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"I would also like to add that ‘Maoist Orange Cake is possibly the best name for a blog ever. Just my twopence." -- The Sixth Carnival of Radical Feminists, 1 October 2007


The Twelfth Carnival of Radical Feminists is up at The Burning Times blog and mentions one of our posts, Helen 'Wheels' Keller, for recommendation. Orangeists spreading our zest!

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

R.I.P. Shadow

Last week, May 31st, 2007, my namesake, the original "Shadocat" passed on at the ripe old age of 16, to what I hope is the next of many lives yet to come. She was an elegant lady, with long, silky black and silver fur; spookily beautiful, and completely devoted to my daughter Robin (that's her in the picture). She merely tolerated the rest of us mortals, although in her later years she would allow some of us in her inner circle to pet or keep company with her.
She managed the rest of the household pets with a deft and authoritative paw, from obstinate basset hounds, to runaway bunny rabbits, to foundling kittens with beauty and grace. I'll miss her---I still can't believe she's gone.

11 comments:

Maggie Jochild said...

Maggie and Dinah express their sincere condolences. Dinah is especially interested in the notion of keeping bunny rabbits in line and seeks an opportunity to perform this service for anyone who needs it.

How does it affect your identity when the pet whose name is your "handle" passes on?

Thanks for the photo. Very nice to see them both. As Alix sang, time alone will "soothe your bones and close the wounds".

Loren Shlaes said...

shadocat,

henri IV and i both send our condolences. i think i'll go now and tell him how much i love him.

your daughter is gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Louis Garfield sends his sympathy as well. He is impressed that Shadow kept the hounds in line, since he prefers to let the mini doxy think she is in control even though she weighs three pounds less than he does.

I, liza, having had probably too many cats, know how special that one special cat can be, and I send my deepest condolences.

shadocat said...

I just wanted to thank all of you for your condolences and good wishes. I'll be sure to pass them on to Robin, too. (Yeah, I think she's gorgeous too--and she's smart, talented--but then I AM her mom...)

Anonymous said...

Magnificat and I also send our deep sympathies. I'm sure young Charlie would as well, but at ten weeks he's a bit too young to understand. (Charlie is the newest addition to our menagerie, and is a bundle of energy. Except when he's a bundle of purr, or a bundle of sleep, that is.)

I know how deep the bonds of love between a cat and her person can be. Remember that you are grieving now because of the love that Shadocat gave you; in time, the grief will fade, but the love is eternal.

little gator said...

"all the years combine, they melt into a dream"

I've been there and have no words but endless sympathy from me and the Empress Lydia. I hope you remain shadocat. There are places where I'm still known as rudymom.

Odd that every dog mentioned here is a hound, and so is my Bluetick Dixie.

Jana C.H. said...

Sympathetic purrs from me and my human.

Boris Janavitch
Seattle
Saith Robert Heinlein: Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.

--MC said...

I'm sorry to hear of your sad loss.

shadocat said...

Just a note---still keeping my "handle". Right now I'm calling it an homage...

Anonymous said...

My cats and I send our condolences, Shadocat...I am so sorry. I see that you posted this a couple of weeks ago; I hope you've had some good cries since then. I've been there, and it helps to just bawl. Plus, you know cats would appreciate the drama.

shadocat said...

Thanks Ginjoint; I appreciate your condolences, and yeah, I've had some good cries---sometimes you do need to just "flop and bawl" as my grandma used to say. BTW, so glad you stopped by!