Feb. 1983 —– May 5 2001
Domestic Shorthair Tabby
Kimmie was sent to me by sheer accident.
Granddaughter of one of my best friends and someone had abandoned her.
This tiny kitten was found in the elevator of my friend’s apartment building and
I thought that I would give myself a housewarming present a kitten!
She took to me right away maybe because she was so small and hungry
and I fed and cleaned her up and played with her for hours on end.
Kimmie and I slept together right from day one
she thought was her momma and I thought of her as my baby.
She would sleep over my head and strange enough
always placed her paw on my nose. I got used to that.
Kimmie and I shared quite a few homes together never really able to find
one that kept us there for too long. Kimmie was a strong cooki though once
while sunning herself in the window the screen gave out and she tumbled
down three stories into a yard with Dobermans in it. She climbed over the
fence and bolted a few yards down. When I realized what had happened I ran
down the street calling out for her.
There she was a few yards away and I couldn’t get to her.
I called to her to come to “Mommy” and she dragged
herself over fences and into my arms! I was so happy to find her but with a
broken pelvis. Over the next few weeks I nursed her back to strength. She
was almost as good as new.
Kimmie matured and naturally I brought home a couple of rescued kittens,
Malibu first then Nikki. Geez the racket the three of them made always at
three in the morning it was like the running of the bulls in Pamplona,
Spain! But I would “ssssh” them and they would after a few more runs settle
down. Kimmie became their mother and keep them in line. She would sit in the
middle of the floor and as they ran by she would swat at them with her paw,
just like any mother would do to get her kids to stop running.
When I was expecting my own baby Kimmie would lay across my big belly and
jump every time the baby would kick or elbow her.
(As I remember this I am laughing)
she would look around as if she was saying to herself “Ok. Now
who did that?” then a thumping would happen again and she would look down
at my belly with a tilted head curiosity in he eyes.
Then she would pat at my belly with her paw as
if she could really get through to the baby.
After a few moments she would settle down and
go back to sleep until the next time.
Kimmie was the baby’s sentry guard guardian angel surrogate mother. She
never let anyone pass by into the baby’s room and whenever the baby cried she
went running sometimes bringing me back the pacifier that had fallen out the
crib. She would carry it by the handle always and waited by the sink to let
me know that I needed to wash it. She would then escort me back to the crib
and wait for me to hush my little one back to sleep.
:::Sigh::: I miss my Kimmie…. Whenever I cried she knew it she would
hop up on my lap and place her two paws over my shoulders and lick away my
tears and wait patiently as I held her until I calmed down.
Kimmie was also a great ‘mouser’. Brought me every mouse she found and
laid it at my feet waiting for a treat and praise.
Kimmie got older and older slower and slower especially ever since
Nikki had passed on last year. Kimmie loved Nikki very much. Nikki was her
adopted feline baby I know she missed her deeply.
Kimmie laid in the kitchen on Friday May 4 2001 and I found myself
giving her water from a spoon. She wasn’t able to stand anymore. She had
lost her hearing more than 2 years ago and had gotten to the point where
she was nothing more than a shell. She was healthy though just extremely
old. Nineteen years and three months to be exact.
I held her head in my hand and tilted her to the spoon where she drank
water. When she had enough I laid her little head back down on the towel,
and spoke to her stroking her fur and chin.
I told her that I knew that it was almost time.
“Thank you for being such a good friend and companion Kimmie.
You have taught me so much the lessons are endless. Nikki is
waiting for you in the meadow waiting to go chase butterflies with
you…Nikki needs you now it’s ok to go sweetheart….”. I leaned over and
kissed her face more than I could have counted “I love you and will always
love you Moochie we’ll be together again soon I promise. It’s ok to go. I
will be ok.” I KNOW she HEARD me. She let a long tear roll down from her
eye and across her little red nose. She told me ‘thank you and I love you
too Mommy’ all with that tear. I let her sleep there.
On May 5 2001 my daughter and I rubbed her chin and kissed her nose and
watched her go behind the toilet to lay down one of her favorite spots to
stay cool. We went out to get my daughter’s hair done for first communion.
On my way home I suddenly felt exhausted and closed my eyes like a part of
me was missing. I shrugged it off and by the time we got home was still
feeling a little heavy. I layed my things down and went to the bathroom.
There Kimmie was. She had passed over to the meadow to be with Nikki.
Whatever made me say goodbye to Kimmie the night before I can’t say but
am thankful that I was given the chance to let Kimmie go to tell her I love
her and that she will always be with me. I will never have such a dedicated
and loving companion and I have had in Kimmie.
It’s only a few days since I have lost my beautiful Kimmie I have not
mourned her in the way I need to. I hope that I can come back here to read
this and one day smile all the way through instead of reading through
streams of tears. But I know she isn’t alone she is with Nikki. Having a
ball and probably running like bulls through the meadow sunning in the
sunshine and chasing butterflies forever…. at least until I get there.
I love you Kimmie!!!! Catch and kiss a pretty blue Butterfly for me!
Mommy Maria
| Kimmie {Moochie} |