RIP, Silver-The-Cat
Gary Farber
darling of a cat, a couple of tiny pounds of pure affection and
head-bouffing, who could curl up into the most tribble-like positions of
pure furry sweetness, died two days ago, we discovered tonight.
He belonged to Kathy Cunningham, and to Ailsa Murphy, and had lived with
them for eight years, having been born to them from a family long living
in partnership with the Cunninghams.
He loved to be outdoors, and was constantly trying to escape, which often
caused ever-so-fun delays in the mornings when we were trying to leave for
work, as we played that wonderfully fun game for Silver,
hunt-the-Silver-who-has-just-slicked-through-the-barely-open-door-at-light-speed.
He knocked out the screen window in the bathroom two nights ago, making
his way past a busted pane, and disappeared. We postered the neighborhood
tonight, and shortly thereafter, got a phone call about a discovered body,
just around the block. Sure enough, it was him, having frozen to death on
the quite cold night before last, barely a few hundred yards from where he
lived.
He was the sweetest cat. He was much loved.
We're all very unhappy here.
Kathy keeps saying "it's not *fair*!"
I'm crying, and I'm the one who knew him least longest, and who
undoubtedly must feel the least bad. And Ailsa and Kathy cry more.
Goodbye, Silver.
Goodbye.
--
Copyright 1999 by Gary Farber; For Hire as: Web Researcher; Nonfiction
Writer, Fiction and Nonfiction Editor; gfa...@panix.com; Northeast US
MN1st
May a stranger offer his condolences? I'm very sorry for your loss. Something
very similar almost happened to one of our cats. Fortunately we were able to
rescue her in time.
Gary Farber
MN1st <mn...@aol.comnospam> wrote:
[. . .]
: May a stranger offer
Besides, you're not a stranger. I know almost nothing about you, but I've
seen your ID for A While, long enough to not be a Stranger. I welcome
learning more about you, but you're no drive-by to me.
Thanks again.
[. . . .]
Gary Farber
They're very welcome. Thank you. I'll pass them on to Ailsa and Kathy.
Kathy is just turning 13, and I'll print them out for her, or show them to
her. She's quite devastated. It's her yet closest encounter with death.
It's not a good start to Hannukah. (Friday, December 3rd, night.)
: I'm very sorry for your loss. Something
: very similar almost happened to one of our cats. Fortunately we were able to
: rescue her in time.
Give the furball some pats and scratchies for us, and tell them to not go
out to go to sleep in the cold.
Elisabeth Carey
Oh, dear. Please tell Kathy and Ailsa how sorry I am.
I'm really grateful that none of my three has a taste for Outside.
(Indeed, Retsina has an absolute horror of it.)
It's a painful way to have your first close encounter with death.
Aquavit is sitting on the chair beside me, making little reassuring
noises. I think she's trying to send her condolences, too.
Lis Carey
Steven H Silver
>
> Silver, possibly the cutest little ball of fur I've ever encountered, a
> darling of a cat, a couple of tiny pounds of pure affection and
> head-bouffing, who could curl up into the most tribble-like positions of
> pure furry sweetness, died two days ago, we discovered tonight.
>
Gary-
I'm really sorry to hear this. I've always been a bit partial to
animals with that particular name. Earlier this year, on my daughter's
first birthday, Ty released a beanie baby named Silver the Cat, so we
had to hurry out to pick one up for her.
I hope Hannukah turns out much better than this inauspicious start.
Steven Silver
Erik V. Olson
On 3 Dec 1999 06:17:42 GMT, Gary Farber <gfa...@panix.com> wrote:
>Silver, possibly the cutest little ball of fur I've ever encountered, a
>darling of a cat, a couple of tiny pounds of pure affection and
>head-bouffing, who could curl up into the most tribble-like positions of
>pure furry sweetness, died two days ago, we discovered tonight.
My condolences to all of you. Cowcat dissapeared in the dead winter for a
few days, and I remember how I felt. I was lucky though - Cowcat had enough
body fat to survive a few days, and straggled to my window, much thinner.
Hoping your next cat gives you more joy ....
--
Erik V. Olson, SFOF, YACN: er...@mo.net : http://walden.mo.net/~eriko/
I gave up on the clever .signature line for a while.
Loren MacGregor
>
> He knocked out the screen window in the bathroom two nights ago, making
> his way past a busted pane, and disappeared. We postered the neighborhood
> tonight, and shortly thereafter, got a phone call about a discovered body,
> just around the block. Sure enough, it was him, having frozen to death on
> the quite cold night before last, barely a few hundred yards from where he
> lived.
Damn. Phoebe is at this very moment in my office, staring out the
half-inch of open window, with occasional glances back at me:
"-Why- can't I go outside?!" She was an outdoor kitty before we
adopted her, and she's still convinced she should be an outdoor
kitty.
I love Phoebe and Greymalkin dearly, but as far as cats are
concerned, I am polyamorous; I still miss Sasha, who died two years
ago this coming January.
Please tell Kathy I know how she feels.
Damn.
-- LJM
Ailsa N Murphy
Elisabeth Carey <lis....@mediaone.net> wrote:
>Gary Farber wrote:
>>
>> Silver, possibly the cutest little ball of fur I've ever encountered, a
>> darling of a cat, a couple of tiny pounds of pure affection and
>> head-bouffing, who could curl up into the most tribble-like positions of
>> pure furry sweetness, died two days ago, we discovered tonight.
>>
face-down so that all that stuck out were the tips of his ears. I
never got a picture of that, either.
B
>> He was the sweetest cat. He was much loved.
>>
>> We're all very unhappy here.
>>
>> Kathy keeps saying "it's not *fair*!"
>>
>> I'm crying, and I'm the one who knew him least longest, and who
>> undoubtedly must feel the least bad. And Ailsa and Kathy cry more.
>>
>> Goodbye, Silver.
>>
>> Goodbye.
>
>Oh, dear. Please tell Kathy and Ailsa how sorry I am.
>
Thank you, and thank you to everyone else who offered condolences.
Gary & I buried him this morning. It was really rough. I've printed
out the picture I brought in for scanning for the Lost Cat posters,
and I have it hanging by my desk.
After I'd dug the hole, I held him in my arms for a whie to
say goodbye, and I covered him with leaves before putting dirt
on him. I still can't quite believe it, even though I can still
feel his fur under my fingers, and how stiff he was under his
fur. It's not right, it's not fair, and it shouldn't've happened.
He was the world's greatest cat, and I'm torn between wanting to
run out and get another cat *right* *now* because the house feels
all wrong with only one cat in it and never wanting to get another
cat again, because no other cat would have a tenth of Silver's
personality. (Not even my other cat, dearly as I love him.)
>I'm really grateful that none of my three has a taste for Outside.
>(Indeed, Retsina has an absolute horror of it.)
>
That's a very good thing. I asked my mom if we could have Silver's
grandson, but mom said that Davis had an equal fondness for going
out and killing things, and we shouldn't do that to ourselves
again so soon.
>Aquavit is sitting on the chair beside me, making little reassuring
>noises. I think she's trying to send her condolences, too.
>
My thanks to Aquavit as well. Please fuzzle her ears for me.
-Ailsa
--
There is no forgetting sorrow an...@world.std.com
There is no regretting love Ailsa N.T. Murphy
All we really do is borrow all the dreams we're dreaming of
We can never know tomorrow, all we have is giving love today
-Midge Ure
James Nicoll
--
bdaverin
<gfa...@panix.com> wrote:
> Goodbye, Silver.
> Goodbye.
Sounds like he was one hell of a cat. My condolences.
--
Brenda Daverin
bdav...@grin.net
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
David Owen-Cruise
<slrn84gut...@calcium.physiciansedge.com>:
[Piggybacking]
>
>On 3 Dec 1999 06:17:42 GMT, Gary Farber <gfa...@panix.com> wrote:
>
>>Silver, possibly the cutest little ball of fur I've ever encountered, a
>>darling of a cat, a couple of tiny pounds of pure affection and
>>head-bouffing, who could curl up into the most tribble-like positions
>>of pure furry sweetness, died two days ago, we discovered tonight.
>
Having spent too many nights tracking loose members of my herd across the
neighborhood, I know that fear all too well. I still miss our late dog.
My condolences, and I hope some joy leaks in soon.
--
David Owen-Cruise
"Letters are things, not pictures of things."
Eric Gill
Alison Hopkins
Gary Farber wrote in message <827na6$no6$1...@news.panix.com>...
>Goodbye, Silver.
>
>Goodbye.
>
Gary, I am so sorry, and please pass that on to Ailsa and Kathy. The small
furry hostages to
fortune leave such a gaping hole in your heart when they are gone. It's bad
enough to lose an old or sick cat, but this was a truly dreadful and most
distressing way for it to happen. And damned unfair to you all.
Ali
Dave Thomas
(Jasper) tries to get out all the time. One night he did get out, but
after about three hours of post-midnight searching, he came back to
the house. We're now even more careful than we were before to make
sure he stays in.
And I know all about the favorite cat thing. My favorite (Rusty) died
2.5 years ago, and there still isn't a day that goes by that I don't
think about that cat and all the time he spent sleeping on my lap.
I'll aways miss him.
Dave Thomas - Editor
Pixel Planet - Reviews Of Stuff
http://www.pixelplanet.com
Scott Taylor
<827na6$no6$1...@news.panix.com>...
> Silver, possibly the cutest little ball of fur I've ever encountered, a
> darling of a cat, a couple of tiny pounds of pure affection and
> head-bouffing, who could curl up into the most tribble-like positions of
> pure furry sweetness, died two days ago, we discovered tonight.
Oh, god and goddess.
Gary, Ailsa, I am so sorry for you and yours. What an awful way to start
the holiday season. My condolences.
--
Scott Taylor
Freelancer for Hire
Have Powerbook, Will Travel
Simcon XXII March 23-26, 2000 http://www.simcon.org
Marilee J. Layman
wrote:
>Silver, possibly the cutest little ball of fur I've ever encountered, a
>darling of a cat, a couple of tiny pounds of pure affection and
>head-bouffing, who could curl up into the most tribble-like positions of
>pure furry sweetness, died two days ago, we discovered tonight.
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear this. My condolences to you and the rest of
the household.
--
Marilee J. Layman Co-Leader, The Other*Worlds*Cafe
relm...@aol.com A Science Fiction Discussion Group
Web site: http://www.webmoose.com/owc/
AOL keyword: BOOKs > Chats & Message > SF Forum > The Other*Worlds*Cafe
Doug Wickstrom
>Silver, possibly the cutest little ball of fur I've ever encountered, a
>darling of a cat, a couple of tiny pounds of pure affection and
>head-bouffing, who could curl up into the most tribble-like positions of
>pure furry sweetness, died two days ago, we discovered tonight.
Aw, hell. Sympathies and commiserations to all. I was about
Ailsa's age when my first cat never came home. My grandfather
died that same week.
Last January I panicked when I realized that Tipper wasn't in the
house, and I found tiny cat-tracks in the snow all around the
house. I eventually found a very frightened, very cold little
cat under the garden shed. I wish you could have been as
fortunate.
--
Doug Wickstrom
"We're working on getting rid of unnecesary regulations and making them more
sensible." --Bill Clinton
Cally Soukup
> I'm crying, and I'm the one who knew him least longest, and who
> undoubtedly must feel the least bad. And Ailsa and Kathy cry more.
> Goodbye, Silver.
> Goodbye.
I'm so terribly sorry for your loss.
--
"I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend
to the death your right to say it." -- Beatrice Hall
Cally Soukup sou...@pobox.com
Gary Farber
Done. As have all the messages been shown, and are appreciated by us all.
: Damn.
He truly was the sweetest, most affectionate furball I've ever known.
Not the dumbest cat, either. With gloriously silky-fine fur to stroke.
He curled up in the most boneless fashion I've yet seen. He was a
picture-and-touch-perfect incarnation of the adorable cat. Sigh.
Apropos of other posts, he loved to use the bathroom and bedroom windows
of this basement apartment as his TVs; he loved to watch outdoors, and
always tried to get there. Hoover, the other household cat, a much
larger, long-haired, somewhat dopier, cat, has always had a contrasting
attitude of "been there, done that," and makes almost no attempt to go
outside.
I misstated the distance from the house at which Silver died. He had
merely crossed the backyard fence, and was just in the backyard of the
next building. He died less than forty feet from our door.
Looking at, and carrying home, and dealing with, the still cute, but
stiff, body of our lifeless friend was not the most fun either of us has
ever had.
I got the kitchen clean, and a good dinner together for us all, with
Kathy's help, though, and Kathy got her much-wanted Pokemon Yellow
Gameboy, even though she can't play with it until tomorrow evening, and
now everyone but me is asleep, and life goes on.
MN1st
>Besides, you're not a stranger. I know almost nothing about you, but I've
>seen your ID for A While, long enough to not be a Stranger. I welcome
>learning more about you, but you're no drive-by to me.
That's what I meant by stranger.Like Harlan Ellison would say, "I don't know
you and you don't know me." I've read your posts here, but that's not like
knowing* someone. Both of our cats died from old age (16 & 18) but it's the
same feeling of loss. I still half expect to see them come tearing through the
door fussin' and feudin' and knocking things over.
MN1st
>In <19991203021706...@ng-fg1.aol.com>
>MN1st <mn...@aol.comnospam> wrote:
>[. . .]
>: May a stranger offer his condolences?
>
>They're very welcome. Thank you. I'll pass them on to Ailsa and Kathy.
>Kathy is just turning 13, and I'll print them out for her, or show them to
>her. She's quite devastated. It's her yet closest encounter with death.
That's doubly hard, then.
>It's not a good start to Hannukah. (Friday, December 3rd, night.)
>
>: I'm very sorry for your loss. Something
>: very similar almost happened to one of our cats. Fortunately we were able
>to
>: rescue her in time.
>
>Give the furball some pats and scratchies for us, and tell them to not go
>out to go to sleep in the cold.
>
Oh, this was 15 years ago. She went to Cat Heaven in 1994 at the ripe old age
of 18 much to the joy of the local rabbits.
Doug Wickstrom
<nims...@worldnet.att.net> excited the ether to say:
>On 3 Dec 1999 06:17:42 GMT, Gary Farber <gfa...@panix.com>
>excited the ether to say:
>
>>Silver, possibly the cutest little ball of fur I've ever encountered, a
>>darling of a cat, a couple of tiny pounds of pure affection and
>>head-bouffing, who could curl up into the most tribble-like positions of
>>pure furry sweetness, died two days ago, we discovered tonight.
>
>Aw, hell. Sympathies and commiserations to all. I was about
>Ailsa's age when my first cat never came home. My grandfather
>died that same week.
Aw, hell. _Kathy's_ age, damnit!
--
Doug Wickstrom
"The Internet is a great way to get on the Net." --Bob Dole
Cynthia Gonsalves
all of you. After I read about him, I made sure to smurgle my Snickers
extra hard.
He can never be replaced, but I hope that your home has another cat soon
to share the love.
I don't think my Tabby (d. 1980) minds at all that Snickers is around
now to rule my life.
Cynthia
--
"I had to be a bitch....They wouldn't let me be a Jesuit."
(Joan Gant in Matt Ruff's _Sewer, Gas & Electric_)
Sharks Bite!!!! http://members.home.net/cynthia1960/
Janice Gelb
>Silver, possibly the cutest little ball of fur I've ever encountered, a
>darling of a cat, a couple of tiny pounds of pure affection and
>head-bouffing, who could curl up into the most tribble-like positions of
>pure furry sweetness, died two days ago, we discovered tonight.
I'm really sorry to hear this. Condolences to you, Ailsa and
Kathy.
****************************************************************
Janice Gelb | The only connection Sun has with
janic...@eng.sun.com | this message is the return address.
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/8018/index.html
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain"
-- Lily Tomlin
Adina Adler
> Silver, possibly the cutest little ball of fur I've ever encountered, a
> darling of a cat, a couple of tiny pounds of pure affection and
> head-bouffing, who could curl up into the most tribble-like positions of
> pure furry sweetness, died two days ago, we discovered tonight.
I'm so sorry. There's nothing else to say, is there? My condolences to
you, Ailsa, and Kathy.
--
Adina
Mitch Wagner
> Silver, possibly the cutest little ball of fur I've ever encountered, a
> darling of a cat, a couple of tiny pounds of pure affection and
> head-bouffing, who could curl up into the most tribble-like positions of
> pure furry sweetness, died two days ago, we discovered tonight.
Very sorry to learn of your loss. - mw
Terry L. Smith
: In article <384786BE...@mediaone.net>,:>>
:>> Silver, possibly the cutest little ball of fur I've ever encountered, a
:>> darling of a cat, a couple of tiny pounds of pure affection and
:>> head-bouffing, who could curl up into the most tribble-like positions of
:>> pure furry sweetness, died two days ago, we discovered tonight.
: And Gary never got to see him do the full catloaf, where he curled up
: face-down so that all that stuck out were the tips of his ears. I
: never got a picture of that, either.
: B
:>> He was the sweetest cat. He was much loved.
:>>
:>> We're all very unhappy here.
:>>
:>> Kathy keeps saying "it's not *fair*!"
It is always so very hard to lose a much loved cat, especially
when they haven't had their full span of years. Though losing
a dear elderly pet hurts a lot, too...
:>> I'm crying, and I'm the one who knew him least longest, and who
:>> undoubtedly must feel the least bad. And Ailsa and Kathy cry more.
:>>
:>> Goodbye, Silver.
:>>
:>> Goodbye.
:>
:>Oh, dear. Please tell Kathy and Ailsa how sorry I am.
My sympathies too, though I've only read about him. He sounds
like a wonderful cat.
: Thank you, and thank you to everyone else who offered condolences.
: Gary & I buried him this morning. It was really rough. I've printed
: out the picture I brought in for scanning for the Lost Cat posters,
: and I have it hanging by my desk.
: After I'd dug the hole, I held him in my arms for a whie to
: say goodbye, and I covered him with leaves before putting dirt
: on him. I still can't quite believe it, even though I can still
: feel his fur under my fingers, and how stiff he was under his
: fur. It's not right, it's not fair, and it shouldn't've happened.
No, it is not fair. I felt that way when we lost our little
tabby girl, Amazing Gracie, to cancer. Too soon. Too *soon*.
We had her cremated, with her special towel, a couple of her
favorite toys, and small tokens from those who loved her, including
a snippet of long fur from her adopted Maine Coon "daughter,"
The Lady Natasha Katski. Gracie died exactly a year ago, on
December 8th. I will miss her always; most of her is now vapor,
mingled with the breezes and clouds around the world, purring
with the rustle of the leaves, smiling little cat smiles in every
sunset and dawn.
They were our friends; we loved them. They will be a part of us
- even if only in our memories - as long as we care about anything.
: He was the world's greatest cat, and I'm torn between wanting to
: run out and get another cat *right* *now* because the house feels
: all wrong with only one cat in it and never wanting to get another
: cat again, because no other cat would have a tenth of Silver's
: personality. (Not even my other cat, dearly as I love him.)
:>I'm really grateful that none of my three has a taste for Outside.
:>(Indeed, Retsina has an absolute horror of it.)
:>
: That's a very good thing. I asked my mom if we could have Silver's
: grandson, but mom said that Davis had an equal fondness for going
: out and killing things, and we shouldn't do that to ourselves
: again so soon.
Perhaps in the spring, you could adopt a cat that is comfortable
staying indoors. There are always so many many kittens produced
each spring and summer that even gentle, loving adult cats that
need homes have a lot of trouble finding them, then.
:>Aquavit is sitting on the chair beside me, making little reassuring
:>noises. I think she's trying to send her condolences, too.
:>
: My thanks to Aquavit as well. Please fuzzle her ears for me.
Crazy Jennie Whitney just jumped up on the desk to "help" me
write this. She sends a bonk-o-the-head your way. (The other
two girls are snuggled down into the comforter - it's cold
here tonight, too.)
: -Ailsa
: --
: There is no forgetting sorrow an...@world.std.com
: There is no regretting love Ailsa N.T. Murphy
: All we really do is borrow all the dreams we're dreaming of
: We can never know tomorrow, all we have is giving love today
: -Midge Ure
Someone wrote me, about the death of a friend, that without
love, there would be so much less pain, so much less sorrow;
sometimes love seems like the cruellest trick of the gods.
And yet, without love, we wouldn't be human. And what would
be the point of anything at all?
No, never forget. The love and the joy are worth the pain and
sorrow.
"Quick as a wink, the sly cat had stolen Monroe's cheese
sandwich."
- B. Kliban
- M.Q.S., Cdr. C'mell, KPS AKA The Lady in Green
... sometimes I think well-loved cats are a little bit "human,"
too.
Sleep well, Silver and Gracie.
--
*--------------------------------------------------------------------*
| M.Q.S. c/o T.L.S | "Don't play with that! You have no idea where |
| tls...@netcom.com | it's been..." -- Speaker to Elevators |
*--------------------------------------------------------------------*