Our friends Kathy & Ralph from Sheep Thrills Farm in Arizona have lost their friend Ziggy. He was a grand old man of about 16 years old, having come to their home as a stray (they are one of the people who have that invisible "Stray Cats are Welcome Here" sign in their driveway). He had been loosing weight for about a year and pretty sick for a couple of weeks now - Kathy & Ralph had done everything that they could think of to help him regain his health, but it was not to be.
I am so very sad for them, as, like many of you out there, we have lost a kitty who was such a character that he left a permanent imprint on our hearts. When I look through my photos for "Looking Back Sunday" the older ones are so full of Neelix pictures. Sometimes I can look through them, sometimes I just can't and feel like we really should have tried to do more - to push the vet to do more tests - but, it's a "could-a, should-a, would-a situation at best. Nothing I can say or do will bring him back.
Because they have "connections" I asked our friends Karla & Miss Peach to alert the members of the Cat Blogosphere that Ziggy had crossed The Rainbow Bridge. This group, like no other, can offer sympathy that is so heart felt and meaningful. I hope their words of condolence will help K&R get through this hard time.
Our friends Karla & Miss Peach also wrote a beautiful poem for us the weekend when Neelix went to the Bridge. It still "makes my eyes leak" but I'll reprint it here in honor of Ziggy.
For Neelix (and his "mom & dad") -
Close your eyes now, my longtime friend,
and let this time of suffering
come to a peaceful end.
We'll walk together soon, I'm sure,
as winter turns to spring,
when snow gives way to budding leaves
and birds begin to sing.
The gentle breeze shall call your name
along the water's edge.
For what we shared and what you meant
shall never be forgot.
Your friendship spans the years behind,
your memory ahead.
You'll always be there next to me,
companion and good friend.
Keep an eye out for Neelix, Zig - I'm sure he'll show you all around -
4 comments:
Oh Tina I am so sad for Kathy & Ralph....Ziggy was so precious to her. I loved learning his special "here I am now love me forever" story on her blog today.
I can feel the comforting paw of the CB covering Sheep Thrills Farm during this sad time. Like Princess Dilly said in her precious comment on my blog today...Ziggy is just invisable not gone. I hope you get a chance to read it...she is a precious friend from England with a wonderful lift you up sense of humor...oh and she is a toy dragon who lives in a castle. Life is full of wonderful little tid bits that make our hearts sing...even on gray days.
PS: I can not take any credit for the words you posted that came from me...That is a Billy Joel song I think. I did write the little poem for Neelix I sent you though...about the angels coming to carry him home during the night if I remember some of it...
Soft soft gentle hugs to you and the Shepard from all of us at the cozy cottage
How can I ever thank you, Karla and Miss Peach, dear friend? The warmth of all the "beans" who stopped in to offer their hugs and love was/is astounding...especially from others who have had their hearts hurt from loss of our beloved fur-friends.
All the hugs have been helping me through this.
As many times as I have lost cats through the years, it sure doesn't help steel the heart from hurting when our friends head for the Bridge.
Thank you, Tina.
Now my eyes are leaking. We have lost 4 beloved members of our animal family in the last little while, including our 16 year old kitty and two livestock guard dogs, but we treasure those still with us. Ken & Mary Berry of FancyFibers Farms
I thought of Neelix when I read Kathy's posts these last days. Cats are such unique companions - think Egyptian images. Charlie is in a twist because I cleaned my studio - he's unhappy and I care. Cats.
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