Thanks fur your love and support!

Holey Moley! Meowmy read all the pawmails, rosies, gifts and stars to me as they came in so that I would know just how much love and support we were getting from all our wonderfur Catster furriends, but when she actually compiled all names... WOWZERS! That's a lot of furs!!!! It is so hard to thank efurryone individually, so it will take some time, but I want to give a MEOW OUT to those who sent such sweet support and comfort our way:

Zealies!
Sparky, Bow, Ralph and Arrow

Stars!
Sagan's furrmily
Thomas and Furrmily
Lakoda, my little man
Hooch
Taz, Ko and Furrmly
Sky
Arnold P.
Scootie
Alex Finnegan
Edgar, Emily Felicity and furrmily
Rascal
Piewackit
Edie
Sally Maria
Angel Amelia
Moozer and Furrmily
Angel Alex
Mercy
Diogi and Furrmily
Ashley of Grimalkin's Moon
Diego, Lulu and Furie
Alex, Annie and Bugsy

Rosies and Gifts!
The Drifter
Taz, Ko and Furrmily
Smokey
Chandler Ray and Furrmily
Calvin
Thomas and Furrmily
Alex, Annie and Bugsy
Mr. Sam at the Bridge
Sissy
Loki, Kiwi, Muffin and Furrmily
nala sue
Angel Sammie
Alfie, Albie and Furrmily
Arnold P.
Hazel Lucy
Boomer
Sparky
Lalo and Furrmily
Mipo
KC Sunshine and Furrmily
Kittanna, Taillee and Furrmily
Ashlye Delicious Dazzle and Furrmily
Sammie
Hershey and Furrmily
Sybil
Navin R. Johnson-Davis
Jaffa and Furrmily
Hunter and Furrmily
Chrissy and FUBAR
Mathis der Meowler and Furrmily
O'Malley, Squeaky, Aldo and Furrmily
Nikko and Scooter
Tooney
Isis
Beatrice
Scooter
Calvin
Muppet
Ti ck, P3 and Furrmily
Flowie, Whisper and Furrmily
Rufus
Emma and Ginny and Furrmily
Arthur
Sybil
Scootie
Kit
Edgar, Emily Felicity and Furrmily
Ashley and Toonces
Thomas
Misha
Smokey and Punky
Bella and Furrmily

Pawmails!
Smokey
Sammy
Doc
Paisan
Baby
Del yte
Peaches
Elsa
Isis
Little Cat
Shep McCormick
Hooch
Ka-zar
Alaidh

PHEW!!! Quite a list! That's a WHOLE LOTTA LOVE on Catster... it is the reason I survived for so long despite my illness - all the love and power of purrrrayer that you all sent me these last couple of years. My meowmy and I are indebted to all of you, my dearest furriends, furrever.

More later...

Love,
Simon

I'm free!

So, this is the 1st time I am able to communicate through my meowmy since I went to the Bridge... pardon me if there are any "hiccups", we're still getting the translation part down. :)

So today was my "cremation" ceremony. Meowmy was concerned that I would be afraid to leave her because I have always been so attentive to her in the past. So she had a ceremony last night through today to make sure that I am not trapped between the earthly world and the celestial world. She wanted me to know that she is happy for me, that I am free of my body and that I can move on to the celestial world with no apprehension.

Meowmy is something called "Buddhist", so she started out by reading out loud a passage, or "sutra" in sanskrit, about how our earthen existence in temporary and that attachment to our earthen form is unnecessary because that form is just one part of existence... it is called the "prajna-paramita (heart) sutra". Because she was concerned about whether or not I was trapped in between worlds, she gave an offering of my favorite food, salmon, and catnip, and the smoke would sate me until I knew I was free... Then she burned incense and meditated on my memories and on a mantra of perfection through loving kindness and wisdom, Om Mani Padme Hum....

She went to bed that night and I could feel her inner peace. Although I know she told me I was free to go that night when I left my body, I now started to believe her. When she saw my picture, she looked happy instead of sad. She slept well that night, thinking of happy memories of me as she drifted off...

This morning she woke and prepared for my cremation. Her heart seemed light. She told the rest of the New Mexicats to be happy - today Simon will be free of his burdensome body and will be able to move on! - and they understood. She gave them some of my salmon treats to celebrate, and then took two for me with her.

At the crematorium, she saw my body laying there and she knew - really new - that I was not there.... that I was no longer connected to that form. To be sure, she recited the Heart Sutra again and placed the salmon treats, some catnip, incense and a sprig of pussywillow and curly willow in my box with me as a send-off to my next part of existence. She carried my body in the lavender velvet box to the cremation furnace, placed me inside and told me "Baby, you are free! Congratulations! I love you." and they started the furnace.

She took a walk around the garden outside with her friend Adriana and spoke fondly of me... she was peaceful and calm and full of love.

My meowmy was right - I am now free. Free of my sickened physical form that held me back. I am the past, present and future. I am everywhere and nowhere. I am everything and nothing. It will take some time to get used to this kind of freedom, but I know that I am happy.

Love,
Simon

Thank you everyone

Hi - Simon's mom here... I am still learning to translate Simon's"angel-speak", so please forgive his silence...I just wanted to say thank you to all the catsters who have send such wonderful messages and rosies about Simon's passing. I am having a hard time getting my head clear enough to thank everyone individually, but I just wanted to let everyone know that I have read every single message out loud to Simon so he can hear them at the Bridge...I am sure that as soon as Simon gets his wings he'll be visiting everyone.

Weirdly enough, I received a call today asking me to take a tuxedo kitty with IBD from a desperate situation... I felt compelled to say yes. I know I have a lot of furries in my home, but the timing is uncanny and I sense Simon would like me to help another in need...

Anyway, I am sure Simon will get his voice back soon. Till then, know that I would never survive this loss without each and every catster who loved Simon...

Love,
Ali

Valentine's Day at the Rainbow Bridge

Simon's mom here - Simon made his journey right at midnight... the tumor was pushing on his heart and lungs, filling him with fluid. He was drowning... the only thing I could do for my baby boy was help him cross...my heart is broken. I'll write more later... can't see the screen through my tears.

Love,
Ali

Noelle is adjusting!

Hi Kits-

First of all, Meowmy was wrong... the Greater American Trufflehound is alive and well and living in Noelle. She has dug herself a hole (more like a bunker!) in the backyard and lies under a pile of leaves (maybe we have truffles back there?)... but as soon as you step out - BOING!!!! She pops out! Maybe she's really part Jack-in-the-Box?

She had full run of the house last night with no problems - she didn't bug us kitties and just lied on the floor next to meowmy's bed... Meowmy woke up with her arm like a block of wood from dangling it to touch Noelle!!! It fell asleep!!! MOL!!

Noelle won't touch the raw food. She ate Ziggy food today instead and was super hungry. She is a bit timid... We don't know what happened to her at the shelter, but she cowers if you touch her food dish or if she hears a noise while eating. Meowmy sits and pets her while she munches away and she's fine.

Meowmy, Noelle and Zigster are going to the dog park today... we'll let you know how that goes! She won't use the doghouse (too busy looking for truffles), or her bed (meowmy thinks she might need a firmer orthopedic one because of her weight and the effect that has had on her joints). We'll iron out the kinks... this is just the BEGINNING of the story...

Love,
Simon

NOELLE HAS ARRIVED!!!!!

Noelle is safe!!!!

I just wanted you all to know that Noelle is alive and well and living in Albuquerque now. She is really such a great woofur. She deferred to us kits immediately and otherwise minded her own business. She loves Ziggy and is just such a pawsitive dog. As soon as she got to the house her tail started wagging and hasn't stopped.

The only kit in the house acting like anything has changed is Hutch. We just didn't know he could get that, er, "fluffy". MOL!!!

Meowmy will make a page for Noelle soon.

Within minutes of letting Noelle out of her kennel at the airport, someone asked her what kind of dog Noelle is. She replied without missing a beat, "a Greater American Trufflehound, not to be confused with the shorter, lithe, lowland Lesser American Trufflehound." The person nodded their head and said they'd never actually seen one. Meowmy replied that they were rendered obsolete by the extinction of the American Truffle because they were such effective hunters, before the existence of the AKC, so the breed mostly died out. Satisfied, the man walked away, commenting on what a beautiful and unique dog she was. HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

That matches well with her story about Ziggy being bred to hunt Tigers, Miou being from a long line of show business panthers and my being the first successful attempt at crossing a lynx with a penguin...

IF IT WEREN'T FUR ALL OF THE GENEROUS CATSTERS WHO HELPED, THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. NOW WE HAVE MADE LAUREL'S DREAM COME TRUE - A GOOD HOME FOR HER BELOVED FURRMILY.

Not only were we able to fly her across the country, catsters made it possible to have her come home to her own new bed, doghouse and raw food that she ate (and actually won't touch right now... she's pretty enamored with cat food...MOL!). Noelle is part of our family now, but she is catster's family too.

Meowmy has already started making up nicknames (Noellie, Ellie, Ellie-Puss, Jody Waddley...) and changing to the lyrics of songs...

(to the tune of the Christmas carol "the First Noel")

The First Noelle
I ever did see
Is searching for green grass
to poo and to pee

On grass she'll pee
and step with her feet
Because she's an angel
who is so sweet

Noelle, Noelle
Noelle, Noelle
It may be dry
But she still likes the smell.

Noelle, Noelle
Noelle, Noelle
Travelled cross country
To cactus from shells!!


Love to all catsters!!!!

Simon

Dude Kitty's Gone Away! :(

I'm so sad I'm starting to choke
My buddy Dude Kitty's gone up in smoke!
With no warning or at least a delay
He's just totally up and gone away.

No more poems about Tuna n Sauce
Reminding us that he's the Boss.
No more words that fill me with glee
and make me laugh till I have to pee.

While I was sick he was there
Through every step, I knew he cared
He kneaded fur me to China and back
(running the whole way from the restauranteur's sack!)

The bit of mirth he brought us here
helped us wipe away the tears
So in case you are reading, Dude Kitty my furriend
My furrmily's love fur you will never end.

I miss you bud! Please come back! Us Olde Furts need you!

Love,
Sad Simon

It's been awhile...

I know I haven't written anything fur awhile... somehow the outpouring of words and emotion that came after Amelia's crossing wore me out. I simply ran out of stuff to say! Also, we didn't really know what was happening with me. My condition was really deteriorating, I was in and out of the hospital and meowmy and I realized we needed to sit down and really communicate about what I really needed her to do about my medical treatment. The problem was that I didn't know what to do, so how could I let meowmy know? But she was really patient. She cared for me, she loved me, she held me every chance she could, really listening for the moment when I finally had something to say... And, finally, I did. With a gaze from my green eyes to her brown eyes, a little cha-cha and an emphatic PURRR, I told meowmy I wasn't ready to go.

SO... I am a lot more stable now. I am on a lot of medications and I still have a feeding tube... I have my up and down days, but in general I am eating, I am moody and I WANT MY MEOWMY!!!! In my Olde age, I will no longer tolerate being on hold so she can talk on the phone - I simply bite it and throw it on the floor. As for the computer - well, they say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but an Olde cat? I learned how to step JUST RIGHT to turn it OFF. Other kitties? Not on my meowmy's lap! Nope... its all about me these days! I am the ONLY man fur her, and she knows it!

So... I love you all! My Elegant Elsa, Little Lakoda, Heavenly Hazel Lucy, Angel Amelia and of course my bestest buddy Affable Arnold P. - if you were in Albuquerque, I'd hog your attention too!!!! MOL!!!

Love,
Simon

Daily Diary Pick: Purring for Amelia

I am very happy about being picked fur this honor, and I suspect it was because of how happy my last posting was about falling in love... However, I found out today that one of my furrmily's dearest, most cherished furriends, Amelia, http://www.catster.com/cats/421905, is preparing to go to the Bridge. Here is what her meowmy wrote:
---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Meowmy here: when I went to bed this morning (I work nights), Amelia went to sleep next to me on the pillow as she always does. When I woke up around 2pm, she was breathing fast with nasal flaring. When she tried to walk, her back left leg wasn't working. I got hysterical and called to find a vet open and raced her down to one of our favorites (we have several!). He wanted to send her to a critical care facility which I just didn't want to do.

He then took an XRAY (he thought she might have heart problems, or threw a clot) but the XRAY showed she had lung cancer that could have metastasized to her leg. He suggested I put her to sleep.

I wanted one more night with her so he gave her a steroid shot and pain meds to take home. Now she seems much better but still breathing a little fast. I called in work sick of course.

Now I have to wait til tomorrow. If it looks like she can hold on, I'll take her to her regular vet appt Tues (and try to get one Monday). If she seems she's in discomfort, I'll take her in to the vet....

I won't give her chemo or make her go thru any big interventions just to buy a month or two. I want HER to be comfortable and going to the vet and even getting syringe feedings are traumatic for her. She's 16 years old and we've had a beautiful life together. She has her husband Bill waiting for her at the Bridge when she's ready, and she will tell me that. I only need to stay close and listen.

If anyone has any advice or suggestions, please feel free to post or write to me. One is kind of at the mercy of the vets, not always knowing what to do....

If she does go to the Bridge, it will be at 10am PST. And she will continue to work with the group with more enthusiasm and fervor than ever!!! I can't believe I'm being so calm, but I know that God and lots of kitty spirits are helping guide me, and I feel we are safe and well loved and protected.....
---------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------


So, I want to use today's DDP opportunity to ask all kitties to PURRRRRR for Amelia. She and her meowmy are transcendent in their ability to love, care, motivate, inspire.... They have expended much energy purring for the well-being of others and have touched so many lives.... Purrlease, take a moment and give them some energy back.


To Amelia and Bill:

People speak of seeing extra foot prints in the sand
But that is not what I see
Because the extra set of tracks
Are pawprints next to me.

No matter what path I may take in life
those pawprints, they are there
through happiness, love, struggle and strife
They remind me someone cares.

Someday, perhaps soon, the tides will change
And those pawprints, won't be beside.
Because their purpose, staying close in range
Will be to act as guide.

And to the Rainbow Bridge they lead
Away from my loving mother
But as I leave the Earth behind
I know those prints - we have each other.


I love you all, I love Catster, I love Amelia, I love her Meowmy Martha...

Simon

I'm in LOVE!!!!!

She wrote to me and inspired me to heal throughout my illness... and my love for her bloomed, inspiring me to write this about her:

There are a number of reasons
and Olde Furt like me
May chase feathers and bound
So full of glee...

Divine intervention, maybe
energy from above...
Or could it be
that Simon's in love?

Keeping it on the low-down
Is very hard
especially with a reputation
of being "THE BARD"

But there's a purrecious girl
that's given him reason
to bounce about the house
no matter the season!

So, he's gonna hold off
on his admission
Until the sweet angel
does give him permission

But until then
know Simon's heart has been taken!
Catnip Mojitos for all!
And Mice Rolled in BACON!!!

However, I wanted to make sure that my feelings were shared before I meowed out loud my love, but she beat me to it!!!!

She wrote this poem to me and posted it in the Cat Poetry section of Olde Furts:

I'm not an olde furt
I can't tell a lie
there's a reason why I'm here
and I'll tell you why

there is one tom cat
that's handsome and kind
he may be a bit older
but he's quite a find

I've kept my love a secret
for quite long enough
it's filling my heart
and being quiet's too tough!

so, know now, one and all
who has stolen my heart:
IT'S SIMON
that wonderful, lovable olde furt!

Much love to Simon and to you all,
~Annie


Oh dearest Annie, such a beautiful, radiant Queen! How could someone so purrecious fall for an Olde Furt like me??? She is so divine.... I wrote her this in return:

Oh My Cat! What can I say?
My Sweet, Dearest Annie has made my day!
I tried to be subtle, coy or sly
But inside I thought I felt like I could fly!
My darling Annie, so young and free
Has fallen for an Olde Furt like me!
How could I be such a lucky cat
There's no way I could do better that...
to be loved by such a beautiful girl
Miss Annie sure does make my toes curl!
I want to climb up the highest tree
And yell "THERE'S NO OTHER KITTY FOR ME BUT ANNIE!!!!!

Love,
Smitten Simon


Purrlease - visit my dearest love Annie and say "HELLO"!!!! She does indeed inspire me so!!!!

Annie: http://www.catster.com/cats/298525