Dear DannysMom,
Been meaning to reply for a few days so sorry for the delay. Thank you for thinking of me. Had many a cry over Xmas. I miss Rusty very much and and wishing him merry xmas under my breath without being able to hug him was very hard. I spent many quiet moments looking at the beautiful ornament with his picture that hung on the tree. Still working hard to introduce Siegel and Cami. Cami still wants to pounce but had a good session with the behaviourist/cat trainer and I'm training her to not do it. It is looking hopeful.

Didn't post but you were in my thoughts at Christmas. I remembered how close to xmas it was when you lost Danny last year and I knew it must be hard on you with all the memories. Hope you have a good day today.

forgot to add in my last post--about the ornament on the tree. The branch I hung the ornament on and at the height I had it on the tree, Rusty's ornament would pick up vibration as I walked to the tree and I'd often see it swaying a little from side to side as I walked up. Only ornament that moved that much so I fondly interpreted it as Rusty saying hi.

Dear sher_mark, thank you for thinking of me this past Christmas. It was a rough one. I went back and forth between grief and joy. Grief over my beloved Danny and Tina who are no longer with me, and joy over my first Christmas with Mindy and Shelley. I can well imagine how painful it was for you not to be able to hold Rusty and wish him a Merry Christmas. It should have been a joyous time, but it wasn't. But I am glad that the ornament with Rusty's pic on the tree brought you some comfort. I had two little wreath ornaments in the tree with a ribbon each that had Tina and Danny's name written on them. They were made for me by volunteers at the pet cemetery open house back in December.

Your Rusty was such a handsome kitty boy. I love the orange tabbies. A long time ago one of our neighbors had a sweet and friendly orange male tabby who would always sit in the window and "greet" people.

I am sorry that Siegel and Cami are having a rough time together. I hope that the behavior training will help. I know that one cat always wants to be the dominant one. It is the same with my Mindy and Shelley. They get along well, but Mindy sometimes plays too rough for Shelley who is the more sensitive one. Give it some time and reward Cami for good behavior. Cats respond to praise, but when we "punish" them they think we don't like them anymore. I hope things will get better for you.

Hugs,
DannysMom

9 months today Rusty since I heard those words "He's gone".
I miss you so much sweet cat.

Siegel is still very thin. Don't know how she could get thinner but she seems to. Siegel and Cami can get close to each other now and I don't have to have any barriers up. It has been taking a long time but things are kind of getting normal between them. You already know all of this though don't you. I was just playing a video of you on my computer and Siegel was watching and listening with wide eyes. I think she misses you too Rus.

Love you my friend and always will. Always.

Dear sher_merk, I had been thinking of you and was wondering how you are doing. I know full well the impact of those painful words, "He's gone." There's nothing that cuts deeper than those two words. Being separated from our beloved companions hurts. Rusty knows you miss him. Sometimes all we can do is just cry and let the tears out and take refuge in the small comforts of life.

I am so glad that Siegel and Cami are getting along better now. It is so stressful for us when our furry friends don't get along. I had always wished Tina would have gotten along better with Danny. Have you tried playing with both of them at the same time? It may help involving both of them in play and giving them a little treat if they're good.

Hugs,
DannysMom

Hi, sher_mark, thank you so much for sharing your and your beloved Rusty's 9 month angel-versary with us. No matter how much time passes in our earthly journey there will always be an "empty place" in our hearts and lives that are patiently waiting to be filled once again when we are united with our beloved companions in eternal joy at our appropriate time. But hopefully as we continue with our earthly journey the deep seering pain of sorrow eases so that we can focus on the many treasured memories that we share with our beloved companions.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Cami and Siegel kindly, sher_mark. Please know you and your precious companions are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I always look forward to sharing your treasured memories of your beloved Rusty.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hello sher_mark, I hope you are doing okay. I was just reading again about Rusty, how he would drape his paws around your neck when you picked him up. I know you must miss his "hugs" so much. To be loved like that by one of these sweet fur-covered angels makes our hearts so glad and when the leave us being without them is just so hard. Your Rusty was truly precious and you were so blessed to have had him in your life.

Dear Rusty,
It is getting close to being one year since you died. I think of you often but as this important marker approaches, I'm thinking of you more and more and the friendship we shared. The mayday tree outside is in bloom. It's beautiful as always Rus but I've been watching for it knowing it would remind me of what else happened in May. I told Ben the other day that you were in that place that we can't see and cannot touch but still close by because where else would you be. You were never but a few steps away. Time goes by but please don't fade from me. Please help me to know you are close by. I miss you Rusty and I love you. I always will. Always.

Hi, sher_mark, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing. As the one year angel-versary approaches it can be as painful as the first moment when our beloved companions joined the angels. Just because the calendar indicates that a year of the grief adjustment journey is coming full circle does not mean that the sorrow that is in our hearts automatically vanishes. It simply means that we have endured through one of the most painful experiences we will know on this side of eternity, and hopefully are now able to once again feel the warmth of the eternal love we share with them.

Your beloved Rusty IS forever close to you, sher_mark, and I hope and pray that the many treasured memories you have of his earthly journey with you bring a smile to your heart now. Please know we are here for you - - for there are no "expiration dates" here for sharing what is in your heart.

Thank you so much for sharing your beloved Rusty with us, sher_mark. I hope today is treating you and your precious Cami and Siegel kindly. Please know you and your precious companions are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I always look forward to sharing your treasured memories of your beloved Rusty.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Dear sher_mark, that is a wonderful love letter to your Rusty. The 1-year angelversary is hard. It was hard for me, especially in the week leading up to it. I had flashbacks of what happened then and I was very depressed, so I can understand how you are feeling. It is so incredibly painful to go through so I will be thinking of you that day and pray that you will find comfort. Even though your Rusty is no longer with you he is restored to full health and he is happy. I have to remind myself of that when I think of Tina and Danny. The bond we shared with these loving little creatures is such a strong one, that is why it hurts so much when they leave us. They teach us important lessons and give us so much love. I remember how you wrote that Rusty used to give you "hugs". How sweet and precious! Maybe you could plant a tree or bush in his honor for his 1-year angelversary. That is one way to remember him.

Hugs,
DannysMom

Dear moon_beam and DannysMom,
Thank you so much for your kind words. I very much appreciate your support. You have been a shoulder to cry on in this grief journey. I'm not sure what I would do if there were not others I could turn to. I don't always post but I come to this site often and when I come into this string and reread posts, I feel like I'm in a safe group of friends I can cry with. You are good people- and I know Rusty would have liked you.

My dear little black cat Siegel gets thinner and thinner. She is energetic and feisty with the new cat Cami but I know from experience this can turn on a dime. There is nothing I can do because is the cycle of life. Knowing sure does not lessen the sadness. I know our time together in this life is limited. It all hurts so much but it tells me it is because the love is as deep as I think.

Dear Rusty,
A Saturday morning like this a year ago (tomorrow is your death anniversary) I held you and looked into your eyes for the last time in my life on earth. I miss you sweet cat. I long to hold you again and hear you purr. Thank you so much for the years of friendship and the memories I cherish. Love you Rus and I always will. Until we meet again my love....

I've recently had an abdominal surgery and recovery has been painfully long and rocky. Through it all, I know Rusty has been with me.

The first time my surgery has scheduled I was pulled from the operating table because of complications. I developed a severe headache and vomiting that could have been a brain bleed. I was sent to emergency for the rest of the day for testing and medication for the pain. I was alone for the day as no one in my family knew I was pulled and I was feeling so low. In my sedated state, who should I picture jumping up on the gurney and sitting with me- Rusty. I had the surgery a week later and the pain meds gave me very memorable dreams. One I recall so distinctly. I was trying to sleep but was feeling so much pain. In the dream Siegel and Cami were sitting on the bed with me but there was a moving lump under the covers. I lifted the covers and said "oh, you are here too Rusty" and there was that flash of orange fur. A few weeks later when I was taking my first walk outside I put on a throw I hadn't worn for awhile and what should be weaved in the fabric but a bright strand of long orange fur. I held that part of the throw close to me all throughout the walk but by the time I got home the wind had blown it away. I'm on the road to recovery with less pain now and this weekend I've cried so much with images of seeing Rusty's sweet face looking at me the day he left me. The extra closeness we've had in the last few weeks is gone again, but I know I've always got my friend.

"When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand and nothing, whoa, nothing is going right. Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest nights. You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am I'll come running to see you again. Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I'll be there, yeah, yeah, you've got a friend."

Thank you for coming my friend. I love you Rusty and always will.

Dear sher_mark, I am so sorry to hear about your surgery and the long, painful recovery. I hope you are doing much better now. I am so glad that you had signs of Rusty throughout this, like the strand of orange fur on your throw. Your Rusty was such a special boy kitty, and losing a beloved fur kid is so hard. It's been almost 2 years now since my Danny died, but I still miss him. I'm sure it's the same with you and Rusty. These little creatures are so special and they give us so much love.

Take good care of yourself,
DannysMom

Sher_mark I am glad to hear you had a chance to see your Rusty. I know what it is like to have such a strong bond with a cat - my Mr. Cat came to me almost the same way, and he was my little buddy for such a long time before he passed last month. He was more like a dog than a cat, and everywhere I went he was with me. I still cry about losing him nearly every night and I wish I could see him again, even just once. Even if it is just in a dream.

I hope you are doing better too and that you continue to gain strength and feel better, and that your Siegel is doing well. It is amazing how our pets can affect us so deeply and give us such joy and love.

Dear DannysMom,
Thank you for your good wishes. I am feeling better now but it sure has been a long haul.
Good to hear from you. I often think of you and wonder how you are doing. You are right we never stop missing our beloved friends- like Danny and Tina.
The holidays will soon be upon us and that is a time that brings back memories too. Wishing you and your kitties all the best and may your holiday memories of Danny and Tina bring you joy.

aepheva,
Thank you for stopping by my post and for your well wishes.
You are right that our bond with our fur friends is strong and our sadness when they leave us profound. I am so sorry for the your loss of Mr. Cat. So clear you loved him very much and that he had a wonderful life with you. That love goes on. I'm sure of that. The first few months are so hard--looking around and expecting to see him there. I wish you strength and consolation.

Hi, sher_mark, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing. I hope your recovery is continuing to progress each day, finding you stronger and healing without complications.

How so very wonderful that your beloved Rusty's sweet Living Spirit came to comfort you during your recovery. Indeed, even though he is no longer physically with you - - he continues to share your earthly journey as he always has and always will - - his sweet Living Spirit is always and forever with you.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Cami and Siegel kindly, and that you will have a peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Rusty's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you and your precious companions are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I always look forward to sharing your treasured memories of your beloved Rusty.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Dear moon_beam,
As always thank you for stopping by and your kind words. Shed tears when decorating the tree and remembering Christmas times with Rusty and Simon (died in 1998). A smile broke on my face along with the tears and this is a blessing. (love you boys and miss you lots).

I wish you all the very best in 2014 moon_beam.

Hello sher_mark, I hope you had a good Christmas and that you are feeling much better from your surgery and are able to get around better. I too shed some tears as I decorated my tree this year. Tried so hard to enjoy Christmas, but I sure miss my Danny this time of year. Your Rusty is such a special kitty. It is good but also sad to remember all the precious things about him, how he loved you and how Christmas with him was so special.