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Our Lucy


There's never been a cat so indulged or more loved. She was our Lucy, our favorite (but don't tell the others) and we've been spoiling her for years. Yesterday, we made the wrenching decision to let her go. The inoperable tumor on her nose had grown furious and was making her miserable despite extra doses of pain medication. Today, our hearts are broken for the loss of our beautiful, bossy girl. We buried her at the base of the koa tree that angles out from the roof of the house. We might have trimmed it years ago for the leaves it sheds into the gutter. But she climbed it every day to bask in the sun on the roof, or to curl up under the eves when it rained. She climbed it before losing her sight, and after, too. It's Lucy's tree, as it is her house. We're just fortunate she liked us enough to let us live here with her. We stay on as caretakers in her absence.

Lucy is with Grandpa now, and her doggy-sister Crawford. I'm sure there's also a 24-hour all-you-can-eat tuna and fresh-roasted turkey bar nearby, for when she feels inclined to a snack.

When her eyes failed, Lucy would sit at the edge of the high grass for hours, listening to the rustle within, to the flitting and chirping overhead. Now, she can see all the lizards and all the birds. In Lucy's heaven, there is no pain. Only tuna and chicken and turkey and more tuna, with Greenies treats for dessert. There are cozy laps, office chairs, towel closets and couch-backs. Endless petties, but only when she wants them; only on her terms. Plenty of feathery, slithery things to swat across endless expanses of lawn. In Lucy's heaven, there is no rain. Only sunshine she can stretch out beneath, across driveways and rooftops, to feel the warmth and soak it into her sweet, cantankerous soul, every day.

We love you Lucy. Your spirit will live on here, in this place, and within us, forever.

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Erin Anais Hanson said…
Hey Toni,

I'm really sorry to hear about your loss. Homes can feel so empty without their pets, but Lucy's tree will always be Lucy's tree.

Looking forward to seeing you in a few short months.

- Erin
3:37 PM
Vivian Faith Prescott said…
Okay, you made me cry. Sorry about your loss. It's truly amazing how much we love our animals and how much love our animals bring to our lives. Thanks for this post.

Cat's are wonderful. I was out walking this morning at 5:00 a.m. and a stray cat came off a porch and greeted me and my two dogs. We weren't sure if it was friendly or not, but the cat walked up to us and my smaller dog, Annie, went over and sniffed the cat. The cat rubbed herself all over Annie and gave my dog a kiss. For human and critter, it was a great way to start the morning: Cat kisses!
4:37 AM
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