I’m gearing up for the April A-to-Z Blogging Challenge (again: post every day for a month except for Sundays — do post the first Sunday, because it’s April 1, the first day of the challenge). I’m thinking of having a theme this year. Memories.
So that has me going through old photographs and thinking about the past. Here’s what I’m thinking about today. Tiffany, my late cat. I got Tiffany from a no-kill shelter a year or two before I met and married my husband. Our next-door son-in-law called her “The Styrofoam Kitty” because she didn’t weigh anything. Toward the end of her life, she lost her voice. She would open her mouth to meow and you could see the muscles moving, but nothing came out.
She was the most misanthropic cat on God’s green earth. (Jane, I don’t count Tootsie — she wasn’t misanthropic, she was pure ebil.) But Tiffany loved the baby. That child could do anything, and the cat would let it pass. Oh, she’d get away and hide, if she could, but she never bit or scratched, the way she would a grown-up.
Tiffany finally just got old. It happened literally overnight. One day, she was herself; a week later, she was dead. She died on the floor, next to the couch where I was sleeping so I could drape my hand over the side and be near her. She was 19.
WRITING PROMPT: Give a character an old pet.
MA
p.s. I’m posting at Fatal Foodies today on the subject of kale chips.
Lana Kline
February 28, 2012 at 10:13amIt is amazing how much you can depend on your pet to be there day after day only to find that they are gone before you know it. I know that when our dog Muffy (yes, my daughter named our dog) passed away, there was a big void in our home. It really opened my eyes up to the fact that our time here on earth is limited and that we should cherish every moment.
I think I’ll have to dig out the photo album of Muffy today – it has been awhile since I honored her memory. Thanks for the great post even though it brought a few tears to my eyes.
Marian Allen
February 28, 2012 at 2:51pmTiffany was already named when I got her. I would have named her Killer. But she redeemed her nature when she met the baby. 🙂
Alex J. Cavanaugh
February 28, 2012 at 1:35pmNineteen! Wow, she lived a long time. Glad you’re doing the A to Z Challenge!
Marian Allen
February 28, 2012 at 2:51pmNineteen is a long time for a cat, but they never live long enough, you know? Congratulations on the new release!
Nicholle Olores
February 28, 2012 at 10:50pmHahaha! I never tried A-Z challenge, I will probably try this! Thanks Marian. Love your writing prompt as always.
Marian Allen
February 29, 2012 at 9:26amThanks, Nicholle! It would be great to see you in the challenge. 🙂
Ayie
February 28, 2012 at 11:54pmI’d like to have this kind of challenge too…I want to give this a try…Thanks!
Marian Allen
February 29, 2012 at 9:27amGreat! Go sign up, Ayie! 🙂
Jane
February 29, 2012 at 1:38pmHi. Marian. Bless Miss Tiffany, always. Have another name to add to the memory list: Linda Carol’s Newman passed away last month. She is missing him a lot. She has a new girl waiting on the porch, thinking about becoming an indoor girl: Miss Josie.
Marian Allen
February 29, 2012 at 6:47pmSo many names, so many characters! I remember Chita Marie. What a great name!
Francinne
March 1, 2012 at 10:30pmHi Marian! I am definitely eager to take this challenge!
Marian Allen
March 2, 2012 at 9:20amGreat! See you on the circuit! 🙂
Jenny
April 5, 2012 at 10:51pmSorry to hear about your cat Marian – we had a similar cat that lasted 21 years and was rescued from the “ghetto”. We called her “sniffy from the block” we loved the cat.
Marian Allen
April 6, 2012 at 8:41amJenny – “Sniffy from the block” — what a great name! And, wow, 21 years! You must have treated her right. 🙂
MA