Back in January I decided that I was going to blog when I wanted to blog. No pressure. No need to feel like I had to have words every single day to share with the world. It’s not like I do this for money, right? What I have learned over the years is that I do not want to jump through all the hoops to monetize my blog and I certainly don’t have a “brand” that people are seeking. I have come to this place to simply share and it is basically an online journal for me to look back on when I can’t remember stuff. Which is happening more frequently.

Wednesday was one of those difficult days. When we woke up, we both knew that it was time to say goodbye to our sweet calico Holly. Shy of 18 years by less than a month, she had deteriorated since Christmas and it was obvious that the time had come. I made a tearful call to the vet and Chris and I took her in that morning.

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We use Brevard Animal Hospital in Brevard and specifically have used Dr. Batson over the past year or so with Holly. She is compassionate and knowledgeable and was the perfect fit for this day and all the sadness that went with it. Add in our favorite vet tech, Rebecca, and we had the most peaceful feeling as Holly crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. I have never been able to be there with our other cats when we had to come to this decision but I was very glad to be able to be there for Holly.

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There was no box that Holly did not have to test out, If it came into the house, she had to sit in it for a bit to make sure it was a good box. She was a licker and quite often I would hear Chris say from the other room “Holly, stop licking me!” A little disconcerting unless. you knew Holly. She was also Chris’s girlfriend, choosing him the past several years over me every single time.

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Anyone who has pets understands how these furry things get into your heart and losing her has really hit me hard. I am taking time to grieve and while I know it was the right decision, the house seems so quiet without her snoring in her heated bed.

I’ll be fine and I am sure there will be another kitty in my future to join Maksim who is a little lonely now but for now I am going to just pause and be happy that I shared her life for almost 18 years.