She entered this world under difficult circumstances. One night my son and his roommate awoke to hear screams and shouting from the courtyard of their apartment complex. They called the police who came and took the young man away who had been beating on his girlfriend. The young woman came to their door and asked if Andy and Jason could keep her cat for a couple of days while she found a new place to live. She never came back. The cat was scrawny, sickly and pregnant. After her kittens were born the mother cat died. Andy and Jason fed and cared for the tiny kittens until they were old enough to go to new homes. Grace, the smallest, and her brother, Oliver came to live with us.
She had a fine life, prowling the garden and sleeping on the porch. After Oliver died her favorite place to sleep was at the edge of the garden exactly where he was buried. I always wondered how she knew. She will be buried out back by the bushes with the beautiful little pink roses.
Rest in peace, Gracie.
Oh, I will miss Grace. She reminded me of our Pussywillow - a cat who just is - a no drama cat. I loved how she greeted me at your old home.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that she is at peace.
This is so very touching. The loss of a pet is very significant. I'm sure Grace had a wonderful life with you.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry you had to say goodbye to an old friend. It sounds like she had a good, full life though.
ReplyDeleteAw, Grace. Peaceful passage, kitty... She was lucky to have found you and Ray.
ReplyDeleteOh I will miss Grace...hugs.
ReplyDeleteI got one or two you can borrow.
Strange world.. we had a calico cat by the name of Grace who looked like your Grace. She lived to be 17. It is always sad to loose a cherished pet and you were all lucky to have had each other. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteGracie reminds me so much of our Aucuba. Aucuba left us in January. She was almost 18 years old.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Gracie had a sunny spot to enjoy.
http://winnowings.blogspot.com/2010/01/aucuba.html
Oh Terry, I'm so very sorry to hear of your loss.
ReplyDeletejane
Dear Terry - We know how you feel. We had a cat that looked almost exactly like Grace. We moved a lot and she moved with us. Her name was Patches. She lived for 24 years. She passed away in a similar manner and we buried her under some rose bushes in our home in Nebraska. The cat belonged to our son (since he was 5 or so), and he has named all his cats Patches. And they look like her too. I hope you find another great cat like Grace.
ReplyDeleteLovely, lovely post. What a name for a cat...grace. So perfect. Thank you for sharing and opening our eyes a bit.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss. I know how hard it is to say good bye to a loved pet and my heart goes out to you. Grace was beautiful and was so lucky to have found a loving home. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your cat-friend dying. Rest in peace, Gracie.
ReplyDeleteOh Terry,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. Makes me remember my Buddy. Thinking of you.
Elaine
I'm so sorry, Terry and Ray. Our pets enrich our lives in so many unstateable, perhaps not understandable ways. It goes beyond language, logic, even feelings--a spiritual realm.
ReplyDeleteKath
So sorry. I have cats myself ad know they are part of the family so it is a real loss when a loved cat dies; sounds like Grace had a good life with you though, and died peacefully.
ReplyDeleteGracie will be your wonderful garden angel.
ReplyDeleteThis story almost made me cry. I had a cat I dearly loved. But as the family split up, nobody was able to keep it. I moved into a house where the owner did not allow pets. I never got over it. How good she had a long life and people who cared.
ReplyDeleteshe--- I mean yours.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to read about Gracie. My eyes are full of tears. You and Ray gave her a great life!
ReplyDeleteWarm hugs to you Terry
I didn't expect to be teary-eyed so early in the morning. Sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteKaren from Quiltnet
Love comes into our lives in quite unexpected ways. I'm sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard to lose a pet...we never think we will become so attached. So sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteMy deepest condolences. It really is hard to lose a beloved pet.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry Terry.
ReplyDeleteYour kind words when our Georgeann was gone came back to me when I read this post. Grace will rest in beautiful peace. She had a beautiful life with you and your family. Our condolences.
ReplyDeleteTerry - Thinking of you will sadness and tears. What a graceful way for Grace to go over the Rainbow Bridge. May only warm memories remain. Del
ReplyDeleteOh, Terry, I'm sorry. It sounds like you gave her a lovely and peaceful life. I love that she will be among the roses.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss, Terry. They are no less friends or family members for having whiskers and tails.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry. Our little furkids leave such a gap when they are gone. RIP Grace.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry. I had to put one of my kitties down last month. It broke my heart, even after being able to enjoy him for 14 years it wasn't enough. We will always miss the fur babies that come into our lives.
ReplyDeleteWe have 8 kitties at our home. One is a feral cat and she is about 15 or 16 years old. We feed her and she sleeps in our garage. She never lets me near her. But she yells if she is hungry. She has not been eating as much. I am afraid she will be leaving us soon. How attached you can become to their sweet spirits. Sorry for your loss
ReplyDeletesue hill
Terry,
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss. It is so hard to lose a pet, and glad that you got to know her love.
My sister just lost her cat, too. It's a presence that will be missed in your house, but maybe will be found in the garden now. Sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your loss even when it is the natural time it is tough. Peace to you all.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about Grace. 17 years is a big part of *our* lives with them. Perhaps she will visit with my Selena who sleeps in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies--lots of butterflies to chase, wild clematis to smell and moose to herd.
ReplyDelete