Tony: Hey Dad! How ya doing?
Troutbirder: Hi Tony! We're doing good. What's up?
Tony: Well..... I forgot Mom's birthday call and present.
Troutbirder: Ah. No big deal I'll put her on the phone and you can talk to her. Send the present later.
Tony: Ok. But....
Troutbirder: But what? ( Long Pause)
Tony: A kitten!
Troutbirder: "NO! No way. I forbid it." With Muffy my oddly named Chesapeake Bay Retriever on hand and the fact that I didn't particularly care for cats, this was a non starter.
Tony: Let me talk to Mom.......
And so now 18 years later Simba, ruler of his Oak Hill domain, has gone to his Final Reward. He was friendly and curious, calm yet brave, keeping several large dogs (Muffy and Baron) in their proper place. Much beloved by Barb and Ray and now sadly missed.
Tony and Baron
oh, i am so sorry. you have lost 2 very dear pets in a short period of time...
ReplyDeleteOH my - I'm so sorry. It had to be like losing a member of your family! 18 years is a long time for a cat though - so glad you had such a good friend.
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard to deal with losing such a loyal charge in your household. We had a cat that we tried to keep alive for 9 months that had health problems and we still suffer over her loss. Her name was Nala.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry. I'm impressed that he reached such an advanced age, though. He must have lived well at your/his house. By the way, Simba is a wonderful name for an orange male cat. Long live the king.
ReplyDeleteCondolences to Barb and to you. I think a cat is always nice to have in the house and can always manage to take care of themselves very well.
ReplyDeleteMaybe bring home that GS puppy and a kitten at the same time and watch them grow up together! Just a thought, Troutbirder, you can always forbid it again! lol
Jo, Up North
Ah, I know this story! A pet comes into the house, and a love affair starts. You will miss the fellow dearly.
ReplyDeleteAnother loss so soon. I'm so sorry. My sympathy to you and Barb. Bless your hearts.
ReplyDeleteDon't children come up with the best ideas for parent's presents? -- barbara
ReplyDelete18 years--that's a good life. So sorry for your loss!
ReplyDeleteAnother pal for you at the Rainbow Bridge... I am deeply sorry for you and Mrs. TB. Two such losses should not be so close together..it just brings up all the rawness again and again.
ReplyDeletePass the kleenex to each other often.
18 years is a good long life for a spoiled kitty...I bet you have lots of good memories:)
My condolences on the lost of your dear family cat. I have two cats so I know they are fickle and endearing and how we enjoy their independence and intelligence and if they are a "lap kitty", their warmth and affection. If Simba stayed around your home for 18 years, he must have loved you both very much!
ReplyDeleteAw TB, I am so very sorry. Handsome Simba really knew how to get into your unwilling heart. They are so good at that. You were both very lucky for those 18 years. This has been a year of tough losses for you. My sincere sympathies.
ReplyDeleteWow! Eighteen years? And I can see that you tried really hard to keep your distance. I am so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteAww, two huge losses in a row. My heart goes out to you and Mrs. TB!
ReplyDeleteAwwww, I get sad thinking of his loss and even more sad thinking of you because I know you lost Baron not long ago. It's always so hard to lose a pet.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if Simba had a long, successful reign in his Oak Hill domain. You pictures look as if he completely won you over. I can't imagine losing two companions in the same year.
ReplyDeleteSince I don't have your email address to respond to your comment to me, the location of the photo is Houston, looking down from the courthouse, toward the jury assembly building. (taken by my middle son, RJ, while on jury duty)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your loss. These critters have a way of worming themselves right into your total life. Interesting story of how you got Simba
ReplyDeleteOh my. Hugs going out to you and Barb.
ReplyDeleteI am so so sorry for the loss of Simba! A very well loved kitty I am thinking - it looks like you warmed up to him even though you were not a cat person. :) Well that's what our four legged friends do don't they? They just get into our heart and when they leave us, they take that piece of our heart with them.
ReplyDeleteI am thinking Baron and Simba have reunited and perhaps he is back to ruling the roost.
Big hugs!
xo Catherine
So sorry for your loss. I lost 2 little boys this year... I know how hard it is. One was an outside orange boy like Simba who followed me all over the yard, never more than a few feet away. Rascal, a gray tabby, was in the house and again, a shadow. I still think I see them.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for you!
It is like losing a family member....so sorry for your loss. {I complain about my cats, but love them dearly!}
ReplyDeleteAren't you thankful you relented and let Simba come live with you??? Have a great weekend.
Suz
So sorry to hear about Simba. What a great life she had. Sympathies to Mrs. T. I know she will miss her.
ReplyDeleteAwww, I'm sorry your kitty is gone. My Tweedy is at that age too. She's arthritic and sometimes crabby but still comes around for a snuggle. Are you going to get another cat?
ReplyDeleteSimba lived a long and happy life, and it's easy to see that she was much loved. In cat terms, you all were her "pride" and joy. I'm sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice tribute. I guess our kids can teach us, every once in awhile !
ReplyDeleteAhh, kittens. They have a way of growing on you!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like Simba had a very good life & impressive longevity.
18 years is a long companionship, I'm sure he will be missed.
Oh this is sad news. And so soon after losing your Baron. The household must seem so quiet now. Pets are every bit part of our families, and losing them is hard, even when they've had a long and good life. Sending hugs your way.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss of Simba.
ReplyDeleteYou can tell you gave him a wonderful life and 18 is a good stretch of good times in cat years.
I know it's such a hard thing as they are indeed family members.
Sorry to hear the sad news, we send gentle woooos,
ReplyDeleteNuk & family
He did what cats do and now he does it on the bridge.
ReplyDeleteIt does not take long to fall in love with a kitten. I am sorry that you have lost your friend.
ReplyDeleteDear Ray, I'm so glad that you got to spend 18 years with Simba. When Dulcy died, after we'd lived together for 17 1/2 years, she gave me a book "A Cat's Life: Dulcy's Story" that was later published. The first words she gave me were the following: "At the end, all that matters is love. My love for my human and hers for me. I have planted the memories of our life together in her heart. She will find them there when I am gone, and they will comfort her." And Ray, those memories have comforted me. The love Simba has for you will never end. Peace.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear this. I know how hard that loss can be. It sounds like Simba had a good life in a loving home.
ReplyDelete