Do I want an “American Standard” Rememberance?
We lost the Alfa mammal of the household last week. Tiffany the twenty year-old stray kitten we picked up off the street as she and her tiny siblings shared a box abandoned by one of those people. All were distributed among the neighbors and all no doubt lived fruitful lives. We had her put to sleep since she had become too weak to eat or drink any longer. She just got too tired to keep on keeping on it seemed. Countless dogs and another prettier pure bred cat had come and gone all either invited to leave or taken from us in various manners. She ruled to the end. The two year-old miniature schnauzer and the one year old chocolate lab deferred to Tiffany in all things. They feared the old bitch who could barely see or hear, but could still tag a nose with a clawless paw as if she had sonar and would pin her ears back and let out a declaration of sorts that conveyed to all around that she would not tolerate aggravation.
We had planned a trip to New Orleans to exchange cars with my daughter and take in the local festival of the weekend Greek it was. Jill was going to the beach for the following weekend to meet old friends and asked if she could take my convertible. Im a good daddy you know well it is my daughter after all. Would you like cash with that, dear?
One son joined us there and so we had the opportunity to deliver the bad news to them about Tiffany. The kids are all big animal lovers and usually have a wide assortment in their households. Jill also saved a little kitten to whom she has been devoted (and vice versa) for the last five to six years. Kittums she calls her.
As we sat in Jills living room me, Jill, Jills boyfriend, and my wife, and son we delivered the news and it was no shock to them. They had seen Tiffany decline and all agreed she had a long and good life and all were pleased there would be no suffering for her.
After an appropriate time passed with the telling of Tiffany tales, there was a pause. My wife turned to Jill and asked, Would you like Tiffanys litter box? Jill did a double take (as did I)…hesitated and then stammered and finally let out a soft and obviously flustered, meek, low-toned and slow uh .nooooooo I dont think so, Mom. Her mother then matter-of-factly exclaimed, Well I just thought you might since Kittums litter box is cracked and is missing a top. Jill burst out laughing and finally gained enough composure to explain, I thought you were offering me Tiffanys litter box as a memorial!!
My less gregarious son the quiet, sarcastic one let the laughter in the room die down and then capped the impromptu eulogy with a deadpan delivery of Sometimes you just have to let go.
Rest in peace Tiffany. Providing family entertainment unto death
Sounds like she had a good life and was well loved…That is lovely to remember…
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RIP Tiffany. It’s hard to lose a family member, even when it’s the kind with four legs.
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I’m sorry about Tiffany. 🙁 What a cool cat she must have been…
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we got a new ‘american standard’ too; but it has water….
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it’s hard to do even when that’s the kindest thing to do. here’s to Tiffany!!
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Next time y’all have a wake, I want to be invited.
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I’m sorry about your kitty. They do become like family members after a while, don’t they? love ’em or hate ’em…
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That’s as sweet a story as…well, as you are capable of, I’m thinking. Love,
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Godspeed, Tiffany. Sounds like a neat old kitty.
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she was a very old cat and obviously very loved. she had a wonderful life with you, i’m sure. take care,
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I’m so sorry for your loss. Rest in peace Tiffany. You’re a good Daddy to let Jill borrow the Batmobile, with cash and keys. I hope Kittums enjoys the use of Tiff’s American Standard, without cash. LWM 143
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Good bye Miss Tiffany!
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=o( Aww, I’m so sorry. 20 years is a damn good long time for a cat. Of course cats can live that long, but most do not. Must have been one well taken care of kitty! R.I.P. kitten …
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At least your family can inject some humor into a really sad situation. Can ya’ll come up when I have to put my Jasmine baby to sleep? I really need some comfort for that. It is going to kill me and it is going to happen soon. 🙁 Love you, my friend.
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20 years! Holy kitty crap, she had herself a good long life. Still, it’s SO hard to lose a pet. Good night, Tiffany. Go give Indie a rub for me. Or perhaps a nose swat…she’ll understand.
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Your ‘send-off’ did Tiffany proud.
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sounds like she had a good life. 🙂
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Poor kitty ;o(
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RYN: Ha ha ha!! You don’t want some perky gorgeous 28 year old snarky runner??? Nahhhh,,,no trophy for you. I can’t let that happen to such a nice guy!
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So sorry to read about Tiffany 🙁 Ryn: Yep, Whitey Ford is always available…so to speak. Some different options as to item and certificate of authenticity (photo or baseball, Steiner, Mounted Memories or PSA/DNA or Global.) Since you don’t have private notes here, just email me at ascsports@aol.com 🙂 xxoo,
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RYN: Holy $hit. When Cora turns 12, I’m moving in with you! LOL!!
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And there are those out there that would mount the litter box on the fireplace mantel in memory of…. *g* Too funny! They become like family. For 14 years the pilot has threatened our American Eskimo that she “would make a great pair of slippers” with her thick fur. And yet as her time nears – he will be the one most crushed. Tho…he still might make those slippers! 😉
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Ryn: HA! Nope, they were authentic cowboy boots but still, not the right kind for hiking! Yeah?? Shall I just call you Tick-Man?
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RYN: About halfway through the movie, I turned to S and said, “What the hell are they going to do with the rest of the movie? I’m already bored…” Luckily we were curled up on the couch, so sometimes I just let my mind drift…Pretty pictures, though, you were right about that 🙂
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RYN: No, Owen has no idea that Mr. Rogers has passed on. He’ll say, “I love Mr. Rogers!” and I just say, “I’m sure he loves you too.” The harsh reality of life can wait a bit. 🙂
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Ryn: Bad bad boy! Getting a girl all hot and bothered like that!
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RYN: Well, I bet YOUR turntable works… glad to hear you are still in the game!
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“Like I always say, there is no puke like unemployment puke” is now going to be my new motto. Thank you!
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ryn: You never disappoint. 🙂
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Awww good bye puddy tat! 🙂
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EXCUSE ME??? You have been to Houston and you never once said “hey Sugar you wanna meet for a beer?” Now I’m not even going to tell you where the picturesque places are. and ryn: no, sadly the Kangaroo Court is long gone. Still in a snit……
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I’m so sorry to hear this. How very sad. Pets become such huge parts of our life.
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I’ve got one of those alfa cats too. Spinnaker Mandoza…she’s not feeling to well…it’s off to the vet’s today…
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DAMMIT!!! And I looked down at my hands…saw where the diamond was…and everything and I STILL can’t tell my left from my right! As the pilot says “When she says go left, I ask her ‘is that MY left or YOUR left’ Man – he’d buy you a beer for catching that! ISH Oh yeah – but he can’t find ANYTHING on the ground. Only in the air. How do we get anywhere?
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RYN: Yes, comfort is good. But when you sacrfice happiness for stability, effectively settling, then little good will come of it.
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RYN: Man of Steel, hard to beat his superpowers!
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RYN: I thought about stealing home but figured I’d never beat the ball to the base. Better to slink off,,
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ryn: You know, for half a second, I thought, “Hey! Maybe…” but then I realized I only bought four (and still had one left). 😉 Your notes make me laugh.
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RYN: Ha! Either that or they suddenly remembered they forgot to turn the iron off before they flew to Italy. Damn…hate when the freaking house burns down.
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You give good advice.
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ryns: i have to say, you leave me some of the BEST notes EVER! THANKS!!!
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ryn: I suck at spelling in English, I don’t know what came over me thinking I could spell something in Frentch…
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RYN: Great! As a fellow Papist, I can relate to the Episopalians more than the bible beaters.
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“Would you like cash with that, dear?” Yes, please. A few fifty and hundreds will do. That is hilarious about the litter box. Honestly? Upon Initially reading that quote I took it the same way- that it was to be used as a memorial. Too funny. People refer to their animals as animals, but to me they are my children. I despise people who will allow their animal to remain cold, hungry, or
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thirsty. How can a person abandon another living creature? Animals love in such an innocent way. All they want to do is please, and yet people toss them aside with no regard. I admire you for taking animals in. I hope Tiffany is in a better, happier place filled with lots of fish, mice and big fluffy pillows! ~Brooke
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