Friday, May 23, 2008

Thank You, Furiends

(Graphic by Lauren P & Chase - thank you)
My furiends, we is ofurwhelmed by yur comments an memorials an efurryfing fur Bonnie. We is furry sad, acourse, but you've all been furry helpful for us in dealin wif our grief. It hurts so much rite now, but we're amemberin all the good times wif Bonnie an smilin an laffin. She was quite a cat. I'm a little lost wifout her. I mean, I've gone two days now wifout gettin hissed at! I looked fur her at treat time, but she wasn't there. I can't find her... I guess she really is goned.


(Graphic from Zoolatry - thank you, Ann)

Bonnie was fine Wed mornin. We was askin nicely fur treats, an Bonnie gave me quite a WHAP on the nose. She was in a grump, but nothin unusual bout that. Mom acided to gif us stinky goodness too cuz she was always a little worried dat Bonnie'd lost wait an insisted on drinkin frum the sink instead of the fountain. She wanted Bonnie to get newtrishun an plenty of fluids. Wul, we dove into dat wonderful food an made happy piggies of ourselves. We was so busy nom nom nomin, we didn't efun see Mom leaf.

That affernoon, Bonnie left a big barf on the carpet. No surprise - she'd always do dat affer eatin too fast. She was nearby, not lookin happy. Again, no surprise. But all evenin, she stayed in the hallway, more huddlin than loafin. Then dey found a little puddle she'd left on the carpet. She nefur did that afore, so Mom cleaned it up (no blood) an dat's when Mom an Dad sed they'd defnitly take her to the vet in the mornin. Wul, Bonnie kept kinda huddlin all nite, but moofed next to the big bed, nearest Dad (she always liked him best). When he gotted up, she wented into the puter room. Dat was der mornin routine, where they'd haf sum private snuggle time. Dey was in der bout an hour, but Bonnie was lyin like the Egyptian Sphinx, only flattened. Still, dey thot it was ok to wait until our reglar vet opened at 8. Then afore 7, Bonnie collapsed an rolled onto her side. Dat's probably her last conscious memory, of bein wif Dad in the puter room.

Dad tooked her to the mergency vet an when they camed home wifout Bonnie, Mom an Dad bof cried lots. I was a little bit ascared that they mite take me away, too. They said Bonnie's heart stopped twice. The first time, round 7 am, the vet got it started an ran lotsa tests. I fink they stoled her blood. What they found was furry bad an they didn't know what was the cause an what was the effect. But Bonnie was still breathin on her own an fightin, until her heart stopped again bout 10:45 am.

Rite now, we finks it was sum kinda cancer or tumor dat wasn't detected. Da vets are gonna find out what it was, then return Bonnie's ashes to us. Dey don't fink it was sumfing she ated an they's sure it wasn't containgas... conageis... sumfing I'll catch.

I's gonna keep bloggin, but Mom an I haf to figger out how it's gonna be. Maybe Mom an I will talk. Maybe we'll imagine what Bonnie woulda sed. It hurts rite now to fink bout the changes, but we'll haf to moof on. If not, Bonnie's ghost is gonna whap us!


We've appreciated all the poems an lovely sayins an tributes an pictors efurryone has made. We founded one poem we specially want to share wif alla yous. I'm sorry, I can't amember where we saw it, maybe on Flickr, but I fink dis is how Bonnie would feel. Please, join us in amemberin feisty, beautiful, grumpy, difficult, complex Bonnie for the joy she brought us for 11 years (well, only 2.5 years for me, but you know what I mean). 11 years of happiness must mean more than the sad day she left us.
~ Victor


Don't Grieve Too Long Poem

Don't grieve too long for now I'm free
I've followed the path God set for me
I ran to Him when I heard His call
I swished my tail and left it all.

I could not stay another day
To meow, to love, to romp or play
Games left unplayed must stay that way
I found such peace; it made my day.

My parting has left you with a void
Please feel it with remembered joy
A friendship shared, your laugh, a kiss
Oh yes, these things I too shall miss

Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow
My lifes been full, you've given so much
Your time, your love and gentle touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief
Lift up your head and share with me
God wanted me; He set me free!!

Thank you, one and all. Bonnie loved and admired you, too. This weekend has been chosen for a time of hugs. Please hug your loved ones, physically or virtually, because you never know how long you'll be together.
~ Tabbymom Jen

(Graphic from Zoolatry - thanks again, Ann)

The Blogosphere goes on! There's more info on these roundups available at the CatBlogosphere:
Bad Kitty Cats Festival of Chaos Edition #46 5/25 at The Catboys Realm
Board the Friday Ark at The Modulator (thank you for including Bonnie!)
Weekend Cat Blogging #155 May 24-25 Katie & Puddy at A Byootaful Life
The Carnival of the Cats #219 5/25 #219 at M-cats Club

50 comments:

  1. A quick end, merciful for Bonnie, but so painful for you who loved her the most. (((Victor))) and to your family.

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  2. {{{{{BIG GINORMOUS HUG}}}}}} for yoo an yer famly, VT. We are all vary vary sad fur yoo.

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  3. We are sending you love and purrs!! Please take care of yourselves! WE will continue to remember sweet, feisty Bonnie!! {{{hugs to Victor, beanMom, beanDad, and beanBoy}}}

    -Jasper McKitten-Cat

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  4. HUGS for your family and Victor from all at the Cove.

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  5. Hi, I didn't know Bonnie but found out about her from Parker. So sorry for your loss. She was surely a great cat and companion. My heart goes out to you and your family. It's always sad to lose a good friend. Hugs and kissies to your whole family.
    Love, Normie, Miss Peach's special little friend

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  6. Well Victor, you can always come over here for daily whapping...

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  7. Dearest Victor, my heart goes out to you and your family. We are so sorry about Bonnie -- we know she will be so missed. Sending huge (((((((((hugs))))))) to you and lots of love and a heart full of comfort at this sad time.

    Purrs and snuggles from Marilyn.

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  8. ((((((((((((BIG WARM HUGS to you Victor and your Family))))))))))))
    Purrrs and purrayers for you all!
    Your FL furiends,

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  9. ((((((((((Attack hugs)))))))))))
    to Victor and Mombean and Boybean and Dadbean all.
    Purrrrrrrrrrs,
    All the Hotties

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  10. Aw, man, doood....I'm glad Bonnie got to be in the computer room with your Dad. It probably made her feel better. Things are supposed to happen every day in a certain order, and when you don't feel good, you need that. It's good that she got to have her snuggle time like always.

    Don't worry too much what you're gonna do with your blog. Right now you just have to feel what you feel and if blogging hurts, it's ok to take a break. And it's ok for it to be just your blog, even if you keep her name on it. And every now and then you can tell us Bonnie stories that we haven't heard yet.

    All day long I've been thinking about our friends that have gone to the Rainbow Bridge to wait for us and their people. I know Bonnie is there and she's playing with Trixie and Norton, and I bet Ayla the Grump has found her already, too. I'm very sad, but thinking about them all being together makes me a bit happy, too. It's helping the Woman, too, because she was leaky all last night (Bonnie really reminded her of the Cat Who Came Before Me...Dusty...I think they were the same type of tabby.)

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  11. Oh, that poem is such a nice tribute to Bonnie.

    Hugs and purrs to you all,

    Mindy & Moe

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  12. Love and hugs to you and your family, Victor.
    ML

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  13. (((((hugs)))) amember Victor, if you miss da hissing too much yoo can come over here and Zippy will be happy to hiss at you. We know Zippy will miss sitting with her talking about how pesky all the younger cats are...our love to you and yoor fambly.

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  14. I am happy to hear that finally she passed away without noticing that she was in a vet's room. Her last souvenir was being with her dad ! This poeme is wonderful it just tells like I feel too.
    6 years ago one morning I found Arthur I dead laying in the grass. He was only one year old and according to the autopsy he died of a heart attack ! It was very hard, but now we are happy with Arthur II, who is also white but will never let us forget Arthur I. I hope for you when your grief slows down with the time, you will be able to choose another little cat and love her.

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  15. I'm very sorry to hear about your loss! Very sad.

    In thoughts with you,

    Rosa

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  16. Say thanks to Bonnie, she wuz a good frend ;)
    We'll always love her

    Hey, here is my hug weekend :) :
    http://stelladiary.wordpress.com/

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  17. Though we are new to the cat blogosphere, losing a fellow kitty is like losing a member of our extended family.
    Here's 4 {{{{BIG HUGS}}}} to you, Victor, Mommie and Daddy in memory and tribute to Bonnie, the original attack tabby.
    Loves,

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  18. We are still in tears for you and your family, Victor. We know how hard this is for you. We are sending you (((hugs))) and some purrs in the hopes that your heart will heal just a little bit faster. We will miss your Bonnie.

    Tiki, Tavi, Cody and Camie

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  19. my meowmie is holding me extra tight right now...and we is all got wet eyes. we are so sorry for your loss and understand just how much pain you are going through...that poem was beautiful and I fink I will keep it cos my Meowmie will need to read it again one day, it is a very uplifting poem about such a sad thing. thank you for sharing it...our thoughts are with you all xxx

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  20. Many, many {{{hugs}}} to you, Victor, and your family. I am so glad that you are going to keep blogging. We will never forget Bonnie.

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  21. Well let me start with applying a great big {{{HUG}}} to you and all your family Victor. Yer, ok so I've been practicing on My Mummy all night long and most of the morning too, but I like to get these things right! ;)

    Bonnie was indeed a complex cat, not unlike my housemate Tigmut'hep, who just about tolerates us Abys most days at best! He says he'll love us if we let him eat all our food and as soon as we let him do that he's back to his usual grumpy self... So feel free to drop in here if your ever in need of a good whapping or miss a little grumping at from another feline! :)

    Thinking of you and yours,

    Ramses

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  22. That poem made our eyes leak again, but that's ok cuz it is a lovely poem.
    Bonnie left so suddenly that it makes it harder furr those she left behind, but furr her it wuz the best way cuz it meant she did not suffer, and her last memories were being with her dad as normal in the morning.
    She will never be furrgotten.
    We are sending more ((((((hugs)))))) to you Victor, and to your family.

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  23. It is very sad news, I did not know it... :´-(...

    I´m so sorry for your lost...

    Rest in peace, beautifurr Bonnie.

    Love,

    Anita and Carmen (her bean)

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  24. We hold you all in our prayers. Here's a Saturday hug -
    (((((((HUG!!!)))))))

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  25. I am happy Bonnie did not suffer and spent her last time with her Dad :) It will be very sad in your home for a long time. WE all miss her so much. Hugs for everybean and to Victor!!
    ((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))

    Purrs Mickey,Georgia Tillie & the Mom

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  26. (((((HUGSSSSS))))) from all the Taylor CatSSSSS! We are so sorry for the loss of your beloved family member.

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  27. You are in our thoughts and our prayers. Purrs and hugs for all of you.

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  28. I am happy that she was with her favorite guy in the whole world, her daddy, in her last conscious moments.
    what a blessing.
    I will miss Bonnie, we know your pain all to well.

    (((hugs)))

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  29. What a shock for all of you. When we lost our first Siamese Suddenly, although it was sudden for the vet we had had her in there a hundred times and were just thought of as the neurotic owner with the neurotic cat--but she was in liver failure and they never got it (even with blood work telling us that slightly elevated liver enzymes were just stress). I can't imagine what it feels like to not even feel there was anything wrong.

    We think that next time there is thunder that that is Bonnie and our Iggy Cat arguing over who is the boss across the bridge! He was always firmly certain he was in charge!

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  30. ((((((((Tabbymom Jen & Victor)))))))

    We are so sorry for the loss of Bonnie

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  31. We know you will miss Bonnie very much but that the good memories will help you through the pain. You are in our hearts.

    {{{{{{Hugs}}}}}} from all of us,

    Jemima, Zeke, Sushi, Tiger Lily and Ruckus

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  32. We just want to give you & your family the biggest hugs we know how:

    {{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}

    Love,
    Luxie

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  33. ::singing::
    And can you feel the love tonight
    It is where we are
    It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer
    That we got this far
    And can you feel the love tonight
    How it's laid to rest
    It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
    Believe the very best.

    Well, it just came to me that this fits. We can feel the love. I got all leaky eyed reading all of the comments, this new posts and these comments.

    {{{{{Victor, Mum, Dad and BoyBean}}}} Feel the love!

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  34. ((((HUGS))))
    Mommy's eyes are leakin'.
    It sounds like she had a full, wonderful life with two wonderful beans and an extraordinary Victor.

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  35. (((((((((big big hugs to you all)))))))))

    we will always have Bonnie in our hearts!

    thanks for taking the time to tell us all what happened - we know it is hard for you right now!

    purrrs and hugs
    Kashim & Othello and Momma Astrid

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  36. grate big {{{{{H-U-G-Z}}}}} to u an yerz vic.
    luv--jh

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  37. Yes, life goes on, but Bonnie is missed. And we cry for your loss.

    Victor, in memory of Bonnie, we send {{{{{HUGS}}}}} to you and your humans from all of us at JFF.

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  38. We love you, Victor, and we miss Bonnie
    {{{{hugs}}}}
    Alexi and the rest of the Castle gang.

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  39. what a beautiful poem and tribute. we are sad for your loss, but glad Bonnie's last memory was of her favorite spot with her daddy.

    the animal communications person mommy uses with me (that helped one of her woofies after his brother went to the bridge) said that our spirits are around our humans often, especially at first, but the spirits are always happy and content. Each time you think of Bonnie, she'll be there in spirit.

    Big hugs and purrs to you all. And a little paw tap too.

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  40. Victor, thank you fer tellin us about Bonnie's last day. That must have been diffikult fer ya ta do... We're glad she was wif her Dad at the end.

    We been talkin wif The Big Thing about all this, cause the only kitty here what efer left actually wandered away, so her loss stretched out slowly. All kinna terrible things mighta happened ta her, but we'll nefer know.

    So, we are kinna thinkin that when its our time ta go ta The Bridge, "sudden" mebbe sounds good...

    (((Victor and Beins)))

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  41. Big HUGS and PURRS for your family. I can just see Bonnie watching us from over the Bridge and sending Victor whaps and hisses as she sniggers.

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  42. Sweet Victor, I know so well how you feel! For days I was looking around, wondering where Anastasia might be. Expecting her to show up any moment. But she never did. We had a really good relationship, no hissing, ALWAYS cuddling, playing, chasing. I felt VERY lonely those first couple of weeks without her. And I got so quiet and subdued that the staff got me Mrs. OZ, who didn't work out so well, so they got me Emil. Mind me, he is NO substitute for Anastasia at all. But he helped. And by now I am fine again, and Emil has calmed down enough from being a hyper active kitten that we actually can cuddle a bit and I can groom him.
    I didn't know either how to keep on blogging. I also said "we" and all of a sudden it was just me. And to this day I think my blog lacks that feisty spunk that Anastasia gave it. I made a memorial blog for her. And I thought she might communicate from the bridge - but that was the enormous first grieve, giving my staff ideas - it didn't work out.
    We still think of her EVERY day (9 month later) but it is bearable now. Mostly.
    Victor - I wish I could help ease the pain. But it can't be done. Death sucks and that's about it.
    It meant a lot to us that you came to our party!!!!! And we hope to see you at the wedding too... Bonnie and Anastasia will be there in spirit! I am sure those two have hissing fights about who is more bossy at the bridge right now, hahahahahahaha
    BIG HUG
    Karl

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  43. ((((((((((Hugs!!!!!))))

    I want to say something really deep and meaningful, yet all I keep thinking about is when my beautiful tabby, Skittles, will leave me.

    I am so sad for you.

    Luv,
    WW
    aka: pet human of Skittles, The Huntress

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  44. i justread at the Big Piney Woods 'bout Bonnie. we are so very sorry.

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  45. Oh, Victor, Mom, and the rest of your family, we are SO SORRY and shocked to hear the sad news about Bonnie. What a beautiful girl she was, and so delightfully feisty. We have been offline for some time now and this turn of events made our mom cry when we read about this.

    Victor, you and Bonnie so much resembled Jake and me (plus she had the same name as Mom's only sister). We will always remember her.

    With much sympathy and love,
    ~Bathsheba

    I send many purrs your way. We will miss beautiful Bonnie.

    ~Jake

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  46. We are sending purrs to you Victor and your fambly, from across the ocean in New Zealand.

    We are sorry you have a pussycat hole in your hearts, and we know you will miss your girl lots.

    Purrs and hugs.

    Poppy and mum Q

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  47. We are so sorry to hear the news...we are sending your our deepest purrs and prayers!

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  48. Mom and I were so sorry to read about Bonnie. I lost my Uncle Lil Bear recently, and our family will always have a special place for him, just as you will always have a special place for Bonnie. Take care and best wishes.

    ~Luna~

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