The sweetest, kindest, softest, most beautiful being who has ever loved me is gone. She’s now just a tiny heap of ash, a few photos, and a swirl of memories. It still doesn’t seem real. Everything happened so fast that if I weren’t putting keystrokes to keyboard right now, the death of my beloved cat Harlequin might fade into a blip in this maelstrom of a life I seem to be living.
Well, that's a bummer, Hank. Condolences to you and to Holly. I remember what a part of the family Harlequin was for you guys, and believe me, I know how much it sucks that they don't live as long as we would like. The pain fades, but the memory of a special animal never does... so there's that blessing.
My condolences to you. Everyone who has ever loved a pet can relate to what you are feeling. She brought you 16 years of joy and one terrible, awful day. I'm glad you were with her at the end.
Sorry to hear of your loss, though it comes for all us cat lovers eventually. She sounds like a great cat. My wife and I are nursing a 23 yr old kitty right now. She's creaky and stiff, sleeps a lot, but she's still alert and interested, and eating reasonably well, if we rotate through foods so she doesn't get bored. We moved into a new house last year, and at 22 yrs old she caught a mouse. She was never a great hunter, but this is now HER house, and proprieties must be kept.
They pass through our lives, bringing a little brightness....
Hank, Sorry about your beloved pet, having been through it to many times with dogs I have trained and the bond between us something that cannot be humanly described. I understand completely.
Oh, Hank…I’m SO very sorry. It’s a pain in the heart that I know all too very well. I believe that we’ll be seeing them again, and the Réunion will be wonderful.
It might sound strange but your Harlequin looks so much like my first cat, Joey, it's uncanny. The only difference that I could see was that Joey was grey and white, not black and white. Even now, over thirty years after losing him to a brain parasite, I still turn around expecting him to be in my seat. It's gotten easier over the decades but the grief never goes away. He was such a big part of my teen years and college.
Hank, I've been there too many times; not with cats but with our dogs. No matter how prepared you think you are...well, you're never ready for them to go. I am sharing this post with my daughter, the owner of has an old cat named "Oliver" who suffers with similar stomach issues as Harlequin and a 24 yer old dog (Cooper) that she got as her first pet after leaving home as a young adult. There WILL be tough days ahead for her but we hope that we can be there for her; and for Ollie and Coop!
It is such a special thing to share a life with an animal and open your heart to them, knowing their life will be far shorter than yours. I’m sorry you lost your dear friend Hank.
What a heartwrenching homage. It made me weep, and I loved the way you honored not only Harlequin herself but also the bond between **all** pets and their people. I'm just so glad she was able to die so well-loved. May we be all be so lucky.
Well, that's a bummer, Hank. Condolences to you and to Holly. I remember what a part of the family Harlequin was for you guys, and believe me, I know how much it sucks that they don't live as long as we would like. The pain fades, but the memory of a special animal never does... so there's that blessing.
All best, amigo.
You have captured so well your sorrow and the sorrow so many of us experience who share our lives and homes with animals. So sorry for you and Holly.
So sorry for your loss. Nothing that happens to us is harder than losing a loved one.
This was beautiful Hank. Hugs.
A lovely reflection; thank you for sharing it. RIP to all our beloved familiars.
My condolences to you. Everyone who has ever loved a pet can relate to what you are feeling. She brought you 16 years of joy and one terrible, awful day. I'm glad you were with her at the end.
Sorry to hear of your loss, though it comes for all us cat lovers eventually. She sounds like a great cat. My wife and I are nursing a 23 yr old kitty right now. She's creaky and stiff, sleeps a lot, but she's still alert and interested, and eating reasonably well, if we rotate through foods so she doesn't get bored. We moved into a new house last year, and at 22 yrs old she caught a mouse. She was never a great hunter, but this is now HER house, and proprieties must be kept.
They pass through our lives, bringing a little brightness....
Hank, Sorry about your beloved pet, having been through it to many times with dogs I have trained and the bond between us something that cannot be humanly described. I understand completely.
Oh, Hank…I’m SO very sorry. It’s a pain in the heart that I know all too very well. I believe that we’ll be seeing them again, and the Réunion will be wonderful.
It might sound strange but your Harlequin looks so much like my first cat, Joey, it's uncanny. The only difference that I could see was that Joey was grey and white, not black and white. Even now, over thirty years after losing him to a brain parasite, I still turn around expecting him to be in my seat. It's gotten easier over the decades but the grief never goes away. He was such a big part of my teen years and college.
I remember hearing about her Grand Adventure so many years ago. What a beauty, and what a lovely thing she chose y'all as her people.
Hank, I've been there too many times; not with cats but with our dogs. No matter how prepared you think you are...well, you're never ready for them to go. I am sharing this post with my daughter, the owner of has an old cat named "Oliver" who suffers with similar stomach issues as Harlequin and a 24 yer old dog (Cooper) that she got as her first pet after leaving home as a young adult. There WILL be tough days ahead for her but we hope that we can be there for her; and for Ollie and Coop!
I know your pain.
Well, here's a Midwest "whoops!"; Cooper is 14 years old, not a world record 24.😏
It is such a special thing to share a life with an animal and open your heart to them, knowing their life will be far shorter than yours. I’m sorry you lost your dear friend Hank.
What a heartwrenching homage. It made me weep, and I loved the way you honored not only Harlequin herself but also the bond between **all** pets and their people. I'm just so glad she was able to die so well-loved. May we be all be so lucky.