This year we lost 2 of our 3 cats. Pumpkin, the Siamese on
the picture above was the mother of the other 2 and just passed away a couple
of nights ago. She was a bit older 18. Fuzzy Wuzzy, the one in front died last
June. Pumpkin came to the house as a little kitten. The other 2 were born in
our apartment in Brazil. Joe Joe, the last one in the picture is still with us
and pretty healthy.
They all had their own personalities. Fuzzy would go to the
kitchen, sit by the pantry door and stare at you. For food. Pumpkin was a very
loud purrer who loved to cuddle with whoever had an open lap. Joe Joe still
loves to sleep in my son’s bed. They really fulfilled our lives, gave us great
company. On the couple of years I worked from home I always received their
“visits” in my desk, rubbing their heads against my hands while using the mouse
or typing.
Pumpkin was born in Brazil, spent her first 2 years there
with us so she traveled quite a bit. She walked with us for miles sometimes
and we could actually walk her on a leach.
In the past few years, as they aged, they became less active
and more “cuddly”, always being around us when we were on the family room,
watching tv or just vegging out.
Last June, Fuzzy got sick and she went downhill really fast.
We scheduled putting her down. The last few days I brought her to sleep by my
feet. She didn’t have much energy, so she just stayed all night. Two nights
before she died I had a very vivid dream. In it my late father came to me as if
coming down a long set of stairs. He didn’t come down all the way, stopping
about 10 steps above me. He said very clearly: “I will be there to receive her
when she passes, don’t worry, we will take care of her”. I don’t normally have
vivid dreams either so that really stuck to my memory.
A few months went by till late September. Pumpkin got very
weak last week and passed away on Sunday night on her own. We had scheduled to
have her euthanized the following day, but she went on her own terms.
Different from Fuzzy, my dad came to me again in my dream.
This time he came down the same set of stairs and he stopped again about 10
steps from the bottom, where I stood. He was carrying both Pumpkin and Fuzzy
and just smiled, not saying anything.
These past 2 days, although I am very sad and miss my long
time companions, I can’t help but be happy that they are in really great
company. I think our family was very
fortunate to have them in our lives.
David Almeida
October 6, 2015
