Peace out, Simone
Posted under life
Update 6/27/06: Pictures of the aftermath on flickr.
When I got to Mom’s yesterday morning, the scene was unbelievable. The barn was flattened. There were trees ripped out at ground level and flung 100 feet from where they grew. One of them landed on mom’s driveway, had she been home, it would have crushed her car. The damage was confined to a small area; drive a half mile, and everything looks normal. The fireman who stopped by said something about tornadoes.
The saddest thing, though, was Simone. We walked around the back of the barn, and heard her crying. Finally we spotted her struggling to make her way closer to us. She was clearly injured; I couldn’t tell if it was her back or her leg. I managed to wiggle through a small space, crawl through the mud and reach her. Mom handed me a towel, I wrapped her in it and handed her back to Mom.
We rushed her to the vet. It didn’t look good. She had a broken femur and a fractured pelvis. Her body temperature was way too low and wasn’t coming up after a few hours of treatment. Mom had to make the devastating choice to either send her to Virginia Tech to try to save her, or go ahead and end her suffering. She opted for the latter. We cried many tears together.
If you are lucky enough to have cats in your life, if you are lucky enough to be one of those who adores them, then you know how some are just a little extra special. Simone was one of those. When Sadie was killed on Monday, I felt so much better knowing Simone would be there to comfort Mom. Losing her too was just such a shocker.
So hold your loved ones a little closer today. Give them an extra hug in honor of Simone. Because you just never know how long you have.
- 25 June 2006
Molly Cliborne
1 · zoe krylova · 25 June 2006
oh molly, that is so, so, so sad. i’m very sorry for your mom and for you who loved those kitties too. how terrible to have this all happen in one week. my thoughts are with you all and with those kitties now residing in the special place where noble cats go.
2 · María · 25 June 2006
Dearest Molly & Molly’s mom,
I am crying for your loss as we speak. (Wow, I re-read this to make sure it was spell-checked and noted I said “speak”. Yes, I feel so much like we are literally talking and wish to convey my heart-felt empathy.) To loose so much and two sweet kitties too is so sad. Agin, you are in my thoughts and prayers. That was a difficult decision to make—we had to make one as difficult 2 Sundays ago because one nanny goat had a single huge kid that was positioned wrong and died—Oreo was sick too because of the infection. When we love our animal friends so much, we make the right choices to help them and I know The Universe sees not only their suffering and pain, but the painful decisions we have to make and the loosing of beloved friends. It is so hard when the pain is so new and fresh, but there will come a time when a new little friend comes into your life.
Your friend,
María
3 · Uncle Hannah S-Q · 25 June 2006
Oh no :(
Jeez…I can’t imagine you how both must feel. It is strange when people or pets die close together. I suppose, at least, she is with Sadie now. I admit I don’t know much about death and I have not experienced it very much, and yet I have feared it, but I am at least heartened to hear how people seem to draw together than a death occurs, like you and your mom. It seems to intensify things, and show what matters.
Love to you,
4 · Mom · 26 June 2006
I am so, so sad at losing my little friends. When you live alone as I do you become so attached and dependent on them that it’s hard to imagine going on without them. I’ve probably never felt so close to Molly as this week, though, and she has just been a rock, keeping me centered and sharing my grief. Her sister Amy, even though she’s far away, has been there for me, too, and is trying to come to do that in person, taking leave from her job in Texas.
I am so lucky to have such wonderful daughters. I must count my time with Simone and Sadie as a blessing and go on, appreciating all the other wonderful people in my life. It’s at times like this that you realize just what is really important!
I should mention my other cat, Jessie, also. She seems to know something is wrong and is at the ready with her kitty massages, even though they are sometimes a little “sticker-y.”
5 · Laura Elizabeth · 28 June 2006
Oh dear! Molly, Molly’s Mom, I’m so sorry to read about the destruction of the barn and the loss of Simone. I will hug my lads, my three cats, extra tight when I get home tonight.
6 · Bebe · 9 July 2006
So sorry to read about the loss of your precious family members…and very sorry about losing the barn too. What a beautiful structure it was.
Even though you don’t know me, we all hold dear our family, friends, and gods wonderful loved creatures. May you find peace and hopefully some new ‘mews’ down the road.