February 23, 2002

Soon There Will Be Two

There was no good news on the telephone from Columbia today. none.

Today I found out that I'm losing a friend. I thought she'd beaten cancer once, about six months ago, when the vet removed a golfball-sized tumor, a pea-sized tumor and one side of her two mammary chains. Less than two weeks after the surgery she was looking very healthy and chasing her grandchildren around kicking the crap out of them...because she could. Being the alpha cat in the house she thinks she runs the place. I wouldn't put it past her, but if she could speak, that she'd claim me as one of her brood.

But yesterday I got a call from a friend who is looking after my pets to tell me that she thought something just wasn't right about Corri. So today it was off to the vet for the 15-year-old kitty. Some poking and prodding and a couple of x-rays later revealed that the cancer from her mammary had spread to her lungs. And, according to the vet, it's beyond hope. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.

But she's lived a full life. She's turned out plenty of pure-bred Ocicats and taught more than one mother cat how to care for kittens. She's loved dog after dog -- even the 80-pound golden retriever she ran up to when she was 12 weeks old -- and cared for a number of people including raising three kids and starting on a fourth. And if she makes it through the weekend, i'll drive back to columbia to say goodbye to my friend.

Sometimes the cycle of life just fucking sucks. And it's going to be difficult to come home to a house without Corri -- the cat who purrs like a busted chainsaw. But I'll do it. I'll get home and say my goodbyes. And I'll remember my good friend because she's shown me complete and utter unconditional love.

And I will never forget her.

- Rich