Skel1ingt0n
I can't *believe* these lazy developers keep making file sizes so damn large. Btw, how does technology work?
My younger sister had wanted a pet since the moment she could speak. It was what she asked for every year, but my parents told her "no," - my father was in the military and with moving as much as we did, it didn't make sense and I think they figured the desire would pass.
It didn't. And so a deal was made that she could have a cat when she turned 8. She literally counted the days for over a year. I'm four years older than my sister, and a few weeks before her birthday - I was 12 - my mom and I went to a local shelter just to "look." I couldn't care less for a pet; wasn't interested at all. But man, it took all of about 15 seconds before I found "Lucky," and in that moment, I new instantly that had to be our pet. Never in a billion years would I have guessed that my younger sibling, whom I argued with constantly, would actually AGREE a couple weeks later when we went to look. It was unanimous and we took him home. My mother encountered another couple that same day that wanted the same cat, and so eventually, a coin was tossed - my mom, by pure chance, won - and so we kept the name: Lucky.
I was in sixth grade when we got him. He was my pet during middle school and four years of high-school. Through shitty jobs. Through my hey-day in Halo 2. He waited for me and greeted me at the door as I returned on weekends in college - for four whole years. I got a career. I got married. I'm 28 years old, and we've gotten more pets since. My friends have. My sister moved out and got some other cats. My wife and I have a pet. But I've never had one die on me, yet, until today.
He had been getting skinnier week after week for the last six months or so. He's old, and I know he's on borrowed time, but took him to the vet anyway. His liver was failing and he was struggling to keep fluid, but he wasn't in pain and still had a good life, so we gave him his fluids and adjusted the diet as recommended.
But last weekend he suddenly went deaf. Then a few days ago, my mom told me he couldn't walk more than a step or two. Yesterday, supposedly, his back leg wasn't working. So today I met my mom and sis at my mother's house, and yeah... he was in rough shape. He'd deteriorated so much in literally less than a week and a half. If he was 100% a year ago - and 70% six months ago - and 50% two weeks ago - he was like 5% today.
I couldn't bare to see him like that. Wasn't fair. He still snuggled up on me. He still laid on my chest. He loved me just the same. But he didn't have anything left in him - I could tell. My mom and sis were crying messes of people, so I called around for an in-home vet, but there was nothing available on such short notice.
So I drove him out, alongside my family, to a local vet and laid him to rest. I know, 100%, it was the right call. It was time. It was - honestly - the perfect time, as morbid as that sounds. We all three were available, and held him while he rested. He knew he was in the company of those that cared most about him. It was peaceful. He was happy today, as weird as that sounds... I don't think he had any more happy days in front of him.
And so, yeah... I know it's stupid. It's just a damn cat, right? But man, that cat has been with me through countless moves. My best friends have spent time with him. He was there when my parents got divorced. When HS sucked. When I thought I was too poor to keep going to school. Like - so much growth - and it's not like I was every carrying on a conversation with my cat - but he felt like part of the family. And now there's a hole there. There's a piece of me missing, ya know?
I can't vent to my sis or mom, as I know they're just an absolute mess right now. I'll be okay. It's not the end of the world. Lucky had the best fucking life a cat could ever ask for. He was treated like a king. And no one dared ruin anything about his life at all. I'm not sad he's gone - I'm happy he's not miserable. And sixteen years is a lot of good time to have with a pet, I'm aware. But ... I dunno... it's weird experiencing such a common loss so late in life, if that makes sense? It's just a little emptier today...
It didn't. And so a deal was made that she could have a cat when she turned 8. She literally counted the days for over a year. I'm four years older than my sister, and a few weeks before her birthday - I was 12 - my mom and I went to a local shelter just to "look." I couldn't care less for a pet; wasn't interested at all. But man, it took all of about 15 seconds before I found "Lucky," and in that moment, I new instantly that had to be our pet. Never in a billion years would I have guessed that my younger sibling, whom I argued with constantly, would actually AGREE a couple weeks later when we went to look. It was unanimous and we took him home. My mother encountered another couple that same day that wanted the same cat, and so eventually, a coin was tossed - my mom, by pure chance, won - and so we kept the name: Lucky.
I was in sixth grade when we got him. He was my pet during middle school and four years of high-school. Through shitty jobs. Through my hey-day in Halo 2. He waited for me and greeted me at the door as I returned on weekends in college - for four whole years. I got a career. I got married. I'm 28 years old, and we've gotten more pets since. My friends have. My sister moved out and got some other cats. My wife and I have a pet. But I've never had one die on me, yet, until today.
He had been getting skinnier week after week for the last six months or so. He's old, and I know he's on borrowed time, but took him to the vet anyway. His liver was failing and he was struggling to keep fluid, but he wasn't in pain and still had a good life, so we gave him his fluids and adjusted the diet as recommended.
But last weekend he suddenly went deaf. Then a few days ago, my mom told me he couldn't walk more than a step or two. Yesterday, supposedly, his back leg wasn't working. So today I met my mom and sis at my mother's house, and yeah... he was in rough shape. He'd deteriorated so much in literally less than a week and a half. If he was 100% a year ago - and 70% six months ago - and 50% two weeks ago - he was like 5% today.
I couldn't bare to see him like that. Wasn't fair. He still snuggled up on me. He still laid on my chest. He loved me just the same. But he didn't have anything left in him - I could tell. My mom and sis were crying messes of people, so I called around for an in-home vet, but there was nothing available on such short notice.
So I drove him out, alongside my family, to a local vet and laid him to rest. I know, 100%, it was the right call. It was time. It was - honestly - the perfect time, as morbid as that sounds. We all three were available, and held him while he rested. He knew he was in the company of those that cared most about him. It was peaceful. He was happy today, as weird as that sounds... I don't think he had any more happy days in front of him.
And so, yeah... I know it's stupid. It's just a damn cat, right? But man, that cat has been with me through countless moves. My best friends have spent time with him. He was there when my parents got divorced. When HS sucked. When I thought I was too poor to keep going to school. Like - so much growth - and it's not like I was every carrying on a conversation with my cat - but he felt like part of the family. And now there's a hole there. There's a piece of me missing, ya know?
I can't vent to my sis or mom, as I know they're just an absolute mess right now. I'll be okay. It's not the end of the world. Lucky had the best fucking life a cat could ever ask for. He was treated like a king. And no one dared ruin anything about his life at all. I'm not sad he's gone - I'm happy he's not miserable. And sixteen years is a lot of good time to have with a pet, I'm aware. But ... I dunno... it's weird experiencing such a common loss so late in life, if that makes sense? It's just a little emptier today...
(from a few days after our vet visit a couple months back)
