Tuesday 11 March 2008

How do you say Good-bye?

For the pet lovers out there…

Yesterday was a very sad day for my family. My parents lost their beloved cat, Sid. Now, I am very surprised at my reaction to this. I am a Mom, and when I had kids, a cat to me, became … well… just a cat. I never dreamed that Sid’s death would make me so incredibly sad…

Sid has lived a life most of us could only dream of. I bought him for my parents in 1997 during a Christmas visit with them when they lived in Saudi Arabia. When I went into the local pet store, I instantly knew he was the one… He was the smallest in the cage, but had the biggest attitude… He was walking around the cage sideways hissing and batting at his cage mates, the ball, the food bowl… His ‘I’m not taken no guff’ demeanor won me over at once. We took him home that day and knew his name could only be Sid. Short for the Arabic word meaning friend…

We bathed him, made him a home, and took him into our hearts. He was so tiny in size but so incredibly large in personality. The first months of his time with us saw him traveling around in my Mom’s apron pocket, or in her sweater pocket… He was never far from her side.

Sid traveled to several corners of the Middle East, to many tropical places in South America, and then all around the prime hunting and fishing spots in North Western Alberta… He has played with geckos, captured spiders larger than his head, and out ran the fastest of rabbits… He did so with a spring in his step and all the while packing his ‘cattitude’.

He never was a fan of kids… When he heard my car in the drive he would always run and hide until he confirmed whether or not I had brought my munchkins into his domain. He was never mean; he was always gentle, and loved to cuddle… well, on his terms anyway.

He met his end after being chased up a tree by a dog, and succumbed to his fear when his 11 year old heart gave out…

So today along with my parents, my family and especially my 9 year old son we are coming to terms with this loss and learning from one of life’s hardest lessons.

Farwell Sid …. You are missed.