Rest In Peace

Deb Prothero · Post by **Deb Prothero** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 9:25 pm

LeChatNoir;

It's hard not to blame yourself when bad things happen. There are hardly words that can comfort you. I can feel your pain as if it were my own. Time really seems to be the only healer.

You gave Salem many happy years and I thank you for sharing such a deeply emotional story. I hope that sharing it with us lifts the burden for you.

As others have said, there's another stray waiting for a good home and he'll find you soon. I hope it's a black one!

Take care of yourself,
Deb

cowboyangel · Post by **cowboyangel** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 9:40 pm

LeChatNoir wrote:Rest In Peace, Salem.

What a wonderful feline friend you were to me. When I found you ten years ago on that dirt road your eyes were not even open yet. Someone had set you out and left you for dead. I took you home and bottle fed you for what seemed like forever. Every four hours I saw the formula shrink from the bottle and felt your tummy swell in response. You were so small that you fit in my hand with room to spare. I guess Iâ€™m all youâ€™ve ever known.

I watched you grow into a fine cat with a sleek black coat. How many times youâ€™ve sat on top of the monitor and fallen asleep, I canâ€™t remember. You were my eplaya namesake and frequent avatar model. Now youâ€™re just gone. Just like that, I wake up and your gone.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Salem had been temporarily moved a week or so ago to a room in one of the outbuildings to try and break a bad litter box habit that we had been battling for better than a year. Prior to moving her in, we spent two days patching holes, wiring lights, mounting hinges on the window and screening it, and building a seat for her to watch birds and happenings in the yard. Nothing bigger than a mouse could get in or out. We called it Salemâ€™s Apartment and had hoped that a short stay in another environment all together would break the cycle of bad practices. She loved being over the computer monitor as I worked and when I switched to a laptop, her perch was taken away, so I was making plans for building a stand let her regain her most favorite spot upon her return. Perhaps, I thought yesterday, this was what had been the issue of her protest all along and she just wanted to be close by like she used to be. Soon enough, I hoped, things would be back to normal. Yesterday evening I fed her as usual, sat down in the old cushy chair weâ€™d moved into the new pad and rubbed her head for a while.

Last night something got in. I found her this morning, partially torn open, eyes fixed with fur in her claws that looked like another cat and fur on the floor looked like coyote. I am completely perplexed and have no idea how anything got in. There were no signs of forced entry or exit and the doors and window were still latched. The only thing disturbed was her food bowl and one small board that had fallen over from its place propped in the corner. Save for the tear, her body was intact. I would think that a coyote would have taken her as a source of food and that another cat would have been unable to put such tear into her. Someone suggested a weasel, but I donâ€™t know and ultimately the end result is the same.

I am sick over this. There is a large knot in my stomach and my head hurts from weeping.

Salem, I am so sorry. I am so sorry. And I canâ€™t undo it. I canâ€™t undo it and I feel terrible. This is not how it was supposed to happen. If I hadnâ€™t thought you were safe, Iâ€™d have never put you in there. I know you didnâ€™t like to be away from the house, and now I feel that you died terrified and alone because of me. I donâ€™t know what else I could have done, but stillâ€¦ still I feel that this is my fault.

I miss you so very badly. I cannot express it in words. Iâ€™m just so sorry and hope you can forgive me. I am sick and I am lost.

Lechat, I am totally with you man. I do understand. I lost my dear Jackie last December. She had multiple tumors, blindness, cancer, arthritis, and she was 17. Somehow she found her way to the river out back and drowned. I blamed myself. I still cry over Jackie and miss her terribly.
I have a hole in my heart over it. I send you love and compassion and understanding.

Cowboyangel

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 9:43 pm

Iâ€™m so sorry for your loss LeChat, I know you canâ€™t help but second guess or blame your self. It probably is true what ever got her wouldnâ€™t have come into you house and she â€œmightâ€

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 9:46 pm

LeChat:
a tip of the head, a toast, and, a hug...........

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:59 am

hugs.

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:12 am

aww, Le Chat....I feel your pain.
Ebis...7 yrs of fun and frolick. 2 yrs in the new house and new territory for him.
no problemns....then one day POOF!
Gone not a trace.

We think Eagles.
i just try not to think.

We went and got a new kitty.

I cant even let him out of the house...due to Known dangers. But I look at him at the screen door while were all outside and feel wrong.

stargeezer · Post by **stargeezer** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:12 am

Pinemom:

In addition to eagles, we have to worry about cougars and wolves and so far we have been lucky. All of our animals have come from the outdoors and chosen to live with us, but that does not mean they don't enjoy the outdoors. I have become a firm believer in quality of life versus quantity. I have seen way too many people have a great quantity of life, but their quality had gone to crap years ago, with several not even knowing their children or closest friends anymore. I would much rather be taken out by a predator while out enjoying the forest than sit in a rocking chair for years just looking out the window, and not even understand what I am looking at. We give our animals that same choice. The look on the cat's face when she comes back from hunting with a small present for us tells it all.

As I write this, I am filled with emotion regarding friends lost, and some soon to be. As I sit here saying I will never allow the miracles of modern medicine to extend my life beyond that point of what I consider reasonable, it is easy for me to say what I would do as I am not yet close to that fence, but I do wonder what I will decide as I approach it.

While I have not been yet, for me Burning Man is about living life to the fullest. Just because we are able, does not mean we should not allow our animals to experience their life.

The emotions of this subject are really getting to me, so I must close, but before I do, the next time your kitty is looking out the screen wanting to join in the fun, go in and grab a bowl of milk and put it and the kitty on your lap, while we hate to think about it, tomorrow just might not come.

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:13 am

Farrah's Facet turned off.

[youtube][/youtube]

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:24 am

i have lived with 9 cats so far. I try my best to give my Shinobi the best quality of life that I can. He gets outside in the day time and comes in at night. He has plenty of things to play with and I give him as much attention, playtime, and cuddling as I can. Few are the days that I do not look at him and realize what a precious friend he is.

I better stop.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:57 am

(((((((LCN)))))))

You saved her life and then gave her a decade of love. All her life was "borrowed time" - and I think that's maybe true for many of us in one way or another.

Please don't mourn for the loss of what she gave you - you will always have that.

Guilt is a wicked enemy - it is hard to think with your head when your heart has a fresh wound. I lost a kitty soulmate to a pack of dogs a couple of years ago - I heard the fight and tried to help him but we lost the battle - by the time I fought through the first two, the third (pit bull) had killed him. I suffered a long time from the guilt of not being able to save him or not bringing him in sooner.....

You are not responsible for the beginning or end of Salem's life. You are the grateful recipient of her lifetime of love, and she of yours.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:58 pm

[youtube][/youtube]

Michael Jackson.....

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:01 pm

Weird to see a dead guy playing a zombie.

Oldguy · Post by **Oldguy** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:12 pm

" King of Pop" Micheal Jackson, 50, heart attack, LA. California, 3 children.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:14 pm

he was a child molester....he can burn in newark, i mean hell.

good riddance.

cowboyangel · Post by **cowboyangel** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:26 pm

at least the mortician will have an easy job.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:48 pm

oh, SNAP!

littleflower · Post by **littleflower** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:00 pm

i must say .... i have always felt sorry for jocko ... he never knew what a normal life was, being sucked into fame so young ...

it must have been a terribly lonely existence...

not that it justifies what he did ...

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:11 pm

Simon of the Playa wrote:he was a child molester....he can burn in newark, i mean hell.

good riddance.

that was never ascertained! Because the cases were settled out of court and charges were dropped in all cases. If your child was molested wouldn't you go all the way to court. then win and file civil suits gaining millions of dollars?

But they all drop the charges and settled out of court.

A big star with lots of money, that had slept with his little friends is an open target to greedy people.

Or he was a child molester

He was one of greatist pop singers and writters in history.

AIIZ

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:28 pm

it just means the parents were in essence, pimps, and also they did not want their kids to go through a ridiculous and painful trial.

strike two.

bigbluedoggy · Post by **bigbluedoggy** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:29 pm

Frankly, LeChat's loss of Salem affects me far more deeply than Ed, Farrah or Michael. I am so sorry, my friend, for the pain you have experienced in this. No words can express the depth of my sorrow. May you find strength to heal quickly. And do not blame yourself. It was the will of the universe that this came to pass and you are powerless to affect it. Much love... D

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:42 pm

Simon of the Playa wrote:it just means the parents were in essence, pimps, and also they did not want their kids to go through a ridiculous and painful trial.

strike two.

Yeah or the parents were coaching their children and feared they wouldn't hold up in courts.

ONe kid was a cancer victim dude, Jacko build a castle for the kids because he loved them.

Do you think, he was pleasuring the boy because, hey, he's going to die and never had his dick sucked or he loved taking advantage of boys that were going to die kind of guy.

Or, "June we've spend every dime on little tiny tim. We're broke and Michael is a sitting target to pay our bills kind of guy.

Anyway, he was exonerated by a jury of his peer and he's dead!

What no comments on Farrah?

yes, she did have that kind of career or talent. Only Ed McMahon was a worse actor who was lucky to be a sidekick to a genius like Johnny!

AIIZ

thisisthatwhichis · Post by **thisisthatwhichis** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:48 pm

wow..... heavy, heart-felt week.......

(((((LCN)))))) (((((Karine)))))))................

I'll always remember the "That pretty cool Kid"........ The rest is fucked up... kinda like default does to everything............

[youtube][/youtube]

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:57 pm

Da Mule · Post by **Da Mule** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:01 pm

Monkeypoo wrote:
RIP Caleb Schaber aka Shooter.
Sometimes I don't feel all that far behind from Shooter. I understand what he did. I do. Sometimes there's such an incomprehensible dark pit we find ourselves in where there's no longer any light. No one can convince us anymore. Sometimes life just doesn't feel worth it anymore.

Next time you feel that way, MP, will you do me a favor? Will you think about all these great, loving friends you have here? Think about how much all of us are sending our positive energy to LCN. Think about me eating cheez doodles in the hot tub. Think about that crazy monkey chick hanging from the rafters in the bar.

The more you believe in that dark pit, the bigger that pit grows. The more you recognize and appreciate the love around you, the more that pit fades. Don't forget that! And if you do, I'm coming to spank your spider-bite ass.

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:09 pm

Da Mule wrote:
Monkeypoo wrote:
RIP Caleb Schaber aka Shooter.
Sometimes I don't feel all that far behind from Shooter. I understand what he did. I do. Sometimes there's such an incomprehensible dark pit we find ourselves in where there's no longer any light. No one can convince us anymore. Sometimes life just doesn't feel worth it anymore.
Next time you feel that way, MP, will you do me a favor? Will you think about all these great, loving friends you have here? Think about how much all of us are sending our positive energy to LCN. Think about me eating cheez doodles in the hot tub. Think about that crazy monkey chick hanging from the rafters in the bar.

The more you believe in that dark pit, the bigger that pit grows. The more you recognize and appreciate the love around you, the more that pit fades. Don't forget that! And if you do, I'm coming to spank your spider-bite ass.

See, listen to that. The da mule ain't no Ass, nope not one little bit, Da mule a Gallant Steed. You listen to him Monkeypoo!

thisisthatwhichis · Post by **thisisthatwhichis** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:16 pm

Da Mule wrote:
Monkeypoo wrote:
RIP Caleb Schaber aka Shooter.
Sometimes I don't feel all that far behind from Shooter. I understand what he did. I do. Sometimes there's such an incomprehensible dark pit we find ourselves in where there's no longer any light. No one can convince us anymore. Sometimes life just doesn't feel worth it anymore.
Next time you feel that way, MP, will you do me a favor? Will you think about all these great, loving friends you have here? Think about how much all of us are sending our positive energy to LCN. Think about me eating cheez doodles in the hot tub. Think about that crazy monkey chick hanging from the rafters in the bar.

The more you believe in that dark pit, the bigger that pit grows. The more you recognize and appreciate the love around you, the more that pit fades. Don't forget that! And if you do, I'm coming to spank your spider-bite ass.

O yea, what's left is a lot of hurt, caring, loving, wondering soles..... I'd really like to spank yer monkeybutt one more time.........

Monkeypoo · Post by **Monkeypoo** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:22 pm

OK. I'm sorry. I hate the thoughts I have sometimes. I get wigged out sometimes. Sometimes (oh, you stupid insecure monkey girl!) I feel worthless and overwhelmed and all the energy in my body explodes like Mount Vesuvius and I see nothing but an endless pit without any light. OK. That's a fucked up part of me. I don't wanna hurt myself. I really don't. I get hopeless moments. Plus, I've tried too many times in my past to end it all and the Universe keeps slapping me upside the head not letting me succeed, cuz obviously she has better plans for me. I'm obviously here for a purpose. Sometimes I get overly frustrated and overwhelmed and pissed off and sometimes I just wanna give up and say fuck it all. Sometimes I just wanna go to sleep and not wake up. I know I'm not the only one. We all do it....sometimes.

But that's the pussy way out.
I will not be a pussy.
But I have a cute pussy. *snark*

I just want to be loved and appreciated. That's all I want. Don't we all?? I'm a good person. A loving person. A giving person. I don't require much but a few hugs every now and then, and someone to tell me, "You rock."

I love you all.
I know I am loved.
I'm a fucking hippie.
I love me.
I love you too.
Yay!!!!!!

And John Lennon said it all.

Love is all we need....

[youtube][/youtube]

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:37 pm

Wowâ€¦

Ed, Farrah, and now Michael Jackson.

Jeezâ€¦ it comes in weird waves. There's a good party going on in the after world tonight.

Monkeypoo... Just remember the key is the difference between thinnking and acting.

If it were not for the love of people around me, I donâ€™t know how Iâ€™d have made it through the tough times I faced years ago. And looking back, those tough times wound out being some of the biggest blessings Iâ€™ve had in life, just in disguise.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:47 pm

Oh, and Monkey?

You Rock.

((((((((((((MP)))))))))))))

Post by **Sham** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:04 am

After seeing all these high profile deaths lately, I really feel that it should make us all appreciate our lives and this amazing journey that we're on.
Monkeypoo, I hope you can feel more optimistic about this colorful world we live in and take every day as a clean slate and a new adventure.

From everything I can tell about you---YOU ROCK!