2 Years Ago Today

Today is a difficult day for me.  Two years ago, today I lost my sweet Gator.  She stopped eating and I had to let her go despite best efforts there was no hope.  We spent 18 long years together and I miss her very much! 

Her and her siblings and mom are still very much alive in my heart and my memory.  Typically, there isn’t a day that goes by that one of them doesn’t pop up in my daily photo memories on my phone.  This morning, I had a photo of her from years ago.  She had gotten cold and crawled under the covers in my bed.  She was laying on the electric blanket but had pushed back the comforter.  She was the only cat that I have ever had that crawled under the covers when she was cold, provided the bed wasn’t already occupied.  I’d often look for her and find a lump in my bed, I knew it was her.  If I said anything she would wake up and come out to greet me but I often just let her be since she was comfortable. 

That’s just a glimpse into the vast array of memories that I have of her.  I had the privilege of being with her mom as she gave birth to her and her sister. Her brothers had been born by the time I arrived home. My late spouse called me at work and told me that we were having kittens. He watched the boys be born. That day was something special. I felt a peace and a joy like I have never ever felt before. I didn’t ever want that feeling to leave but sadly it did after a day.

I had taken her mom in a couple days prior to her giving birth because it was a hot and miserable summer day. I could just tell that cat was quite uncomfortable. Little did I know that action would lead to years and years of memories. I was confident that my spouse would have kicked up a fuss but I got no fight out of him.

The plan was to give a couple of the cats away but to keep Gator and one of her brothers. I tried but kept running into road blocks. No one wanted kittens they were in surplus in the area. One day I came home and my late spouse gave them all names and well that’s how we became a family. I remember saying I’ll never remember their names. However, after a couple days I learned them all quite well.

I miss my family which is comprised of my late spouse as well as all of the cats. I hate that I am the one who has survived them all. It’s quite painful but yet I keep on moving.

There is no way that the two cats I have now would have integrated into that family but I could see them being companions to Gator. They are just too young and have lots of spunk left.

It is my sincere hope that Gator and her family are all at peace. Forever and always in my heart & memory. My sweet Gator! Your daddy loves and misses you.