Ichabod Crane 6/81 to 7/6/98
. .
. .
To Ichabod
(From Momcat)
The day was cold in '81
When in the door you ran.
You knew, here, that safe you'ed be
From Nature, dogs and man.Frail and abused you were, so to the vet we went.
Though time, it took, eventually you healed.
Your body grew so strong and great
But of your fears - they all stayed sealed.You feared no food or safe abode,
You feared all dogs and the out-of-doors
Inside the kitchen was your sanctuary
You claimed the middle of the kitchen floor.We walked around you seventeen years
As you proclaimed your spot
To catch morsels that may fall
To move you'ed miss a lot.Blessed good health was yours
Until two years ago
When diabetes and infections
Tried to take their toll.You fought them off and gained reprieve
And all your fears were tamed.
But lately age was creaping up
And legs were getting lame.Degenerative Joint Disease and Renal Failure too
Made us have to part for now - Oh how we all miss you.No longer in the floor you are, your gorgeous coat of fur
No longer there to walk around
So stately and demur.We cursed that hair for many years
Floating everywhere it'd go
To couchs, floors, and beds and all
We'd chase it high and low.Now that coat, we no longer see
Or can touch and brush and feel.
Its only in our memories
Which now seem far from real.Go, great furry friend to a place safe and secure
Away from dogs and beasts and such and any other harm
And know that in this special place
Love protects you always in God's arms.
My name's Ichabod Crane, Ich for short. I was abandoned at the age of about six months. Luckily I found my way to a wonderful cat-loving home. There was Tinkerbelle, Tango and Sheba, three beautiful siamese and Scat Scat, a very beautiful Turkish Angora and I got to join them. I watched as four of my people grew from little boys to men and made lives of their own. I watched as my furry friends grew old and died and new friends came to live with us. Henry was the next to join us. He didn't have a home either...but he was a fighter and I wasn't. I just wanted my kitchen floor, so I stayed out of his way for all these years. The Siamese died and more came to replace them. There was Suki and Samauri and their family of seven babies, two of which stayed with us. Three of these are also gone now and I will be looking for each of my old friends at the Rainbow Bridge. I never liked dogs because right before I was rescued I had been severly mauled by one, but Momcat had two beautiful Afghan Hounds named Misty and Peru. They never bothered me and I learned to tolerate them. These too I watched grow old and leave us.
On October 29, 1996 I was diagnosed with diabetes and I had to take a shot every morning for four months, then all of a sudden I didn't have a sugar problem anymore. Luckily they caught it early and I didn't have to go into a coma for them to notice something was wrong. You would think after living here for almost 17 years I would have had a little bit of everything, but really I have been a pretty healthy cat. I was sicker during this four month period than in my whole life. First the diabetes diagnosis then vestibular syndrome (inner ear malfunction), then an upper respiratory infection, then cystitis. After a couple different antibiotics and two trips to the vet I was finally on the mend but it took over eight weeks. In the spring of 1998, I seemed to be having more problems which could be what they call arthritis, but it was more probably Degenerative Joint Disease. Momcat watched me as it grew harder and harder to walk. I went to see three different doctors. They did what they could, but my kidneys were failing too, so after most of the family said their goodbyes to me on the Fourth of July weekend, I said my goodbyes to Momcat and crossed over the Bridge on July 6th, 1998 after 17 years in a wonderful home.
. .
Lend Me A Kitten
-Author Unknown
I will lend to you for awhile
a kitten, God said.
For you to love while he lives, and mourn when he's dead.
Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or maybe two or three.
But will you, 'till I call him back, take care of him for me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you and, should his stay be brief
you'll always have his memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught below I want this kitten to learn.
I've looked the whole world over
in search of teachers true.
And from the folk that crowds life's land I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love, nor think the labor vain?
Nor hate me when I come to take my kitten home again?
I fancied that I heard them say "Dear
Lord Thy Will Be Done"
For all the joys this kitten brings the risk of grief I'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness,
we'll love him while we may.
And for the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay.
But should you call him back
much sooner than we planned.
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.
If, by our love we've managed
your wishes to achieve,
Then in memory of him who we loved, please help us while we grieve.
When our cherished kitten departs this world of strife,
Please send yet another needing soul for us to love all his life.
GOOD BYE MY BEAUTIFUL FUR
BALL -- GOOD BYE ICH -- WE WILL ALL MISS YOU
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Kat Karma and all my Old Friends
To My Pal Gumby's Memorial Page
To My Friend Slick's Memorial Page
To My Pal Henry's Memorial Page
To My Old Friend Nugget's Memorial
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