molly.com
Tuesday 22 August 2006
Flowers for Tara, Best Friend of My Life
As many readers and friends here know, I’ve been accompanied on life’s journey for nearly 18 years by an incredibly sassy, smart and tenacious kitty, Tara. And, as many readers also know, she was diagnosed with a terminal disease of the kidneys way back some 17 months ago now.
She was very sick at the time, and the vet said “we can help her go now” and something told me that it just wasn’t time. And boy, I sure know this kitty. She not only improved but has lived the last 17 months, for the most part, in comfort and style with only an adjustment to her diet. The vets were astonished, but having known her ferocity and tenacity all those years, I sure wasn’t.
Well, my friends, the time has come. Tara has deteriorated so much that while she is still sentient, she cannot lift her body at all, is refusing all food and water. She can’t move much, but she’s still there, and she’s not in terrible pain.
At 4:30 PM Arizona time, the vet is coming to the house. When he leaves, he will leave with Tara’s body, but I know something, even in these difficult times when I personally am struggling with issues of faith, hope, and spirituality.
I know this: Tara’s spirit will never leave my heart and being. She’s had a hell of a great life, and I have had a great life with her.
My best friend, ever companion, always soul and heartmate: I am logging off now to spend the last of your hours holding and speaking with you as you make this final mortal passage.
Readers, your good thoughts for peace for my best friend, who saved my life at least one time and if I am worth anything today to you, for you, I just ask you think a good thought for her today, and maybe one for me too, because this is just so damned difficult and so damned sad despite all the intellectualizing I can put to it.
Tara, you are my best friend always, I love you, and let this entry allow the world to know how beautiful a soul you are. And how blessed I have been to have had the honor of spending so many years with you.
Filed under: faith(less)
Posted by: Molly | 13:24 | Comments (72)
I hope when you find all those whiskers and fur in the years to come that you remember her as she was for the first 17 years, not the last few hours. Shedding a tear, may she have all that she desires in the pussy cat afterlife.
Peace and happiness
Angie (and tribble)
Molly: I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve lost Tara. I had to put Sammy, my wonderful yellow lab, down a year ago, just after his 13th birthday. A day hasn’t gone by when I haven’t thought of him and what a good and gentle soul he was. And the other morning, on the anniversary of the day I put him down, he paid me and Benny, my puppy, a visit. There, all of a sudden, was a big yellow angel in the room with us. You’ll see, you’ll feel Tara all around you.
But yeah, it’s the saddest damn thing there is.
Molly, I’m sorry. Been there too often. Rejoice in the wonderful life you gave her and the joy she brought you. I wish you peace.
I found you site searching for one dealing with the loss of my cat. I cannot say how much your story of your cat as well as all of the wonderful responses has also helped me. My Ashely was with me for almost 16 years and I could not have asked for a better friend. We found out she had bone cancer about a month ago and it wasn’t until yesterday that she was truly suffering and I had to let her go.
So, thank you again for your story—it really helped.
Molly,
I have a solid black siamese who is 15 years old and she is going downhill with kidney problems.We are having an ultrasound done today to see if there is anything we can do.She has been my best friend for 15 years and it is breaking my heart watching her like this.I may not be coming home with my baby today but i know her memory will live on.
Molly,
I was going through your archives when I came upon this sad news. Myself, Ruby my dog and Nuni my cat feel for you and your loss. Her kitty spirit looks down to you and is always there.
Happiness comes from relationships
beit human or otherwise. Society
has pets. My friend Mr.Nicky enjoyed over 20 years in his position. The last few years were hard on us both. Reading the posts on your site gives me the insight to understand my sorrow however insurmountable. Thank you Molly and thank you Tara.
Mr. Nicky was a orange and white tabby His was a record of excellence. He lived 25 years.
I learned many things from him.
Cat lovers are in a class all their own. marraoow
i was reading this for the first time and i started to cry because i had to put my ferret down 6 months ago. about 3 months after my grandma died. it was horrible.. i was crying myself to sleep half the time because i missed both of them soo much. blanca, my ferret, was about 8 years old. she was doing fine but one day she wasnt getting up to eat or drink. we picked her up and she had feces on her fur because she was so weak. i gave her a bath and then fed her by hand and she had no problem with eating. but she was shaking so my dad and i took her to the vet. she took her in and layed her in a blanket. they took her temperature and they found out that her temperature was about 10 degrees below normal. they said that because her temperature was falling so fast that we had to put her to sleep. the thought of that just made me burst in tears. it was horrible. so we put her to sleep. so we put her to sleep and had her cremated. and they kindly asked me if i wanted to keep the ashes and i said no cause first of all, there was no place to put it where it wouldnt get broken and 2, i couldnt stand looking at the vase everyday and start to cry. so we didnt keep the ashes. its hard for me still because i now remember how specail she was to me and how much i loved her. and this was really hard for me cause im only 14.
Molly,
I am so sorry about Tara. It was 1 year ago today, at this hour, that I had to put my precious Token to sleep. I held him in my arms as they put the needle into him. It was the HARDEST thing I have EVER done in my life. It is one year ago today, and I still look for him, to come around the corner, or jump into my bed. I still remember every second of that horrible minute of my life, I just kept looking at him, telling him that Mommy loves him and I will see him someday. It hurts me every time that I think of it, and now it is the one year anniversary of Token’s death and I still can’t over it and I know I NEVER WILL. I am so sorry that you have to go through that, but I do belive, that SOMEDAY I will see my precious Token again! You are in my prayers!
thx
Just lost my dog named tara this past weekend. She wss 17 yrs old and all I did was cry the past 3 days..great memories..she was my baby…
thankyou ..
Just found your site. Wonder if you got another kitty?
It brings back memories of when I lost my pup