justpictureit

01 Aug 2007 • 384 views
 
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photoblog image One Year

One Year

It's a year today that Clarke disappeared, probably taken by a coyote.  I have hundreds of photos of him but chose this one because it shows one of his best characteristics - his love of people.  This is a friend of my daughter and Clarke didn't really know her that well but she had a knee and that was cool with him. 

When we first met he was five months old.  I was lying on the couch, he ran over, jumped up, looked at me with love, settled down to a purrful nap and stole my heart.  Within a day I was telling my daughter that the next time she left home, Clarke was staying with me.  I've never bonded so quickly or so hard and the feeling was mutual.  Kenz and Bella wer jealous and though Clarke was sometimes a pain in the butt to them, I think they liked him.  He was a kitten and loved to play; they were tired, older girls who had their routines but they all got along very well.

I miss him terribly and had dreams about him every night in the last couple of weeks.  Some were actual nightmares.  I don't quite know how I'm ever going to get over him but at least I've stopped calling him every day and night.

Click to Play:
Skeletons and Spirits  by Alison Crowe

One Year

It's a year today that Clarke disappeared, probably taken by a coyote.  I have hundreds of photos of him but chose this one because it shows one of his best characteristics - his love of people.  This is a friend of my daughter and Clarke didn't really know her that well but she had a knee and that was cool with him. 

When we first met he was five months old.  I was lying on the couch, he ran over, jumped up, looked at me with love, settled down to a purrful nap and stole my heart.  Within a day I was telling my daughter that the next time she left home, Clarke was staying with me.  I've never bonded so quickly or so hard and the feeling was mutual.  Kenz and Bella wer jealous and though Clarke was sometimes a pain in the butt to them, I think they liked him.  He was a kitten and loved to play; they were tired, older girls who had their routines but they all got along very well.

I miss him terribly and had dreams about him every night in the last couple of weeks.  Some were actual nightmares.  I don't quite know how I'm ever going to get over him but at least I've stopped calling him every day and night.

Click to Play:
Skeletons and Spirits  by Alison Crowe

comments (10)

Obviously, a lovable and loving kitty. I'm glad you share photos of him with us.
Mary MacADNski: Thanks, Red Pen. He was very special and the softest kitty I ever touched.
Clarke's photo is very nice Mary. You can see he was a big old cuddle puss. It is not easy sometimes when we lose a much loved furbaby.It is good to remember them. It helps to let them go sometimes.
I am so glad you shared his picture and his story.
Mary MacADNski: Thanks DigitalDiva. It's been very hard. I know I'm silly but I still call for him.
  • Ray
  • Thailand.
  • 1 Aug 2007, 04:59
This is a seriously gorgeous image of the cat, Mary, and the accompanying memorial narrative is very moving.

It brought back memories of cats that have been excellent companions for me at various times in my life.
Mary MacADNski: He was one of a kind...a real character and the best cat I've ever had. I only say this while typing because I wouldn't like Bella and Kenz to hear that and they can't read, I don't think.
: ( I'm so sorry Mary. It's a lovely photo and a beautiful and a super-friendly looking companion. I hope you're feeling better soon. These things are very hard. sad
Mary MacADNski: Thanks, sparklite. I remember your comment on this shot of Clarke as a six month old, shortly after my daughter moved back home with him. I like the photo too: http://www.justpictureit.shutterchance.com/photoblog/Clarke_as_a_Kitten/
Sorry for your pretty pet Mary. Wish you all the best for very soon !
Mary MacADNski: Thank you Roland, very much.
  • Louis
  • South Africa
  • 1 Aug 2007, 09:03
Clarke must have been a learned cat, seems to have been doing his homework.

We went through 12 years of cats that started out with two that multiplied and in the end fizzled out with the last one dying of what the vet said was cat aids. During our cat period I have observed that the male cat of the day would dissapear as soon as the current litter starts to grow up. One of the males in the litter would assert itself and the rest would dissapear at the time they are full grown. Since Clarke is a male, something like this could have happened.

The level of bonding didn't make a difference with the cats. Two of the males that dissapeared were very well integrated into the domestic routine. I think also that the final decline of our cat numbers may also have to do with the new home that we moved to and two huge toms that prowled the area.

What I know of cats after the 12 years are that they are very independent spirits and tend to remain so.
Mary MacADNski: We have a lot of coyotes in the area with a den very near. The cats are not allowed out at all in the evening and a visiting niece let Clarke out. The cats always stay in the yard so we're pretty sure it was coyotes. They have even been caught red-handed attacking small dogs.
This is such a cute photo of Clark.
Mary MacADNski: I have tons of photos of him, lots in the archives, but this one show's his personality. An open knee, even though it contains a book, was a favorite spot. Usually he laid on his back in order to have his belly rubbed.
They say you never own a cat, a cat chooses you and it's true.
Lovely photo.
Mary MacADNski: He absolutely chose me and I accepted. Thank you.
A pretty memory for your friend, Mary!
Mary MacADNski: Gracias, Jose-Angel.
  • Patrushka
  • Spokane, Washington, USA
  • 4 Aug 2007, 06:38
We think our best cat was caught by a coyote too...she was an old cat, not very fast on her feet anymore, so she probably was easy prey. She was a real member of the family, and I still have nightmares about it now and then, after 6 years. I'm sorry it happened to Clarke too.

You've taken a lovely portrait. Clarke had fine ears and a very handsome face, and was not at all camera-shy!
Mary MacADNski: Thank you so much for your kind words, Patrushka. I'm so happy to hear that it still affects you after 6 years because I feel more normal. I still have nightmares too and had several last week. I'm pretty sure I still will after six years too.

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