My sister sent me this. So, so me. :-)
Our cat, Tigger, had to be put to sleep about a month ago. She was almost 20 years old and developed kidney failure, but we were ready for her to go, knowing her age and not wanting her to suffer. I miss her little tippy-toeing around the house. She was a real lady, always polite and sweet.
The same week, my special/favorite black cat, Gir, vanished into thin air. He's been missing for 3 weeks now. He's 8 years old and totally crazy/insane. That's why we named him after an alien from the kids cartoon, "Invader Zim". The character, Gir, is an alien in a dog suit. I told my husband that Gir (who loved to fly...clamber onto the roof and LEAP onto fence posts) just went back to his home planet with Zim. It's the strangest thing. We put out hundreds of flyers, offered a reward, talked to every neighbor in our small neighborhood, walked miles through the local woods and put notices on the animal shelter sites and local stores. Nothing. No body, no cat, no Gir. Like I said, it's like he vanished into thin air.
I tell myself that he went to cat heaven to be with Tigger. Only Gir didn't like Tigger and they often bitch-slapped each other. Tee-hee. I guess we'll never know what happened to him. It hurts my heart to even think of him suffering and dying. I hope he sprouted wings and just flew on to cat heaven.
Pets give us so much joy, but they also break our hearts into tiny little pieces. My other cats keep looking for him and Tigger. I only hope there are butterflies and dragonflies where Gir is because he loved to leap into the air and chase them. The poor baby never caught one, but he sure had fun trying.
xo,
Marion
Gir, whose ears were too big, teeth too long, tail too long and claws like Velcro that stuck into everything he touched. I miss you, crazy kitty.
Jubilate Agno, Fragment B,
[For I will consider my Cat Gir]
For I will consider my Cat Gir. For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily
serving him. For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he
worships in his way. For is this done by wreathing his body seven times round
with elegant quickness. For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which is the blessing of God
upon his prayer. For he rolls upon prank to work it in. For having done duty and received blessing he begins to
consider himself. For this he performs in ten degrees. For first he looks upon his forepaws to see if they are clean. For secondly he kicks up behind to clear away there. For thirdly he works it upon stretch with the forepaws extended. For fourthly he sharpens his paws by wood. For fifthly he washes himself. For sixthly he rolls upon wash. For seventhly he fleas himself, that he may not be
interrupted upon the beat. For eighthly he rubs himself against a post. For ninthly he looks up for his instructions. For tenthly he goes in quest of food. For having considered God and himself he will
consider his neighbor. For if he meets another cat he will kiss her in kindness. For when he takes his prey he plays with it to give it a chance. For one mouse in seven escapes by his dallying. For when his day’s work is done his business more properly begins. For he keeps the Lord’s watch in the night against the adversary. For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin
and glaring eyes. For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life. For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the sun loves him. For he is of the tribe of Tiger. For the Cherub Cat is a term of the Angel Tiger. For he has the subtlety and hissing of a serpent, which in
goodness he suppresses. For he will not do destruction if he is well-fed, neither will
he spit without provocation. For he purrs in thankfulness when God tells him he’s a good Cat. For he is an instrument for the children to learn benevolence upon. For every house is incomplete without him, and a blessing is lacking in
the spirit. For the Lord commanded Moses concerning the cats at the departure of the
Children of Israel from Egypt. For every family had one cat at least in the bag. For the Louisiana Cats are the best in America. For he is the cleanest in the use of his forepaws of any quadruped. For the dexterity of his defense is an instance of the love of God
to him exceedingly. For he is the quickest to his mark of any creature. For he is tenacious of his point. For he is a mixture of gravity and waggery. For he knows that God is his Saviour. For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest. For there is nothing brisker than his life when in motion. For he is of the Lord’s poor, and so indeed is he called by
benevolence perpetually--Poor Gir! the rat has bit thy throat. For I bless the name of the Lord Jesus that Gir is better. For the divine spirit comes about his body to sustain
it in complete cat. For his tongue is exceeding pure so that it has in purity what
it wants in music. For he is docile and can learn certain things. For he can sit up with gravity, which is patience upon approbation. For he can fetch and carry, which is patience in employment. For he can jump over a stick, which is patience upon proof positive. For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command. For he can jump from an eminence into his master’s bosom. For he can catch the cork and toss it again. For he is hated by the hypocrite and miser. For the former is afraid of detection. For the latter refuses the charge. For he camels his back to bear the first notion of business. For he is good to think on, if a man would express himself neatly. For he made a great figure in Egypt for his signal services. For he killed the Icneumon rat, very pernicious by land. For his ears are so acute that they sting again. For from this proceeds the passing quickness of his attention. For by stroking of him I have found out electricity. For I perceived God’s light about him both wax and fire. For the electrical fire is the spiritual substance which
God sends from heaven to sustain the
bodies both of man and beast.
For God has blessed him in the variety of his movements.
For, though he can fly, he is an excellent clamberer.
For his motions upon the face of the earth are more
than any other quadruped. For he can tread to all the measures upon the music. For he can swim for life. For he can creep.
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Rest in peace, my beloved, sweet, one-of-a-kind friend. I miss you. :-(
