Being back on the coast in the water was such a recharge- much needed-and just really solidified to me and Mark that being land locked 3 hours in land is not for us. Time to work the plan to get to that "somewhere". I know what it should look like- the picture and area is in my head- can't wait to get there and the relief that comes from being balanced in all things. I hate when something is out of balance.
Now on to eulogizing my kitty Avalanche, that was found dead the day we returned home from a most relaxing beach trip...
He was laying on the floor in the upstairs hall outside the kids bathroom, as though he were laying in a shaft of sunlight. Owen found him. I worry about that discovery, he is about to turn 7 and we already had to give up our 200 pound mastiff a month prior due to a couple of biting incidents. He was really upset about leaving Murphy at the breeder's farm and the old adage of "a boy and his dog" just sticks with me.
Anyhow, Owen notices Avey, our nickname for this rotund ball of brown and black tabby feline-ness, and says that he isn't responding to pets and his eyes are open. Mark was next on the scene- which stinks because Avalanche was 'Mark's cat' he was there when Avalanche was born. Then I find out. We got some rubber gloves, a box and old towels and made a coffin for Avalanche. He looked peaceful. We buried him in the backyard in the center where the sun hits the yard full force-there use to be a rose garden there but we moved that to have a nice open green area. I think he will like his final resting space. He did love a sunny patches on the floor in the house.
Most pets have something endearing about them- they are lovers, maniacs, jumpers, Avalanche had a Napoleon complex of the worst kind. He hated not being the center of attention- he would forcefully push our other cat, Geronimo, out of the way if he was getting attention . He was an absolute pig when it came to eatting and he got fatter as he got older. He had this meow that was like a whine mixed with a nag-and he used it to get attention. He hated Murphy while we had him- he enjoyed tormenting him. Avalanche never got over the betrayal of the family acquiring a dog- that dwarfed him 100 times over. I don't really know if he ever forgave Mark and me for having brought 3 kids into his house- but at least he never lashed out at the children. Murphy only ever wanted an animal friend and Avalanche knew that. He would sit at the top of the 2nd floor stairs and cry down to Murphy. Murphy would just stand on the bottom couple of stairs waiting to play. That of course would never happen.
Avalanche- you will be missed. You loved to take up half of my bed, with both me and Mark in it, as though you were entitled to it, as though your 14 furry pounds required it. You had an endearing cowardice that made you ever more lovable. I am sorry you never made it longer than 15 years-I am sorry we will have to leave you buried in the backyard of the SC house. But you are in kitty heaven now- gorging on catnip, tuna and sunshine. Geronimo is the lone survivior of the orignal pets now and he will quitely carry on the duties of guard cat until his time comes too.
Avalanche your death marks the beginning of the end of the era of the first pets Mark and I had as a couple. You came into our lives in the summer of 1994. You were our baby before we had babies, before we got married, before we graduated college or bought our first house. Have fun in the sun you lunatic cat.
