July 13, 2007

This Friday Is For Remembering The One Who Came Before

Payton with Daddy
Here is something that Mommy and Daddy have had a heavy heart over. Their beloved Payton, One Who Came Before, is buried in Kansas City, at our home. We will have to leave her physical remains in Kansas City. The other Ones Who Came Before are remembered differently, T-Gray has a lock of his hair in Mommys jewelery box, Jordan the woofie has his collar and tags attached to Daddys favorite photo of him. When we leave Kansas City, Payton's physical remains will stay at our old home. She will stay with so many good memories, holidays, milestones, struggles and so much laughter. Mommy and Daddy only had to look near the lilac bush in the yard and see her memorial - there she was. Soon, this won't be the case. Mommy took Payton's passing particularly hard. No one knew why she died, she passed while Mommy and Daddy were out to dinner. They came home and she was gone. The vet said heart trouble. She was barely 3 years old. Daddy buried Payton while Mommy was in mourning, neither one of them were thinking clearly enough to "save" something of her. There is no lock of fur, not many photos, just wonderful memories of her being the opinionated, mouthy kitty that she was. Mommy and Daddy have felt so bad about leaving her, they have struggled about taking her memorial with us to O Hi O and placing it by the lilac bush in our new yard. Today Mommy found a poem she had saved on her computer a long time ago and took it as a sign that Payton will be OK with us taking her memorial to O Hi O. The decision has now been made, the memorial comes with the family and will go by the O Hi O lilac bush. Payton always lives in Mommy and Daddies heart. The poem was written a long time ago, but still holds true today. Here it is, for those of you who have lost beloved family members, may it bring you peace like it finally has to my Mommy and Daddy.

Where to Bury A Cat
There are various places within which a cat may be buried. We are thinking now of a tabby cat, a striped cat, whose coat was like watered silk, and who, so far as we are aware, never entertained a mean or an unworthy thought. This cat is buried beneath a cherry tree, under four feet of garden loam, and at its proper season the cherry strews petals on the green lawn of his grave. Beneath a cherry tree, or an apple, or any flowering shrub of the garden, is an excellent place to bury a good cat. For beneath such trees, such shrubs, he slept in the drowsy summer, or chased bees, or lifted head to challenge some winged intruder. These are good places, in life or in death.
For if the cat be well remembered, if sometimes he leaps through your dreams actual as in life, eyes kindling, questing, asking, laughing, begging, it matters not at all where that cat sleeps at long and at last. On a hill where the wind is unrebuked and the trees are roaring, or beside a stream he knew in kittenhood, or somewhere in the flatness of a pasture land, where the most exhilarating moles burrow. It is all one to the cat, and all one to you, and nothing is gained, and nothing lost -- if memory lives. But there is one best place to bury a cat. One place that is best of all.
If you bury him in this spot, the secret of which you must already have guessed, he will come to you when you call -- come to you over the grim, dim frontiers of death, and down the well-remembered path, and to your side again. And though you call a dozen living cats, they shall not hiss at him, nor resent his coming, for he is yours and he belongs there.
People may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall, who hear no mew pitched too fine for mere audition, people who may never really have had a cat. Smile at them then, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and which is well worth the knowing.
The one best place to bury a good cat is in the heart of his owner.
by Ben Hur Lampman, Portland Oregonian, 1921

We will always love you Payton-Pie. Come on with us and stay in our hearts!

~We're all great here, just very, very busy with planning the move! Hope you kitties have a super weekend. Mommy is in cuddle mode and we're loving it!

28 comments:

Rosemary B❤️ said...

Dear Parker, we understand this anxiety that your mom and dad have about leaving this house that contains the remains of your kitty that came before. How sad. Every home has some deep memories and this one is very difficult to come to terms with. I think what your mom and dad decided is a good idea.

We loved this special writing... and we will save it. We like it so much.

Have a super great week-end, love your mommie and daddie bunches, and strong purrs from both of us.

~~Caesar

Oscar the Puppy Cat said...

How beautiful and how true! One other thing for your Mommy and Daddy to remember is this, moving will be like an adventure and there are going to be many new memories to make and everytime they think back on KC, they're going to have great memories of a place they loved so much. Payton is a part of what makes their life in KC so very special! My Mommy is sending your Mommy a hug and I'm sending you one, too!

Cats~Goats~Quotes said...

Parker, Your Mommy and Daddy are taking some wonderful memories that will always live in their hearts.

Maybe they could take a leaf or two from Paytons' lilac bush and keep it pressed in a favorite book.

We know you are going to have a grand home in O Hi O!

~Sara

LZ said...

That made Meowmy cry. What a wonderful poem and I think Peyton would love the memorial to stay with your family. Living in your hearts is how she will always live on.

Latte

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

Very sweet, Parker, thank you for sharing. So sad that Payton died so young. Very nice that you will be able to take her memorial with you. My mom only has the memories and the photos of the one who came before me

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Parker

We saw Momma's eyes leaking as she read your post today. That was a very sweet remembrance and we too saved it.

It is hard to leave behind Payton, but I think like that poem he is truly in your heart and that is where he wanted to be, so you're not leaving anything behind, it is all going with you to O HI O!

Purrs
♥ аббу ♥

Pearl C. Pritchard said...

Payton sounded like a well-loved cat and it's wonderful that you have so many wonderful memories of her. I'm sure she had a fantastic life while she lived in your home.

Daisy said...

Oh, my eyes are leaking too. I think Payton would like you to take the memorial with you. And I like Sara's idea to take a couple of leaves from the lilac tree, too.

The Meezers or Billy said...

it's hard to realize, but memories are stronger than physical remains. the remains only trigger the warms feelings and memories.
The memorial is beautiful and will be a wonderful reminder of all the happy days.

HRH Yao-Lin said...

oh that is a wonderful poem. Really wonderful. The human and I are blinking back tears. x

Unknown said...

Such a pretty poem. I would take the memorial with me too.

Around Your Wrist said...

aaahhh. that says it. all of it. just what needs to be said.

mom's eyes are leaking a bit...in a nice way. suzanne is right there here where payton is there.

love and hugs and good energy for your move!

ben fuzz
mom toni

Tommy and Teaghan said...

That is a wonderful writing and it says it all. Owr Mom, having been in the same situation of having to leave behind a beloved boy cat from before knew that that's where his home was. We move on and always keep the past in owr hearts.

MaoMao said...

Payton, that is such a bee-yootiful essay. It made my momma furry leaky, and she sends your momma great big hugs. How true and wise it is.

She would do ecksactly the same as you're doin' with purr-ecious Peyton's memorial.

Good luck with your move! Sounds like a busy time for all beans and kitties!

Kittyhugs and purrs from MaoMao!

Kate (Pablo's mum) said...

Oh. That is so sad and beautiful! I'm sure that your beans will remember Payton with love no matter where they are. Make sure you give them lots of snuggles to help them through their sadness.

Toffee K. Ripple Fuzzypants & Feline American Angels said...

Oh, leaky eyes ...

DMM

Tyler said...

I feel badly for you in having to make such a diffiicult decision. I join the others here who have wished that the good memories will replace the sadness you all have. Best of luck in preparing for the move.

Anonymous said...

I would like to suggest your humans take some branches/clips from the old bush to dry and press, along with the memorial cat statue, then once in O Hi O they can have either an indoor or outdoor (or both) memorial for the one who came before. Oh, and I went and gave you LOTS of treats at your catster page.

Karen Jo said...

You wrote a lovely post in honor of Payton. I think the poem is right -- you will take the most precious part of Payton, her memory, with you always. I think it is right that you take the memorial, too, and put it in your new garden.

Anonymous said...

What a moving post and tribute. Mosaic Lady is typing this one for us, through her tears, 'cuz we are all too blubbery to see the keys and screen. We send many warm, fuzzy love thoughts to all of you. We know it totally sucks. We know.

MISS PEACH ~(^.^)~ said...

Oh Parker, I am so happy that you got your lizzy and you like him. Will you take him to O HI O with you?
Your poem is so very touching....thank you so much for shareing this with us all. My before me cat is also buried under a tree, a flowering plum. She used to sleep under the Hosta plant there in the summer.
I would suggest that you take actuall branch cuttings and keep them wet until the root in your new O HI O soil! This really can work and you will have a wonderful memory of the Peyton Lilac.
Love and hugs to yo all at this busy but exciting time right now!!!

Emma's Kat said...

What a sweet Friday to remember post! I think taking her memorial and putting it next to the new lilac bush is purrfect. And I love the poem. Rest in peace Payton.

The Lee County Clowder said...

We don't know much about the care and feeding of lilac bushes, but have you considered taking a cutting with you?

If that would survive the trip, it would be a nice to plant this with Payton's memorial. If you have enough time, you might even be able plant a cutting in a pot for the move.

Bad Kitty Cats & Megan said...

Awww, our eyes are filled and the water works are flowing. Sending big big hugs and love and scritches and purrs ...

We agree, maybe take a cutting or some of the leaves or buds and save them too.

Our Babies never leave our heart.

Forty Paws said...

Oh that is a beautiful poem. Maw is gonna save it on her pooter. It must be very hard to leave Payton, but he will always be with your mommy & daddy.

Luf, Us

Bogdan, the editor said...

Dear Parker and family,
The Investor's eyes are leaking...

Payton knows you love her. It will be OK. Your Mommy is so sweet. What a nice poem. Payton will follow you all -- everywhere you go!! We like the other kitties' ideas of trying to take a branch with you. Also, you can take some leaves, dry them, and put them in a frame.

Purrs, Bogdan, Sara, Kat 3 and the Investor (whose eyes are REALLY leaking... )

P.S. We like your JH contest entry!! We thinks our Man is in the same boat as your Daddy.

Pia K said...

What a lovely poem!
I so know that feeling of loss, only some weeks ago since I had to made that difficult decision to say goodbye to my special furry one... She'll one day also lie beneath my lilac bush, where she'll be with other friends who has passed on before her...

Good luck with the move to O Hi O!

sammawow said...

Our Lady's eyes and ours are leaking too. But we are happy about the good memories of sweet Payton and taking the memorial with you to O Hi O will be very nice under a new lilac bush.

Purrrrs, China Cat & Willow