The Long and Winding Road

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and comments and friendship.  I really appreciated it this past week after we lost Miles.  For those of you that are pet owners I know you know how I feel.  It's something that is sometimes hard to explain but they become such a presence in your life and are there with their love unconditionally.  No matter if you having a great day or a bad day - they are always there with their love. 

Miles was born on July 1, 1993.  He was an Abyssinian.  A man I used to work for that breed abbys tried for years to get me to "show" one of his abbys and would "give" me one if I would do that.  I declined.  I'm too much of a wuss to be stern and train an animal to love a cage and behave while being stretched and photographed.  Anyway, he decided to gift me with Miles.  Miles was 4 months old when he came into our lives in November of that year.  At the time, we had two cats Sid and Nicky.  This little guy took over our lives and our hearts.  Abyssinian are extremely active and always the clown.  I so wish I had some pics on this computer of him in his "heyday" - He was always into something and just made us laugh.  He also gave the best hugs in the world - he would "massage" your neck or back as you held him!

Monday we decided he has fought the fight long enough so I made the call to the vet.  He had a myriad of problems and I didn't want him to suffer.  We were both there with him at the end and let me tell you - he was completely at peace - no more pain for my little guy.

Here are some pics from his last afternoon.  Oh and for those of you that asked the pic of him in the previous post was of him a week prior when he was sound asleep on the bed.

My skinny little guy....

 

Miles loved shrimp - absolutely went nuts over it.  I had some raw frozen in the freezer so I made him a handful - He looks funny in this pic - he's chewing on his shrimp.  He ate every piece!  Look at that paw, no one was going to take that shrimp from him!

I just woke him up - it was almost time to get ready to go --

He is at peace now and no longer in pain.  We miss him terribly.  I keep expecting to see him laying on his comforter on the bed and often stop to pet him but he's not there. 

On the Riley and Jonesy front.  I'm not sure if they even miss Miles, as you know Miles was a dominant male and so is Riley.  Miles did not like Riley from moment I brought him home and he just tolerated Jonesy.  Jonesy was a little afraid of him I think and just left him be.  Riley however would still try to be friends and often would nap alongside Miles whether he wanted him to or not - I honestly think he was looking out for him.  Anyway - these two are fine and thank goodness Riley and Jonesy are best of friends.

On Monday amidst all the "waiting" to take Miles in the afternoon and I will admit I was crying more than not on and off all day, I managed to fall down the steps and turn my ankle.  I'm thinking of great, I'm leaving for New York on Saturday and walk everywhere.   Then I thought this doesn't hurt that much - so went about the day.  After coming home from taking Miles to the vet (i drive a 5 speed) I could barely push in the clutch on the last few miles.  By the time I got home it was hard to walk and my ankle was swelling up! 

So I spent the night on the couch with my foot up - ice pack on - and two little tigers taking care of me..  This would be me legs/lap where they held me down.  (Oh and I have to mention what a great guy Riley is - the tears were flowing all day and night and when I was sitting Riley would come over to me and several times would put his paw on my cheek - He knew it was coming I think and I think he was trying to comfort me!)

A long exhausting day for everyone...

Tuesday I woke up and felt like I had a hangover without the drinking!  

Wednesday I called Linda and Kathy and told them I was coming to Grant St.  So I packed a small bag and off I went.  It was almost easier being away from the house for a few days.

Thursday was the hook-in. 

It was great seeing Bonnie and Jackie again - Bonnie hooking some eggs.

Genny looking for "snow" colored wool for her rug...

Jackie taking a break looking thru books...

Kathy having lunch and the nerve of her hiding from the camera! And Barb...

Linda making carrots under Kathy's supervision - oh wait - Kathy is sucking up the heat from Linda's heater....

Carrot factory...

Kathy and Nancee color planning Nancee's next rug...

isn't this cool- Nancee's latest rug - she finished it in like 10 minutes I think! She's fast!

Sherri was fondling her wool....

There was a package in the cauldron for me from my Secret Pal!  Lots of St. Patty's day goodies in green...

And if my secret pal reads this - let me tell you - the toy was a hit with the boys - I was swinging it around for them - and after I put it down they were still playing tug of war and swinging it around themselves!

So thank you from me and the tigers

I came home on Friday and then had to pack for New York - I got New York with a friend annually.  Can you believe I took my camera and didn't take one picture while there!  Oh my!

Saturday morning I drove to the city to pick up my friend and we drove to NJ to the train station and boarded bound for New York.

Saturday night we saw the play "Catch Me If You Can" - I loved it - it was light, fun musical.  Maybe you remember the movie (which I didn't care for) it's the story of a boy who between the ages of 16-18 impersonated a PanAm pilot, a doctor, a lawyer, and was a counterfeiter.  Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks stared in the movie.   The man went on to serve time and then worked for the FBI.  Anyway - the play was great - lots of singing and dancing.

Sunday we had two events lined up.

First was another play (non-musical) called "A Perfect Crime".  It was a thriller type play.   Very good - small theater and apparently it's one of the longest running off-Broadway plays around.

Sunday night was the ABC Daytime Broadway/Equity Fights Aids 2011 Event.   This was the 7th year for this event and the final.  I have been to every one of them!  Always a good time - The performances are wonderful and it's always so much fun.

Monday it was back home and back to reality!

I've been trying to change up a few things in my house - tired of the same old same old!   I bought this smaller quilt rack from the Cinnamon Stick last week and decided to put it in front of my fireplace (We haven't used the fireplace in years. What do you think - does this look stupid?

Oh had to take this picture of Riley for Jo from my group AAPG. Jo sent us a little St. Patty's surprise.  A doubloon, some great wool strips and a card.  Riley knocked the card out of my hand and decided it was all his - maybe because the wool matched his eyes?  Or did Jo roll the card in catnip first?  Just too funny what they take to and what they don't.

Thank you for your notes, cards (Thanks JoJo for the sweet card), and comments about our loss.  I felt all your hugs and it helped.

Have a wonderful week