I want to start by wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year. I hope you all have a great 2014.
About five years ago Rose and I were at a benefit for a local shelter called The Suncoast Animal League (Where I later volunteered briefly). They had cat beds for sale and since it was for a good cause we bought one that looked a little like Abbey. She took to it right away and it became her bed, even though other cats would sometimes lie in it.
Abbey and Tigger in Abbey’s cat bed.
Abbey’s bed could sometimes get over crowed.
Tigger had his own bed too but he was not as attached to it as Abbey was.
After we lost Abbey, her bed remained behind.
Today we put away all our Christmas decorations. I don’t know how but it seemed like we had less room than we did when I took the decorations out so I needed to make room. That is when I noticed Abbey and Tigger’s beds on the shelf. Since we moved, Chris and Puck don’t use them anymore so they ended up in the closet. Rose said I should throw them out, so I put them in a garbage bag and, as I closed the bag, the little cat face seemed to look back at me. I felt bad putting it in the trash, but I knew there was no room to store it for sentimental reasons.
“They say you die twice, one time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time.” This quote is attributed to Bransky and It makes me feel like my memory of Abbey and Tigger keeps them alive and nothing else is needed.
Bad Cat Chris 
What great pictures and memories..i love that quote and it is so true..we keep them alive by having them in our hearts and minds… we collars as mementos and finding that card with their paw prints was wonderful…I miss all my babies that have gone but they are always bought up in conversations…we see something it reminds us…how lovely…I hope we leave people with the same nice memories as our pets do 🙂
I think life would be meaningless if, after we died, nobody knew we existed. I hadn’t thought about it before but this blog keeps the memory of my cats alive through great readers like you.
It does indeed…I like to think that we leave at least one person with our memory..i never met my fathers parents..they had gone along time before I was born..but I think about them often as I battle the elements here..they did this in harsh land after coming out from Scotland and Wales..so the simple fact that I live in rural Australia has helped me connect..they are very much alive to me as I wonder how they did it!! so we most likely evoke in people memories of our existence in the different ways..and yes our pets will be remembered by our readers and this is a wonderful thing!
That’s wonderful. Your grandparents did something meaningful for future generations.
They sure did..wish I had met them but they are very much alive when I curse the granite ground and wonder what they must have made of this great Southern land!
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That quote is wonderful….and true…but hard to think about really. I still have some collars and of course ashes of previous cats….letting go isn’t easy but maybe it is best. Good for you being brave enough to take that step. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Hugs, Pam (and Sam)
Thanks, and Happy New Year to you too.
Well, I was…. going to write something but now that you made me cry! 😦 I was just thinking the other day of my “first”, Mr. Twix – born/abandoned in Ga. – raised him from a kitten. He is buried, along w/his special girlfriend, Miss Sweetie, under a beautiful rose azalea bush at my former home in Ga. Special thoughts to you as well from Abbey & Tigger’s former “sitter”… 🙂
Poor Miss Sweetie. She was the talkative one, right? Sorry to make you sad. 😦
Reblogged this on Bad Cat Chris and commented:
When I was looking for something to share for #TBT, I came across this post which brought back memories of Abbey, who is still very much missed.
Beautiful photos, such sweeties all cuddled together. I have never heard that quote, but it is very true.
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This post hurt our mommy’s heart! XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Sorry. I’ll post something funny next week.