Twinkle of Appreciation
______________________________________________
Fourteen years
with
a soft gray cat
Silky fur
large
round green eyes bright
Daily rites
no
longer exist
All is well
peace
o’er Rainbow Bridge
Early summer 1998, a 4 month old gray kitten arrived on our property with the air of confidence and belonging. I remember we were working in the garden during one of my dad’s visits. For some reason, I put her in the bib of my overalls where she remained while we continued with our project. I wanted to give her a southern girl’s name … hence she became Miss Magnolia. We dubbed her birthday, February 14, 1998.
Throughout the years, she has been bestowed the nicknames of “Mags”, “Magpie”, “Maggie-girl” as well as our “little gray mouse”. She loved rituals. She and I shared morning rituals, evening rituals, as well as bedtime rituals. Her ritual was Ray was to climb across his shoulders and drape. He looked like he was wearing a fur collar.
She had the softest and silkiest fur out of all our feline fur-children, and big round bright eyes. She was spunky, and the matriarch of the feline world … a position she did not appreciate. LOL … She did not like being the oldest sister … she wanted to be an only child, and gladly let all of the others know it! :D She felt all of our attention was “owed to her” and no one else!! She would set them straight as to who was boss. The remaining gang gave her a wide berth.
Miss Magnolia passed away this morning after a very short sudden illness. She was perky and fine on Wednesday morning; developed distress mid-Wednesday afternoon and diagnosed with the wet form of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) on Thursday. By Thursday evening, she was in the crisis state. The vet strongly recommended “no heroic measures” and gave us a few weeks, depending on the rate of fluid accumulation. Little did we know, it really would be within a couple of days.
Her passing was quiet and peaceful – on her own terms. She remained tolerant and graceful until the end. We gathered her seven “siblings”, and gave them each opportunity to say their goodbyes. I sang to her as I prepared her for her physical journey of cremation. This is our second loss within 5 months – having lost Tippy, the canine matriarch in March.
I know Magnolia is still with us on a spiritual and energetic level, but I am going to miss her physical state, and all of loving mannerisms and mischievous antics.
After 14 years, it seems strange Magnolia is not with me this evening to celebrate our evening rituals.
Blessings and a Loving journey, my sweet Miss Magnolia!! You have been one of my daily Twinkles of Appreciation.
Miss Magnolia
2-14-1998 ~~ 8-11-2012
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Other Twinkles of Appreciation
© by rgb for “On Dragonfly Wings with Buttercup Tea”, 2011 – 2012
almost six years ago i lost my Jazz, my gorgeous, smart, super-affectionate Maine Coone cat companion of seventeen years. knowing he has advanced on his journey has yet to help close the huge hole in my heart. all i can offer you is *Love* and virtual *Hugs* ♥
I am sorry for your loss of Jazz. As daily companions, they become such an integral part of our tightly woven lives … causing the fabric to tear when they are gone. We are still adjusting — the other 7 are having a surprisingly difficult time with the absence of her daily physical energy. Thank you for your sentiments. I appreciate them.
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A beautiful tribute to your beloved Magnolia. I know how this feels. I still dream of my cat who departed this life at the age of 14 also. Love and Light.
Thank you, tigerbrite … their energy stays with us.
Honoring Miss Magnolia so very well, Becca!
Becca, I’m so sorry for your loss…what a wonderful kitty and spirit came along with sweet Miss Magnolia..and enhanced the lives of all that she encountered….what a heart of sweetness.
Ahh, thank you for your sentiment … she was a good girl (except in accepting her role as older sibling …
). I would rather have had her in our lives 14+ short years than not at all! I am pondering all the lessons I’ve learned and her legacy left to us. Thank you again. Have a blessed Sunday.
Such a beautifully written tribute. So many people have been facing these losses recently, and I know that my own day will come. Your ability and willingness to share will help many – some of whom you’ll never know.
I’m glad you had to many years with her – such a beautiful kitty!
I shouldn’t type with tears in my eyes. That would be “SO many years with her”.
I understood what you meant — thank you for visiting and leaving your feedback. I appreciate it. Blessings ~~
This is beautiful. Beautifully sad. But, I can picture the smiles. Smiling to remember Miss Magnolia and her sweetness and kindness. She sounds like a kind and gentle being, though with a touch of spark. Makes me think of rainbow tears. The poem and the good feeling that poem gave to me. The hurt of missing someone you love is always there. But, gradually there come times of smiling and remembering. The sharp painful edge of hurt is gentled by thinking of the love you feel still and always.
Thank you, firefly … your comment reinforces my gratitude for the time we had with Magnolia, and the time we have left with the remaining fur-children. She was a special energetic being full of spunk and determination — she did not like being deterred.
I know she remains with us not only in our hearts. I appreciate your visit and lovely feedback.
She blessed your life for many years. What a gift she was from the moment she appeared as a wee kitten
Yes, it was. Although I wish we had much longer span of time with her … I cannot help but be grateful for the time we were in each other’s company. Thank you for visiting.
I hated to click the “Like” button for this very sad tribute to Miss Magnolia.
The “Like” click for the way way you wrote a stellar tribute to your fur
child. It made me cry. She sounds like she was the prefect fur child.
I have a cat that is 23 years old and everyday I feel blessed that he is still
here with us. He walks a little slower, eats a lot less and sleeps a great
deal of the time but he is peaceful and content just to do all that. He has been
a part of our lives for so long that I can’t imagine what I will feel like. You have
helped me to understand that when they are ready they will let you know.
May you heart heal from this sadness ….
Namaste,
Izzy xoxo
Thank you, Izzy. Wow … 23 years … what a true blessing. I thought I would have many more years with Magnolia.
Enjoy each moment with him. Cats are very stoic, and hide problems until they absolutely cannot hide them any longer. They offer us so much love and many lessons throughout their life. Sending both of you love and light. xoxo
Gracefully submitted, Rebecca. Well done!
So elegantly and sweetly written…such a wonderful tribute to Miss Magnolia…
thank you for this eulogy for her. May her spirit live in your hearts and souls forever ♥
Peace and love,
Siggi in Downeast Maine
As always Siggi you are a wonderful and loving friend. No matter how much pain one feels at losing a pet who has graced the owners’ life with their presence and personality and love, it helps when a friend reaches out to help ease the hurt. Siggi, you always know when and how to make your friends know you care and love them! I am blessed to call you “FRIEND”!
Yes, Joan, Siggi has been very supportive throughout this sudden ordeal for us. Her positive and loving energy made our tough journey a little easier knowing she and others were/are keeping us in Love and Light. Thank you for stopping for a visit and leaving a comment.
Thank you Joan and Becca,
This is uncharted territory for me, I always worry that I’m being intrusive or stupid. But, I had a long unresolved loss of my first furry child, a cocker spaniel named, Chipper. It was 40 years ago (1972) and up to around 1990 I would cry or get upset at the sight of a blonde, long hair cocker spaniel. A pet mom, recognized that I was still spinning my tires over the loss, and spoke up, firmly, and got me an expensive toy cocker spaniel that happened to be in a local store window.
I thank you for your positive notes and appreciate knowing that maybe I’ve helped in some way.
Hard Hearted Hannah (me) had a soft hearted lover of pets…actually two, my children, Bret and Stacey and their children have followed in their footsteps. They are the ones to thank for nurturing their mother,
Much love, many hugs,
Siggi