Good Day Sirs

I'm back. It's been awhile, though I think my self-imposed LJ exile is now done.

This of course is dependent on me writing here again. We shall see.

Good bye, little girl...

Cinder "Cindy" Jones, 1984 to 2007

Cindy passed at 4:52 a.m. this morning. I stayed with her all night and petted her fur because I wanted her to pass on knowing she was loved. I remember my first time seeing her as kitten, a ball of black fluff & huge paws nestled into a neighbor girl's hand who brought her to us because she wanted her to have a good home.

I loved her the second I saw her.

Cindy had been ill for a year now, saddled with the infirmity that age brings to the very old of any species. In January of 2007 she had a close call with an infection & we learned she had several large tumors. The vet gave her three days to live. Despite all odds, she lasted until April when our vet told us she had a rare form of feline cancer. He also gave her precious little time. As Cindy was a curmudgeonly bitch, I think she held on four months more out of sheer determination to prove everyone wrong.

She had been on the decline for the past week or so and last night she was too weak to move or eat or do little else but sleep. Last night I scooped her up, climbed into bed and waited for the inevitable.

As I woke to her rasping breath I got up to find Mike to tell him to say his goodbyes; by the time we went in she had passed.

Aside from me she was the last of the Jones "family" to survive. I feel honored that I was gifted with her in my life and I feel blessed by whatever clockmaker may be out there that let the universe bring her into my life.

Fly home to the others, baby girl. They're waiting.