Officially quit Twitter this evening. Mentally/emotionally I had quit Twitter a while ago. Last Saturday during a subcutaneous fluid (for her kidney disease) appointment for my oldest (18 + 9.33 months) feline child Allie the tech pointed out a lump on her right back leg. Said it could be cancer but he should have kept his mouth shut about that. Will get it evaluated and figure out what is next. Always do the best I can for my babies. Doing all I can to help Allie make it to 19 and more.
Portland Vegan Cat Dad
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Original home city is Grand Rapids MI. Grand Valley State U grad twice, '87 (Comp Sci) & '95 (Geology). Portland OR home since 8/2/2000. Cat dad since early '98. My tribe currently is 25. 17 formerly homeless kitties trapped by me. Rehoming never considered. 4 of my furry kids have left this reality. Miss them every day. The pain persists but I do my best to be the best dad. Vegetarian early '91. Vegan with my diet shortly after that then vegan as a way of life shortly after that.
Hasn't been all bad. Last year on this day on a cold rainy night the preceded freezing temps and snow in Portland an orange kitty I named Ellie 2 found one of my traps. The year before that on this day a young boy kitty I named Jesus found one of my traps. No microchips detected. Ellie 2 (had seen roaming the neighborhood frequently) appears to have been abandoned. Jesus (kitten age at that time) was and still is feral. Happy to be inside. Social with other furry kids.
That December experience and the loss of my girl Kiko (at 22 years old and 22 years minus a few weeks together, Aiko and Kiko were my Virginia kids who traveled to Portland with me summer 2000) on January 2 2020 and the loss of Sophie and Aiko April 2020 and June 2013 define what this holiday time is for me.
Kiko one week before she died on my lap.
Last year on this date I picked up my girl Ellie's ashes from the vet place. Miserable day that was. That moment put the exclamation point on what had been nothing but grief since her death December 19. Everyone who has lost a furry child no doubt can relate. After all we did to save our child we are left with the memories, a ceramic paw print, a little bit of his/her hair, and of course the ashes. At that moment of picking up her ashes I had an emotional meltdown again.
First diagnosed early June of last year I did (me and the doc) everything possible to get her well. Some things we find out aren't fixable. Ellie's last day one year ago today. Vividly replaying in my head. Has been a most difficult year. Nothing joyful about this holiday time. To everyone still feeling the pain of a loss I most definitely understand and I can't say that it gets better/easier with time.