Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Good-bye Old Friend

I said good-bye to my best friend today. December 5 would have been our 15 year anniversary, and she had just turned 15 years old.
Because we got her on St. Nick's day, my mom suggested naming her Nicole, Nikki for short. We brought her home from the Humane Society in the middle of a blizzard. My mom said I could have a cat, finally after about a year of begging, and I was bound and determined to get her on the day they said I could have her. So in about 3 feet of snow, my mom drove me to the other side of town to pick up my baby girl. She was only 8 weeks old and fit in the palm of my hand.
Nikki was my sweet girl who grew old and got sick like all cats do. About a year ago I came to terms with the fact that she was indeed very old and wouldn't be with me forever. That didn't make today any easier.
Nikki was a tortoise shell tabby cat, gray and white, and absolutely beautiful. She had a aire about her, a bit aloof and maybe even snotty. This was, after all, HER house, and we were HER people. There was no master/pet in this relationship. There was Nikki and her people.
We'll always be pet people. And eventhough today was very painful as I held her at the vet and she went to sleep, I wouldn't give it up for anything. And I have two other cats with whom I can only hope to share so many happy years with. Nikki, though, will always hold that special place in my heart above and beyond the others.

4 comments:

Lori said...

((((Hugs)))) I just went through that a month ago with my dog who had liver cancer. We miss her so much, but we also know that she's not hurting any more and in a much better place. Obviously, she was very loved, and lived a long and happy life.

navywife6 said...

Peggie honey I thought about you all day yesterday. I am so sorry (crying a few tears of my own here for you). Just remember SHE knows she was loved, and because you are such a SPECIAL, and KIND person, she had a WONDERFUL life.

Thank you for being the person you are to your friends, your message board buddies, your kids, husband, and family. The world could do with a few more people like you...it would be a MUCH BRIGHTER place to live in.

Have a great visit with hubby, and I'll talk to you soon. Hugs to you.

Stef

scrapperjen said...

HUGS!!!!!!! I'm so sorry!!!!!! She will always be a part of your family.

Roe said...

I'm so sorry, Peg! I know how hard it is. Keep your memories close - she'll always be with you that way.