Sudden Loss

Tuesday night was a cluster of twists and turns that had an unexpected ending.  I lost my cat, Alexa.  After 14 years of constant companionship, it all ended in an abrupt whirlwind at the Animal Hospital ER at approximately 11:30pm.  There was no illness that preceded this sudden departure.  No real warning.  Sadness has ensued and it just seems strange without her.

I "acquired" Alexa through my friend, Jill, when Alexa was just a kitten.  She was found in the bushes, was alone and needed a home.  Funny thing, since I needed a cat.  She was this perfect little ball of fur.  Spunky and audacious in her own right.  Wonderfully independent.  Sufficiently stubborn.  Utterly playful.  Entirely fierce.  Completely lovable.  These traits characterized her through adulthood.

This little dynamo teetered between 4-5 pounds her entire adult life.  She wasn't that big, and arguably most of her weight was fur.  But, she was still a little scary to non-immediate family members who couldn't quite figure her out.  There were rules for handling Alexa...follow them or have a band-aid handy.  Her dainty frame should not be confused with her fiery personality.  Although, she was a real beauty!

Thinking through all of the milestones that Alexa and I have shared is a quite impressive list.  College graduation.  An engagement.  Six moves crossing city, county and state lines.  A wedding.  Two pregnancies.  Two babies.  Two rambunxious kids - and their crazy friends too.  Many parties.  A number of holiday gatherings.  A few deaths - some of which resulted in tear soaked fur as she would lie on my lap as I cried.  Our relationship has been a long-lasting one.

 

Sidney & Alexa

It's only been a few days, but I come home expecting to see her in all of her "usual" places.   Running through the yard and darting into the garage as I pull in from work.  Stalking some unsuspecting rodent in the "back forty" of our yard.  Clawing at the back window in the evening so she can come in and sit with me on the couch.  Hunkered down on a blanket taking a marathon snooze.  It's ironic that you can become so accustomed to a routine with a pet that when it's pulled away you somehow don't automatically adjust.  After all, it's just a pet, right?

Alexa was a member of this crazy family.  We'll miss her for a long time to come!