December 10, 2008

Skeeter, Godspeed My Friend

R.I.P. My Friend

All of our hearts are very heavy as we mourn the loss of our friend Skeeter. We know that his family misses him and they now have a Skeeter shaped hole in their hearts. We also know that he is at the Bridge with all of our OWCB, his body is healthy and he can run and jump and play. The following article is for TBT. It brought Mommy comfort when she lost her beloved T-Gray...

Godspeed Skeeter my friend, I'll meet up with you at the Bridge someday.

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

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Godspeed, sweet Skeeter. We will say prayers for your family.

Very truly yours,
The Whiskers and Purrs Gang

Jans Funny Farm said...

It is so sad. Skeeter will be greatly missed!

We're still not back. Our computer is still in intensive care but .... Jan says to tell you that assignment last Friday turned out to be given on the wrong Friday night, so she won't even get paid for her time. sigh.

meemsnyc said...

We are so sad to hear about Skeeter! Rest in peace, and see you one day at the bridge.

Cory said...

That was a beautiful story. We are so sad to hear about wonderful Skeeter going to the bridge, but we are happy that he was well loved his whole life and he lived with a human who knew how wonderful he was. We are also very proud that the story you shared is from our local newspaper.

The Army of Four said...

We are so deeply sorry for the loss of your dear friend!
Tail wags,
Storms

michico*Adan*Lego-小芥*阿丹*樂高 said...

Godspeed, sweet Skeeter....
We will always remember you!

Unknown said...

We is sure dat TT and Pixie are showin Skeeter and Cloud Chaser around. The mom has had furry leaky eyes about Skeeter since she saw his piccy the other day.

Kate (Pablo's mum) said...

Sorry to hear about Skeeter. It's so hard when friends go to the Bridge.

Jaya said...

I'm wishing Skeeter joyful journeying. What a handsome fellow! I'd never read that 'Where
To Bury A Cat' before. Thanks for sharing it,
it's very beautiful. I've saved it to read
again, and send to others when they face this
time.

Gemini and Ichiro said...

We were doubly sad to hear about Skeeter AND Mr. Kelly Cat.

Forever Foster said...

Parker, that was really lovely.

Lux said...

We were very sorry to hear about Skeeter. Lovely post, Parker.

Motor Home Cats said...

Parker, you made us cry again. That was a lovely poem. We will miss Skeeter very much.

Tavi, Cody, Camie and Miss Jade

Anonymous said...

It is the most saddest day in the CB, Skeeter, Cloud Chaser and Mr. Kelly... Purrs.

Cat with a Garden said...

That is a wonderful post, Parker. Mom got all leaky eyed again. She is furry sad because of the Big Guy too. So many kitties waiting at the bridge...

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

That is a lovely tribute Parker. It made our mum's eyes leak.
We are very sad that more of our friends have gone to the Bridge. We are sending comforting purrs to their families.

Maggie May said...

That was a lovely story, Parker. We are all purring and sending comforting vibes to the families of these kitties who left for the bridge. It is truly a sad time. We all have leaky eyes.
~The Creek Cats~

The Furry Kids said...

This is such a sad day. :(

Dma said...

skeeter sounds like he was quite the cat. i like the article... when my mr. max died he was cremated and i spread his ashes underneath all his favorite windows from the many places we lived together.

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Parker
We were so sad to learn that Skeeter, CLoud Chaser and Mr.Kelly all left us on the same day. We can only think that those three met up just right over on the other side of the Bridge and got newly acquainted. We are very sad for their families because as you said there is a hole shaped heart of each kitty in their perspectives hearts. We love the story "Where to Bury A Cat" and it is such a lovely and true commentary. It is one of our favorite passages.

Purrs
Abby

Cafe Cats said...

We know that Skeeter and Kelly are Cloudy's "Bridge Litter Mates" and that they're playing together and watching over all of us. The story is beautiful Parker. We'll be reading it over and over.

Mama-Ann and the Cafe Cats

The Island Cats said...

We are sad about Skeeter, Cloud Chaser and Kelly all went to the bridge....Parker, this is a wonderful story that you shared with all of us.

LZ said...

We're so sad to loose them but we know they were all very well loved and led wonderful lives.

Cat Street Boyz said...

That was so beautiful! Mommy says she feels so blessed to know others feel the love of a Cat as she does. God speed, Skeeter, Cloud & Kelly, you are in our hearts=^Y^=the Cat Street Boyz
PS, you card & mewsic are on it's way!

The Florida Furkids said...

We were so sad to hear about Skeeter.

Sniffie and the Florida Furkids

Mickey's Musings said...

That was a great post!!
Losing 3 cats in one day,whew!!!
We are doing a lot of purring.
Purrs Mickey,Georgia & Tilie

Team Tabby said...

Ah, that was a wonderful tribute to Skeeter! Well said, Parker.

Mindy, Moe, Bono

(angel) Grrreta and Fam said...

I'm so sad to hear about Skeeter. That article is very lovely.

Grahamn Kracker said...

Your friends are lucky to have you for a friend.

Beautiful tribute - I was especially moved by this, as I have experienced it:

"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."

I must keep this where I can always find it. Well - here it is, on your blog. I can always find it here.

Mark's Mews (Marley, Lori, Loki, and Binq) said...

Parker, we are stunned by the great tribute you just offerred to our dear Brother, and so many comments supporting it. We are just without words to express how much this means to us... Thank you dear friend an friends...