8 Years Ago.

Cats are spiritual creatures, and I do believe they come in to our lives for a reason. Mousie was definitely in my life for a reason. And she also left my life for a reason. So much has changed as one would expect over an 8 year period. I do think about her often, and walk by her house frequently. I do not have any pets, but there are animals locally that I have befriended. Sometimes, there's only one, and that one cannot be replaced. 

As I do every year, here are some pictures. It is always hard to choose, but I never tire of going through them.

She Was Loved - 7 Years

 Wow! It has been 7 years since darling Mousie crossed the Bridge. Another lifetime ago. I always wonder if she knew she was loved. Cats are curious creatures. I believe this is why 1 year is equal to 7 years for them. They seem to hold knowledge and they are ever so sentient. They feel grief, loss, and love as we do for them. Her people told me once that when they came home from holiday and she saw them instead of me, she moped off and hid! They even rang me to ask if she was okay during my stay. She was fine, she just missed me. 

Although I do check in here from time to time, I always get choked up as it is like stepping in to my past. Is it possible for something to bring happiness and sadness at the same time? Yes. 

Here are some pictures of dear Mousie. There are so many to choose from. I love them all.

                            Whimsical

Moody

                                           Serious

                                           Not So Serious!

Mousie - 6 Years On

It has been 6 years since she’s gone. 

As memories get further and further away from us, we eventually let go of them. It is then, when they are in freefall, that they boomerang back to you. I do not try to remember of forget the time, as choosing to remember or forget is a wasted discipline. I have said before and I will say again, time marches on and waits for no one. I walk by her house on most days, so in a way she’s constantly there. It is very telling that over the Jubilee weekend when the nation was in a rare celebratory mood, I ran in to a mutual friend of the family. That really brought some memories back, but we both agreed – it was a long time ago. 

Thinking back to that time of my life, it was completely different than it is now. Since the virus and the hysteria surrounding it has waned, life has been a strange mixture of calm and chaos rolled in to one. Certainly, very fast-paced. And lots of new faces. Situations and support systems show up in one’s life at a particular time and place, and all we can do is go with the flow. Mousie was definitely part of my flow for 14 years, and in a way, she’s still there.

Here are some pictures of my love, and as always, there were too many to choose from:

She loved being outside, but not so keen on the pebbles

No Mousie post would be complete without an attitude pic!

That face, those eyes

Deciding whether to pounce or sleep

End.

*Guys, I'll try and be better this year, and keep up with all the blogs. I still receive all the emails and updates of the blogsphere, and know everyone is still around. I will dip my paw in from time to time.

My Darling Mousie - 5 Years

My Darling Girl,

It has been 5 years – five years! since you’ve gone. What a time it’s been. Not good times not bad times, just time. They say that time heals, but I don’t know how true that is. Time brings sadness, and as the saying goes time waits for no one, and it won’t wait for me. It costs nothing but it is the most precious commodity. The time I spent with you was like silver and gold wrapped up in a ball of fur. Priceless. I walk by your house almost every day. Strange to think I had a mini-life there. When that ended, it was definitely a timestamp of all change. A whole section of life ended when you went. I remember the day vividly as it is etched in a corner of my mind. It’s like a scratch on a nice table that has now become part of the table, so you just leave it there. Moving forward in life isn’t always the positive experience that it is meant to be. Standing still is no use, and going backwards is toxic. No wonder most people go backwards!

Time. I ran into her ‘beans a few weeks ago. They looked older. It was nice to see them. You weren’t mentioned as there was no need. You were our only connection. Silent acknowledgement was enough. We exchanged pleasantries and went on our way.

Time. It is symbolic to me that in so many ways I had to learn to stand on my own two feet, and you had four. And you were having trouble standing. It brings me peace that from the moment I started looking after you all those years ago I was acutely aware that our time would be short, and I never, ever took it for granted.

On a lighter note, here are some pics of Mousie. There are so many I like; it was difficult to choose:

                                                                        

                                                                        

                                                                        

                                                                     

                                                      
                                                    

4 Years Ago Today

It was 4 years ago today that I lost Mousie

Hi Guys, 

it's been a very long time since I posted here. I do check in to the other blogs from time to time, but haven't posted myself as it's been part of my healing process in moving on. It seems like a lifetime ago - and indeed it was. I do think back to those times as I don't need to explain the world was a more benign place than it is now! When things get to much I believe the mind tries to heal itself by reverting to happy memories. For me, those memories are of Mousie. Due to the lockdown, I avoid taking the bus home from work so I walk 4 miles. I have a lot of time to clear my head. I finally walked by Mousie's house, something I could not do for ages. The family lives quite local to me, I had just avoided walking by and took a different route. I thought it would upset me, but it felt good. It was like and envelope had been sealed. I know that is a strange description, but we all have memories and pockets of time that we associate with different things. I realise this is descending into psychobabble, so I will just say that it was the right thing to to.

I will post here more often, as I have always enjoyed it, and believe it will be relaxing for me in this crazy, upside down world. But for now, here are some pictures:

No post about Mousie would be complete without a bum-shot! This was her cattitude to most things, especially the dogs.

pics from 2016

My Light

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Mousie was my light, in my best times and my dark times. She consoled my soul. I hope I consoled hers.

(pics from 2011 and 2012)

3 Years On...

Hi Guys,

3 years ago today, Mousie went to the bridge. I am always reflective on the lead up to this, because unfortunately this date runs very close to my own birthday. So much has changed, and as I've said before, not always good. I do miss parts of my old life although there is a lot of things I am pleased are gone. Mousie isn't one of them. Her death seemed to have been the cat-alyst to these changes. It's as if her passing started an avalanche in my life. The worst thing is, I knew it would happen as soon as she was gone. She was symbolic of a snapshot of time. And I have so many snapshots of her. Here are a few:

This one is a bit blurry as it is off of a very old nokia, I reckon it is circa 2011. It brings back a memory of babysitting and sleeping on the couch. She is making rolls on my leopard-print pyjama bottoms which I still have. If you enlarge the pic, you can see she is drooling. Happy times.

We would have so much fun, and this was my sad attempt at clip art! Pic from the same old phone.

A candid shot of her in her beloved garden. She would love to explore and relax. 

Although she was very fuzzy, she would love to lay on the table in the garden in the height of summer and soak up the sun. You can really see how glorious her marking are.

Swiping at an insect, or chewy midday snack as she would call it.

Such a purrfect picture of my beloved girl. 

It has been 3 years now, Mousie and I think of you every day. 

Rest in purrs, sweetness.

May - Yay!

Hi Guys, 

Springtime brings with it optimism and sadness. As the anniversary of Mousie's passing looms, I sit in quite, deep reflection of life. 

When in reality I should pull my head out of my a** and partaay!

(top pic from 2015, bottom pic from 2011)

Pyjama Day

Sundays are for staying in bed and reading, watching tv, or simply doing nothing.

 Or, hanging out under the duvet with this one.

 She would lay on top of me and make pizza dough.

 And sometimes go back to sleep as it was too much effort on a Sunday!

(pics taken 2014)

Down In The Grass

On a lovely spring day, I would lay down in the grass to be on Mousie's level to get the most candid pictures. Although, she would reckon that no-one could ever be on her level!

(pics taken in 2012)