Mar 30, 2008

Pippi

I had intended to write about my day out with the girls on Friday and mention my computer went south the very same day. Lost some files but hey, I lost something far more precious to me yesterday.

It is with great sorrow that I tell you that my Pippi passed away last evening. My frequent readers know how many pictures I have posted of her over the 2 years I have been blogging and how often I talk about her. Heck, she shared billing with the quilts, after all. I assume that this from was the culmination of her kidney insufficiency and heart problems. That is the nurse in me wondering concerned about the cause and effect, I guess. She was first diagnosed in June of 07 so DJ and I both feel blessed that she was with us for a bit longer. The last week or so it was obvious that things were worsening and no treatment was going to be of help this time around. She reminded me of the same things a geriatric human would experience, really.

So bear with me as I write a tribute to a wonderful kitty baby. I married too late in life to have any "real" children. For 11 years it has been Pippi, DJ and I rattling around the house and she was in effect, my child. This is no where near the same as losing a parent or another family member but to me, she was part of my family.

So, we had our girl since early March 97--11 years. The people at the shelter estimated her age to be around 2 when we got her. You see, she was found in a trailer court in LeRoy, IL along with her two orange and white babies. They had already been adopted when we arrived on the scene. I had just had to have her predecessor Tyson Tubbs put to sleep (brain tumor and he could no longer walk) --another sad, sad time. I knew that I needed to find another kitty to love or I was not going to quit crying.

By weeks end, we went to the Humane Society shelter--the cats were on the lower level of the building. The staff member opened one of the doors to a large room and about 4 or 5 cats approached us. All different colors and sizes. DJ was saying "how about this one?" "this one is pretty" and such things. Really Pippi picked me out as much as I picked out her---she turned around and hissed at the other cats like "get away from her!! She's mine" . She had one weepy eye and had licked herself bald from flea allergies on both flanks but they told me she had tortoiseshell markings. I picked her up and DJ said "I don't think you are going to get that one away from her" He was right.

She never was a lap kitty and I always sooooo wanted her to be. Oh, she would occasionally climb on DJ's lap if she thought she might get ice cream bowl lickings. Or even squeeze into his side of the recliner but she would generally slink down low when he tried to pet her. She would take lovin' on her terms and handed out plenty of kitty kisses. She was also good for pawing at the bedcovers, headbutting or circling the pillow if she wanted you up bad enough. What cat doesn't excel at that though? But mostly she got him up to feed her while I got the detail the rest of the day.

She would scare me to death when she climbed up to the rafters of the house. She amazed me at the tight spots she would squeeze into when she wanted to hide. She was a wonderful quilt tester and would also try fabric or batting if none was available. She would make it impossible to make a bed because tossing the sheets and blankets about was an invitation to play as was a bathrobe tie dragging on the floor or a retractable tape measure. She could be the floor show as she played on her catnip box or went tearing up the hall like her tail was on fire or tossing her catnip mouse up in the air and losing a pile of them under the coffee table. She seemed to know when my car came home and often met me at the door AKA her food bowl. She also seemed to be aware when it was time to start dinner always waiting for that handout she seldom got. She was the one who amazingly to the vet, blew out the ACL in her knee a couple summers ago. She was the one who never wanted to go outside but sure could chatter at the birds and act like she was going to dive through the screen if one got too close. She was the one who would alert me, by her behavior, that we might have a real mouse in the house but never catch one. She was the one who would let me share my bed occasionally but loved her window perch best, so much so that she had two of them.

DJ often said she followed me around the house like a puppy. I don't know about that but she would track the sun through the house and often wind up in the sewing room by evening. There she would watch from atop the pressing table, her perch or the fabric shelves. Of course she also had her hiding spots in the sewing room too when privacy was needed. She insisted on drinking her water on a corner of the pressing table and if the bowl wasn't there, the cup that filled the iron would do just as nicely, thank you very much. I could go on and on---she had cattitude.

So we wrapped her in a quilt that I had not necessarily made for her but became hers and DJ buried her out in the yard near the shed where no one is likely to dig up for any reason. We'll plant some perennials out in the area soon.

I will not be able to find us another furbaby till late in the week--that guy is coming to lay the laminate on Thursday and there will be too much in and out and doors opening/closing, too much hubbub to bring a kitty home. I will miss her terribly but I have enough room in my heart for another furry friend to love as long as I am allowed.

Thanks for listening.





33 comments:

  1. I have loved Ms. Pippi from afar as long as I have known you...almost for as long as Ms. Pippi has been a part of your family. What a good pal she has been for both you and DJ.

    My heart is sad for you!

    Pam@
    www.pamgwillim.com

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  2. So sorry, Linda. I know how hard it is to lose such a beloved family pet....
    Hugs to you....

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  3. Hi Linda -- I'm so sorry to hear the news about Pippi. I'm glad you had those extra months with her.

    Julie

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  4. I am very sorry for your loss. What a lovely tribute to her.

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  5. You mentioned things were not good in your email, I never realized how bad they were.

    I came to your blog to see pictures of her as much as I do your quilts.......and I will miss that. Pippi was as blessed to have you, as you were her. Is her loss as great as the loss of a human, you bet your life it was! In many ways, she gave to you the same joy as a human would (or maybe NOT) give.

    Reading your discription of her reminds me a lot of our cat. Everything with her is on her terms also.

    I will be thinking of you.......and Pippi. Take special care of you.

    Norma

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  6. By the time I finished reading your touching tribute to Pippi, I was crying. I lost a long-time furry friend several years ago and understand the pain you are feeling. I am so sorry that your baby is gone. Although Pippi's special space in your life is unfillable, another furry friend will find and comfort you and heal that hole in your heart. The best and most devoted cats are the ones who pick you, from my experience. There's one out there for you. Bless you all.

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  7. I'm so sorry about Pippi. Those furbabies have a way of wrapping around our heartstrings. She loved you and you loved her. Enough to take care of her. {hugs}

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  8. Oh Linda, all I had to read was the title and somehow I knew she was gone. I am so very sorry for your loss. I've also known Pippi as long as I've known you and she always held a special place in my heart because she so reminded me of my little baby girl who stayed with me for 20 years. They could have been sisters.

    Think of her in sad times running and playing, sniffing out mice and having the best time. She will be sadly missed.

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  9. I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. It is always so hard to lose a pet. From reading your blog posts, I can tell Pippi was so loved and very well taken care of. {{{Sending hugs to you.}}}

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  10. I am so sorry to read about the loss of your special friend. I am sending warm hugs and thoughts your way today.
    Dawn

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  11. Linda I am so sad to hear that you lost your sweet Pippi...they sure do work there way into our hearts...I'm sending you good thoughts...

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  12. Your loss is our loss. I have so loved hearing your stories about Pippi and seeing her pictures. I think the lost of a loved furry family member is as great as the lost of a loved human - each bring joy into our lives in their own way, and afterall, joy is joy.

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  13. I'm so sorry to hear you've lost such a special friend, and so glad to hear you have room in your heart for another. That's the best legacy our furbabies have to leave us, the willingness to do it again and again. The good outweighs the pain in the end.

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  14. So sorry to hear of your loss. Kitties and Doggies ARE family, and their loss is no less than any other. My heart goes out to you and your hubby.

    Caron in Michigan

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  15. My deepest sympathy goes out for the passing of Pippi. I know how badly it hurts to have a fur-child pass. Another kitten/cat will bring joy to your home, but will *never* replace Pippi. May you be blessed in your future adoption.

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  16. So sorry to read of Pippi's passing. I enjoyed seeing pictures of her as well as your quilts. What a lovely tribute to your very special member of your family :) May a kitty as wonderful as Pippi pick you out at the adoption agency.

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  17. Oh Linda - I'm so sad for you to hear the news of Pippi. There are no words I can think of to ease your sorrow. I'll keep a smile on my face and good thoughts in my heart for you in hopes that you do not carry too much saddness.

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  18. By the end of your post I had tears pouring down my face. I am so sorry for the passing of Pippi.

    My own cat, Molly is curled up quite near me, on our bed, as she usually is at this time of night and I am imagining her not being here which makes me incredably sad so I can imagine how you must be feeling.

    I would do just what you are going to do, though, and that is to get another cat. Molly is our 5th cat and we've not been without one for 25 years. I can't imagine life without a cat.

    Pippi will always be remembered with love.

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  19. I am glad I had a chance to meet Pippi in person-though she was for the most part in hiding most of the time. I will miss her stories as told by you and glad your heart can hold another kitty baby soon. hugs

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  20. I am sooooo sorrry! They become part of the family, don't they?

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  21. You have written a great tribute to a dear friend! Pippi definitely had cattitude! How fitting that she was laid to rest with a quilt--expert quilt tester that she was. I hope each day gets a wee bit easier for both you and DJ.

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  22. Oh Linda, I am so sorry for your loss. . . your tribute to your furbaby was wonderful. Our pets are our children (I'm owned by a Westie that has been insulin dependent for the past 4 years). And the loss is felt just as deeply.

    I will keep you & your DH in my prayers.

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  23. Linda, so sorry for your loss of Pippi. Will miss seeing her in your posts.
    Critters take care of us in their own way, can't wait to see another one posing with your quilts.

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  24. It's a beautiful tribute to a wonderful friend and fur baby Linda. Thank you for bearing your pain and sharing that with us. I know how terribly hard and hurtful this is, and how much she will be missed.
    Since I've known her as long as I have known you, she will be very, very missed. I'm so glad you have so many wonderful pictures of her.
    What a blessing she has been for so many years. I'm happy you had each other. Ebby and I both send our deepest sympathy and love, Hugs, Finn
    P.S. and for DJ too, I'm sure he is hurting for the loss.

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  25. Oh, I am so sorry to hear about Pippi. I hope you find a new kitty to love just as much. I have a fur baby who is about 16 I am guessing, so I know how much they become part of your family.

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  26. Oh so sorry :( It's sooo hard to lose a kitty...I wish they could live forever.

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  27. Linda, I am so sorry for the loss of your precious Pippi. Such a beautiful cat. I always enjoyed seeing her pictures. The one of her under the quilt is a keepsake. I know you won't find another just like her, but hope you'll be able to rescue another kitty soon.

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  28. I'm sorry you lost your dear cat. Cats are such a comfort and you were a comfort to her, too.

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  29. Dear Linda, Being wrapped up in my own little dramas, I have missed reading your posts in a while. I was so sad to read about Pippi. My heart goes out to you and DJ. I know your pictures of Pippi will be treasured. I am not an animal person, but I always enjoy seeing pictures of her with the quilts. May God bless you with another furbaby soon!

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  30. My condolences. It is hard to lose our furbabies.

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  31. Gosh Linda, I'm so sorry for your loss. I know only too well how it hurts us when our precious babies travel on to heaven. Sending big hugs your way.
    *hugs*
    Tazzie
    :-)

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  32. I'm so very sorry for your loss Linda. Thankfully you have many wonderful memories of her to cherish.

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  33. I am so sorry, Linda. She was one lucky cat to be with you, what a lovely story of your rescue of her. Hugs for you!!

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