Night

Apr. 7th, 2004 11:43 pm
rejectomorph: (hopper_summer_evening)
[personal profile] rejectomorph
The house holds the day's heat, and I've left the windows open, allowing the night air to displace it. The breeze barely stirs. I hear the crickets chirp. There are only a few of them yet, and I can distinguish the sounds of individuals. One is in the lawn, another sings from a spot under the camellia bush, and a third occupies the mass of moldering leaves dropped last year by the wild plum. Now and then, a dog barks. A few cars still pass along the nearby roads, humming of distance. But, aside from the crickets, the only constant sound is that of my pencil scratching the paper. It is still too warm for Sluggo, so I write by hand now, to transcribe later.

Orion, leaning in his spring attitude, has dipped behind the western woods, and Venus hangs from a ponderosa branch like a bright ornament. Here on earth, my younger cat, after being bold enough to enter my room despite the presence here of her nemesis, has gone outdoors. She prefers to be out on warm nights. It's probably a fascinating place for a cat, full of small creatures and interesting smells.

The older cat never stirred when the younger one came into the room. She has been sleeping fitfully, occasionally moving from one spot to another. It has not been a good day for her. She ate little, but couldn't keep it down. She tried to use the cat box, but failed. Then she took a nap in a dark doorway and got her paw stepped on. In fact, her health has deteriorated greatly in the last few days, and I'm thinking it might be time to let her go. She has often surprised me with her recuperative powers, but I don't know that she is capable of more such surprises.

Despite the fact that it is spring, the night has an autumnal feeling. There is decline, and I sense changes coming. This afternoon, I noticed that a few more boards have fallen from the fence, even though there has been no wind to bring them down. When things fall apart for no apparent reason, I grow uneasy. The deer haven't visited the street in weeks. I feel as though I ought to be holding my breath, but I don't know what for. Whatever it is, I hope it happens soon.

Date: 2004-04-08 03:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blue-by-you.livejournal.com
I'm sorry about your older cat. It must make you very sad to watch her.

Date: 2004-04-08 04:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jaarronn.livejournal.com
In life's many sorrows, few are as anguishing as the uncertainty of whether or not an ailing, very old beloved pet is painfully suffering and lingering upon the precipuce of life...For if the animal is near the end, we'd like that he or she pass away as peacefully as possible in its familiar surroundings and not in the Vet's office...My thoughts and sympathy, J

Date: 2004-04-08 07:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jaarronn.livejournal.com
Having had cats for as long as I can remember, (presently 5) I can well sympathize with your past and present experiences.

A few years back, we lost 2 in 2 successive days. One, Coty, was diabetic, and he lasted an amazing 3 1/2 years after initial diagnosis. I became quite an expert at administering insulin injections (2 X's daily) and monitoring for insulin shock and then administering corn syrup...He lived to be 19 years old! He was a grumpy, grouchy, constantly, meowing P.I.T.A., but we loved him. At the time of his last crisis, we noted also, that his sibling, Clyde, was also ailing. Clyde (aka "Quee-Dee") was also an amazing survivor. At a young age, he was run over by our neighbor who was backing out of his driveway. The vet gave him practically nil chances of pulling thru, but he did. A bit brain damaged, but he lived a long and happy, peaceful life; a sweet and loving cat. Anyway, we took them both to the Vet....Cody was put to sleep, having gone as far as he could possibly go. We left Clyde over night. The Vet called the next morning : Kidney Failure...so we had to put him down too. Understandably, I swore I would take in no more cats....Naturally, since then, we have added 3.

I really hope for the best, J.

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