RE: My Beautiful Mandy

[Hideyo Yamamoto]

Dearest Julie and Mandy- I am so very sorry that Mandy has passed.  It physically hurts to think how much you are missing Mandy.  I know how much Mandy means to you… like everyone on the list, we know exactly how painful and empty it feels to lose our babies.   Julie, it might not seem like it is.. but Mandy’s souls is still right besides you.. She is no longer in pain, and she is probably feeling much better about everything.. or at least that’s what I heard whenever I talked to the ones passed when I talked to them via my AC – they all tell me – don’t think this is an absolute end.. but rather beginning to something better… and don’t think that we can never talk.. because we can… just because we can’t see them.. it does not mean they are there for you..   Hideyo   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nina Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 12:18 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: My Beautiful Mandy   Oh Julie, I'm so sorry you've lost your sweet Mandy.  We do all know how excruciatingly difficult that empty space left by our loved ones is to bear.  How the things they were so much a part of, like reading and fixing meals, even the time of day when we'd give them their meds is difficult to get through.  When I lost Grace, it took me so long to clear her remedies from the fridge.  The finality, (at least on this plane), is so hard to face.  It's seems especially hard when we've spent so much of our energy, love and time doting on them, caring for them, struggling against all odds to find answers that will help them stay, just a little bit longer.  No matter how we lose them, their absence is like an open wound.  Time is not the only element that is necessary to help you and your family to heal, but no matter how difficult the processes, no matter how long it takes, it will begin to heal.  We are still here, there are others that need us, we have no choice but to move on.  We keep our Angels in our thoughts, and in our hearts, they never really leave us.  Even though the wound does heal, our lives are never the same, they've left their mark on our hearts with their love.  Someday, you'll run your finger against that scar and even if you continue to shed tears, they'll be accompanied by a smile.  I believe that day is a happy one for our lost loved ones.  The day when we can look back over the memories with more gratitude than grief, with more joy than pain, the day when we can forgive ourselves for not having the power to make them 'all better', is a glorious day for our babies in spirit.  You've sent me so many hugs.  Now, I'm sending them to you.  Please know you and your husband, Mandy and Wink and all your babies are in my thoughts and prayers.  I'm so sorry for your sorrow.  You are not alone, we do all understand.  Think of yourself surrounded in love, because you are. Add our tears to yours until the pain is finally washed clean, much love to you, Nina    Julie Johnson wrote: Dear Friends,   Mandy is gone.  She was not doing well Tuesday night (bleeding from the mouth and unable to eat) and I made the decision to end her suffering.  I called my husband and he left work right away to come home.  We held her and stroked her and ultimately she began to purr.  She never cared to be held; she liked to pick the spot and sit ON you, but she did curl up in her blanket and let us hold her.  We were with her and holding her and talking softly to her and she had one paw curled over my finger when she left us.   It's been so empty the last two nights without my little reading partner; she always liked to sit on the bed with her upper body across my arm and her paws on my shoulder while I read at night.  Since she became sick, she wanted to be with me all the time and she'd been reading with me every night for weeks.   I keep thinking back to our trip to the oncologist; only last week and it seems forever ago.  Even though the news for Mandy was not good, we had a lovely day and I am so grateful for it.  She and Wink snoozed the whole way home.  They were all curled up together on their faux mink and listening to their special pet music.  I kept turning back to look at them and it was so peaceful and loving.  We stopped where I work to feed my feral colony and I took the carrier out of the car and set it on the ground while I fed; Mandy trotted right to the front and began to "meow" to Depot Charlie!  She was such a little talker and he looked so puzzled!  I'm happy they were able to "meet".   Thank you all for being here and for your good thoughts and wishes; I'd be completely lost without you during this year of terrible losses.  I have to try and concentrate on how fortunate we were to have shared her short life.  I miss her; we had our morning routine of putting the ingredients in the food processor and she'd "talk" to me once the whirr of the blade sounded.  These last two mornings have been empty, as well.  You are the only ones who understand the huge hole in our home despite the joy of our other cats.     Love, Julie "I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man. " "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) Paws Come WITH Claws!!! If you're thinking about de-clawing your cat, you need to re-think your decision to acquire a pet. Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.