My Sweet Tina, a faithful and loving Calico cat Options

[moon_beam]

Hi, DannysMom, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing, and how things went with the ceremony at the cemetery. I am so glad everything was a positive experience - - right down to the weather. I know your heart will always ache to some degree for the physical separation from your beloved Tina and Danny. This is one of the many facets of the precious jewel of eternal love. And another facet of the jewel is your efforts to provide a plaque for their resting places that will honor them and the eternal love you share. Love continues on.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Mindy and Shelley kindly, and that you and your precious girls will have a very peaceful, blissful, and cozy evening blessed with your beloved Tina's, and Danny's, sweet Living Spirits to comfort you. Thank you for the blessing of your friendship, DannysMom, and of your precious Mindy and Shelley. Please know you and your precious girls are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I always look forward to knowing how you're doing, and to sharing your treasured memories of your beloved Tina and Danny.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

[xxForeverxx]

Hi DannysMom

I think she would be happy that you can think of her and have happiness and sadness for her but also have Shelley to cuddle afterwards. She would not want you alone. I know what you mean about your mind playing tricks. It is lovely that you can go and visit the pet cemetery and spend some time with her and that they are keeping it well looked after. It is nice they also organise days like that. I wish we had pet cemeterys in my area.

xxForeverxx

[DannysMom]

xxForeverxx and moon_beam, thanks for stopping by. Thanks for saying that Tina wouldn't want me to be alone. Sometimes when I cuddle with Shelley and look at Tina's pictures I feel guilty as if Tina would be saying "What are you doing with this other cat?" But I think that is just a normal human feeling, and I think you're right, Tina would not want me to be alone. A couple of nights ago Shelley did something that reminded me of Tina. She snuggled against my upper body, with her hind quarters towards my chest and her head towards my lower body. This is the way Tina had always snuggled with me in bed, really close against my body. I was so surprised, as Shelley hadn't done this before. And it felt so comforting, a sweet reminder of my Tina.

[Tom's Dad]

Hi DannysMom.

I agree with the others that I do not believe Tina would want you to feel guilty. In fact, I believe that Shelley was guided to you by Tina and much as Tom guided Tang to me. Thank you for sharing your memories of your sweet girl Tina. Take care.

TTT

[moon_beam]

Hi, DannysMom, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing, and for sharing your treasured memories of your beloved Tina with us. It is quite common for our precious companions who are physically with us to take on some of the behaviors of our companions who are now with the angels - - even when they have never shared their earthly journey - - for it is our beloved companion gently revealing the presence of their sweet Living Spirit still with us. This doesn't diminish the precious individuality of our precious companions but rather they are one of the many "bridges" our beloved companions choose to let us know our beloved companions are always with us.

And there is no doubt in my mind, DannysMom, that your beloved Tina - - knowing that your heart needs the physical love and affection of an earthly companion - - actively guided your and your precious Shelley's paths to that moment in time when you would meet and know your lives are meant to be together.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Mindy and Shelley kindly, and that you and your precious girls will have a very peaceful, blissful, and cozy evening blessed with your beloved Tina's, and Danny's, sweet Living Spirits to comfort you. Thank you for the blessing of your friendship, DannysMom, and of your precious Mindy and Shelley. Please know you and your precious girls are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I always look forward to knowing how you're doing, and to sharing your treasured memories of your beloved Tina and Danny.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

[DannysMom]

Tom's Dad and moon_beam, thanks for stopping by and for your comforting words. I went to the pet cemetery today in eager anticipation of seeing the granite plaques on the graves, but they have not been installed yet.

I was disappointed, but hopefully next Sunday they'll be out there. It was in the mid 80s today and really hot, so I didn't stay long at the cemetery, but it was good getting out there again. I sometimes feel guilty that I don't get out there every weekend to look at the graves. I certainly have not forgotten my sweet Tina. How could I? I have several pictures of her close to my desk, and I always look at them and remember her and how devoted she was to me.

[moon_beam]

Hi, DannysMom, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing. I can imagine your disappointment in not seeing your beloved Tina's, and Danny's, new markers on their resting places yet. Hopefully they will be installed soon. Please let us know how they look when this happens.

Please do not feel guilty about not visiting their resting places every week, my friend. Your beloved Tina, and Danny, know you need the weekend's to rest from the expectations of your job. While their physical remains are located in their earthly resting place, their sweet Living Spirits are always and forever with you - - they are always and forever in your heart and memories - - they are always and forever a heartbeat close to you. Your beloved Tina, and Danny, know you will NEVER forget them - - for love is eternal - - it is not restricted to the physical laws of time and space.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Mindy and Shelley kindly, and that you and your precious girls will have a very peaceful, blissful, and cozy evening blessed with your beloved Tina's, and Danny's, sweet Living Spirits to comfort you. Thank you for the blessing of your friendship, DannysMom, and of your precious Mindy and Shelley. Please know you and your precious girls are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I always look forward to knowing how you're doing, and to sharing your treasured memories of your beloved Tina and Danny.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

[DannysMom]

They still haven't put up the granite plaques, mostly because of all the rain we've had. It may just take another week or more at the rate things are going, and that is very disappointing to me. I had hoped they'd be up a lot sooner, but oh well...

Tina is gone. Her little body is dead and buried. She's not a heartbeat close to me, she is gone. And so is Danny. They are gone. They are not around anymore, hovering over me in some ghostly fashion. They are gone. Dead. Buried. Gone. So, please just stop saying they are close to me. I do not believe that, and frankly, if it were so, it would creep me out. I just never said anything before because I didn't want to be unkind. But it bothers me every time I read it. Tina and Danny are NOT with me. So, please just stop saying that.

I can look at their pictures and see their sweet little faces, but that is it. And I don't have a problem with that. I can accept the fact that they are gone. I don't have to have a "sign" or anything. I know I will see them again one day, and that is good enough for me.

[CritzyJ]

Thank you, DannysMom, for your post to my thread. You spoke of those memorials as tangible evidence of their existence, that they were here and loved. I think that's what I was so desperate to do after they passed. I hope your memorial plaques will soon be installed in the pet cemetery. For me, receiving the engraved stones for my garden was somehow very significant. I didn't get emotional over them, while other things I did to memorialize them did make me emotional, but it was like a shout to the universe that "JOE AND STEVE WERE HERE!" Kind of like proof positive that the scars on my heart were validated. We are supposed to have a heavy winter of snow and I know those stones will be buried for months, but I almost look forward to it because I know when spring comes and the snow melts away, they will show themselves again and mark for me a different place in my grieving. Possibly a brightness in my soul as the sun shines down on them and reminds me of the precious love I gave and received from them. Hopefully you will find this comfort, too, as you journey through the loss of your Danny and Tina.

Blessings to you for a peaceful evening.

CritzyJ

[DannysMom]

Hello CritzyJ, thanks for stopping by. I do so know what you mean when you say that getting the engraved stones for your garden was visible evidence that Joe and Steve had been there. And that is very important. Even though the stones will be covered with snow if you get a heavy winter you could always put out some Christmas wreaths or some poles with LED lights or something like that.

I called the pet cemetery this morning hoping to get some good news, but unfortunately the granite plaques have not been installed yet. I was told that they would probably be installed next week. I was so disappointed, and I have been so patiently waiting, but there's nothing I can do. It's just very disappointing to me as I've been waiting for a few weeks now. The granite plaques have their faces on them and each plaque has a short summary of what Tina and Danny had meant to me. Next Sunday would have been Tina's 16th birthday and I am soooo hoping that the plaques really will be installed by then.

[DannysMom]

Today my sweet Tina would have had her 16th birthday. I always gave her a new catnip pillow for her birthday which she pawed and licked profusely. She loved catnip and I always gave her some organic catnip to eat, sprinkled on one of her little pillows. I hope the granite plaques are finally installed now. I will go by the pet cemetery today, but I dread it in case they are still not installed. It is so frustrating having to wait that long.

[DannysMom]

Finally!!! Tina's granite plaque has been installed on her grave, but it was so dirty and dusty that I had to wipe it off. I didn't have any water with me to clean, so I did the best I could. And unfortunately it has a little "knick" on the left side, a piece of granite has been knocked off somehow and that was upsetting for me. But it was just so nice to finally see her plaque. Now everyone who walks by will know what she looked like and how much she meant to me.

[CritzyJ]

Dannysmom,

Tina's plaque is beautiful! I would never have noticed the nick if you hadn't pointed it out. She's lovely and this is such a dear memorial to her and to her life and what she meant to you. I'm so happy that the plaque was finally installed. I know it means a lot to you and you had been waiting for so long. Did you say that there is one for Danny that is coming, too?

I hope this helps to bring you peace and rest this evening. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

CritzyJ

[DannysMom]

CritzyJ, thank you for stopping by and sharing my Tina with me. I had been wanting these plaques for so long, and I had saved up to buy them. Danny's plaque has been installed as well. I posted about it in his topic in the Memorials and Tributes section. I am so happy that both plaques look so nice and they have their names on them too, but I didn't show that part since it also has the last name on it. When I stand at Danny's grave I can see Tina's plaque as well. She is just two spots above him. I wished I had gotten them side by side, but I didn't want to reserve a grave for Tina right after Danny had died. I just felt funny about it. It's hard to sum up in just one sentence all that Tina has meant to me. She had been with me through six or more hurricanes and other storms. She was always there to comfort me any time I was upset. Tina was incredibly devoted to me and she would sit on my lap for hours at a time and just stay with me.

[xxForeverxx]

Hi DannysMom

It is lovely to see Tina's plaque and the photo sows everything you have told me about her. Loving but independent at the same time. Although they are not next to each other it is great you can see both their graves from the other. I think they would have really loved you putting them close together.

I cannot imagine what emotions seeing their plaques have brought to you but I am hear thinking of you all the time as I can imagine it is quite hard. What you say Tina helped you through is truely incredible. A kitty is more than just an animal, they are friends, family, who know the best way to cheer someone up. That one sentence on the plaque is all that was needed as it sums her life with you up exactly. Devoted and loving.

xxForeverxx

[DannysMom]

xxForeverxx, thank you so much for your kind words. You are so right in saying that our fur kids are our friends and family. They bring us so much joy and they give us so much love, it is truly incredible how much they enrich our lives with their presence. I just always have such a hard time reading stories about abandoned and abused cats. I still remember the first time I saw Tina's sweet little face. She was soooo cute and she stopped snacking from her food bowl and looked up at me. Tina just had lots of spunk and I often wished I had gotten her little tabby sibling too so she wouldn't have been alone during the day while I was at work. She was always so happy to see me when I got back home and then she wanted to play. Tina loved chasing after these little sponge balls and she would catch them in mid-air. At night she would hide under the bed and attack my ankles when I sat down on the bed. And she loved watching the wild rabbits in the early morning when they would come by to munch on the grass and clover.

[DannysMom]

Well here we are and another year has almost come and gone. Next weekend I will be putting the Christmas wreaths on Tina and Danny's graves. I sure do miss both of them this time of year. Thanksgiving was always such a happy time for us where we just relaxed together and then I put on some nice Christmas music while putting up the tree and the decorations. Tina was always so involved in it. She would watch me get the boxes that had the decorations, and she always jumped into the big box that had the Christmas tree. Tina loved sleeping under the tree and sometimes she would swipe a low-hanging ornament.

[CritzyJ]

Hi Dannysmom,

I, too, have memories of my kitties with the Christmas tree. Joe loved to sleep under the tree. Steve loved knocking the ornaments down. I used to say that you could tell it was Christmas at our place when the cats would play "bulb hockey" around the house. Thank you for your encouraging words about our new kitty, Mary. We have actually decided not to put up a tree this year. We'll decorate for Christmas, but with a little kitty around who has just "come into her own" since her spay, she doesn't need yet another exciting thing to get into. She has started to jump, knocking over plants and trying to take down the window blinds. I have always said it's a good thing God made kittens cute, because they're just awful!!! So naughty! Like you, I was so used to having seniors around. Steve was 15 and Joe was 20, so they were pretty laid back and content to sleep and lounge most of the time. A kitten has sure added an interesting element to our home!!!

I love the idea of you putting wreaths on Danny and Tina's graves. What a beautiful way to honor them during the holidays. I didn't bury or keep my kitties' ashes, just had engraved stones for them put in my garden. I have mixed feelings about that. They are not "there" so I don't feel attached to the space, just that their names are there to memorialize them. I think somehow I would be worried about them in the cold (although I know that's ridiculous). I feel more of a connection to them in my house with candles I light for them and pictures that are framed in the front room. That said, it would be nice to have a place to hang a wreath at this time of year, as you will be for your kitties.

Our new baby, Mary, has been a nice change. The dogs were so sad and so focused on each other. Now they have this little "thing" who has announced her presence in our home. She cares nothing about hierarchy or what her place should be in our house. She has just waltzed in and told the dogs that she is the princess and that they WILL honor her. It's quite funny. While her presence was unsettling at first, she is now becoming part of our family. I still miss my boys so very much, but she's a nice distraction from it all. She has also added an element of youth to our home of geriatric furry ones.

So, I'm rambling. Sorry about that. I just hope that this holiday season brings you peace and that having the completed grave sites for Danny and Tina brings you comfort... a place to be with them... a place to honor them. You were a good mommy and they know it.

Jennifer

[DannysMom]

Jennifer, I'm glad that Mary is a nice change for you, and I hope she will get along with the dogs. She sure sounds VERY rambunctious from what you are describing about knocking things over. She should calm down though once she gets to be 2 years old. That is when they reach adulthood. Right now she is a "teenager" in human years.
Thank you for your well wishes for a peaceful holiday season. Yesterday I put up the Christmas tree and it was so hard for me. I thought of Danny and I started crying. I burst into tears a few days ago when I looked at the pretty Christmas decorations in the streets. I just cannot conjure up any happy feelings about Christmas yet. It will probably take me a few more years until the pain really goes away. Having lost Danny just three days after Christmas 2 years ago was so incredibly difficult.

This is Tina's wreath ornament that is hanging on my Christmas tree and I have one for Danny as well.

[CritzyJ]

Hi Dannysmom,

I didn't realize that you lost Danny so soon after Christmas. That must be so hard for you. My boys left me in the summer, so I imagine that will be a tough time for me. I love the ornament you posted for Tina. I got an ornament carved for the boys (I've posted it below). We didn't put up a tree this year because of Mary (too much excitement), so I hung the ornament with the stockings I hang for me, my husband, the two pups, and now Mary. Again, I thank you for your encouraging words about getting a new kitty. She has been here for exactly 4 weeks and today, for the first time, I looked at her and told her I loved her. Even though she has broken many things and has caused all kinds of craziness, she is sweet and beautiful and loving and I so love having her here.

I pray, sincerely, that this season will offer you a healing as you have never known. That Danny (and Tina) will weave their way into your heart so you can "live" with them near you, close to you. Have a blessed Christmas!

Jennifer