-Between
joi says
Julie, Thanks so very much! It’s always hard to say goodbye to a pet, but when it’s one who’s been in your family for over 20 years, it rips your heart right out. I just keep reminding myself that she lived a very long, very happy life and gave us so much joy and happiness.
I just can’t wait until I can remember her sweet little face and smile at the memory rather than cry.
Thanks so much for your kind words, they mean so much!
joi says
That’s absolutely beautiful! I’ve written it down and will place it in the kitchen (where I happily spend 80 percent of my life!). I appreciate the kind words more than I can express. Losing her has knocked me off of my feet, but I’ll get back up. Prissy was such a great-natured, happy cat – she wouldn’t want me being a lump of sadness!
Ruth Hartman says
Joi,
I just read about your sweet cat. I’m so sorry! We lost Baxter last April to a battle with kidney blockage. I’m glad that at least you didn’t have to go through the awful trip to the vet like I did. That was truly terrible.
It does get easier. It really does. Baxter was the light of my life. A couple years ago, we took in two strays. Until then Baxter had been my only baby for eight years. He and I were very close.
When I came home from the vet that day, the other two were there to greet me. I think it would have been so much harder if I’d come home to a cat-less home.
Take care, and you’ll be in my prayers. Know that there are kindred cat loving spirits out here who know your loss.
Ruth
joi says
Thanks so much for your kind words, Ruth. Baxter is an absolutely adorable name!
Prissy was our only pet for years and years (and years and years!). She moved with us, literally, all over the country. She was my very special little baby girl! Nearly 5 years ago, a gorgeous cat (Carly) adopted us and had the most adorable kittens imaginable. Sadly, we lost Carly, but her babies still light up our world. One of them, Alexa, moved into the house with us – while the boy cats stayed outdoors doing things boy cats do. I knew Prissy would give her okay for Alexa to move in, but boys would be out of the question.
Alexa is my constant companion – her behavior is more like a puppy than a cat half the time. She runs to the door to greet me when I come home from the store and she even loves to have her tummy rubbed!
Prissy is missed by all of us, but I’m very thankful to have avoided the trip to the vet. I honestly can’t even imagine what that would have been like. Parents have to do such impossibly hard things!