Monday, November 17, 2014

Pause


While I come to grips with the death of this largest of cats, this blog will pause.


The swiftness of our kitty's decline still has me reeling.


He was the most gorgeous animal, with a big heart that failed him.


I could not have invented a better companion, or muse.

61 comments:

  1. I send my deepest condolences for the loss of your best buddy! May he rest in peace & may you find solace in your Mom's beautiful garden!

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  2. I am so sad to read this. My sincerest sympathy to you and The Frenchman. One of the hardest decisions to make...

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  3. So sorry to hear about the loss of your beautiful friend. I opened my computer this a.m. and started to cry. What a wonderful life and star he was. xo

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  4. Please accept my sympathies. It is terrible to lose a pet. They give us a kind of unconditional love that humans cannot. He was a beautiful cat and a wonderful subject for your blog. I loved the entries and the pictures you posted of him. But, as all gardeners know, everything has its season, and the frost cuts everything down in the end. RIP, beautiful Cat. I am sure you are chasing birds in a beautiful garden somewhere with plenty of catmint and catnip. You will be missed by all of us.

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  5. Oh Marie, I'm so sorry to hear this sad news. He'll be greatly missed by all of us who shared his life and adventures via the internet. Lots of love to you at this difficult time.

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  6. I'm so sorry for your loss, Marie.

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  7. Swift journey Most Handsome of Cat! *hugs*

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  8. Oh, no. My deepest condolences. One of our own cats died very recently. The loss of such a close companion is profound. You are in my thoughts.

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  9. Dear Marie

    Thank you for sharing with us the wonderful and extraordinary times of Estorbo, which I have followed from the early days of his blog. Dayeen, dayoud . . .a cat among cats. Such a very sad time for you and Vince. Loving thoughts to you both from across the Atlantic.

    Diane, human companion of the late tabby brothers, Clarence and Cuthbert.

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  10. I hope it's some consolation to know that my vet told me that cats are predators but they are also prey....so they hide their pain well, sometimes so well that we can't help them on time. You and Vince did everything possible to help Estorbo and I send you love and sympathy in this difficult time.

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  11. Oh, Marie. I am so sorry. I have followed his kitty adventures for years. My condolences on the loss of your handsome cat.

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  12. Of course pause. We'll all be here waiting and grieving.

    xo J

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  13. I am so sorry to see the fine, gentle-cat go. Estorbo is one of a kind, and he will be missed by so many. Thank you, Marie and Vince, for all the love you showered on him.

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  14. Did not think it was possible to cry more, after reading his blog. Was wrong. As someone above said, Dayeen, dayoud . . . he was amazing and he touched all of our lives, as you have. His birthday post, shrugging off his age, and that January post about the fine print were masterpieces, and I will never think of the wisdom there that I don't think of your big black cad. (Yes, I know you wrote that stuff, but if Storbie's personality was your inspiration, then he was everything he seemed to be and more.)

    Mary

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  15. I am so sorry, Marie, to hear about the loss of your lovely and beautiful friend.

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  16. My heart goes out to you and Vince. With four elderly pets at home, inc. a 16-year old cat, I know how hard we fight to keep them with us and how very, very hard it is when we have to let them go. Estorbo will be missed by the many of us with whom you have generously shared him. - ElizabethPDX

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  17. So sorry. I have always loved seeing him skulking in your garden. Losing a pet is like losing a family member, sometimes harder. (As in, you choose your pet and they are usually happy to see you.)
    Condolences.
    We lost our 20 year old kitty last week. A long happy life but still his absence leaves a hole.

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  18. Heart-rending. Sending deepest sympathies. xo

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  19. I am so, so sorry for your loss. Sending warm thoughts and sympathy to you.

    Trish

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  20. I am here, sitting at my desk at work, tears streaming down my face. Words cannot express how sorry I am for the loss of sweet, handsome, Estorbo. My heart is with you at this time of grieving. I cannot imagine the pain and sorrow you and Vince must be facing right now. He had the most wonderful life possible with all of the love and care you showered upon him. You were the best parents he could of ever asked for. Laura

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  21. I am so very sorry, Marie. It is heartbreaking.

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  22. So very sorry for your loss! I'll miss seeing him in his security coast guarding the outer marches. My heart goes out to you, Marie and the Smoothman.

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  23. I am very sorry about Estorbo, Marie. Hugs to you and Vince.

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  24. I'm crying with you. It's so hard. I will miss his blog posts, they were quirky and fun, and they always made me smile. So sorry.

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  25. I am dumfounded to hear of the loss of your fur baby. My heart goes out to you. Much love to you and Vince.

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  26. My heart goes out to you both, Marie and Vince. I am so saddened to hear about your dear, sweet boy. Thank you for sharing him with us all. Sending you much love in this difficult time.

    -Beth

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  27. OH my! Who wouldn't understand-they are our family.I am so sorry for your loss.Beautiful baby.Prayer your way.Debra/Mass Island

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  28. So sorry, Marie.
    xxx

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  29. Every loss of one of my cats has left a hole. I am so sorry for your loss.

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  30. He will live forever in your (and our) heart.

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  31. I'm so sorry. He will be missed.

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  32. This beautiful black kitty gave me much pleasure and I am so sorry for you and your partner. Maggi K, Bryanston, South Africa

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  33. I am very sorry to hear this news and send my condolences at the passing of your kitty. It is very difficult, I know.

    Sincerely
    Nancy

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  34. He was a beautiful creature. You are in our hearts and prayers.

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  35. Time to mourn, time to remember, time to think, time to rest. All important. You are still in our hearts.

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  36. Dear Marie,
    I can only add my voice to those of all your friends. We loved this special cat as you did. I am so sorry for your loss.

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  37. Marie, I'm so sorry. I saw you at the OGC where you kindly signed my copy of your book. I asked you about your kitty and you bravely laughed about his naughty blog. You would have known then how very ill he was. He was a fortunate cat to be loved by you and Vince, and through you, by so many.

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  38. Sad day. Estorbo's loss will be felt far and wide.

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  39. Thinking of you & Vince & sending lots of love - we all adored him. Thank you so much for sharing him with us in such a magical way xoxo Susan

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  40. So sorry to hear about your kitty. They are family, our pets. He will be looking down on you and your terrace garden, no doubt.

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  41. So sorry to read about this loss. My condolences!

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  42. Oh Marie, I'm so very sorry. Such a lovely boy, and so loved. Sending hugs and sharing your tears.
    xxx
    Sue

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  43. I'm so so sorry for you both! I will miss his pictures. Seems like such sweet cat :'( take care you both. Love Winny

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  44. I don't know why our pets don't get to live forever. They do give us their all in terms of love and loyalty. I am so sorry that you and Vince are separated during this dreadful time. Our last cat, Boots, is buried in the back yard along with the ashes of her dear friend, Hobbes, a yellow lab who died a couple years before. She also is responsible for raising our more recent pup, Karina -- training her well in the ways of cats. All these four-footed friends have left an indelible imprint on our lives as I know Estorbo has left on yours.

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  45. I'm so sorry for your loss. You've documented his spirit so beautifully, I will miss him as well.

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  46. Marie and Vince, I am so sorry for your loss! I never met Don Estorbo in real live, but have felt his influence as he wandered like a shadow through the 66 Square Feet blog and book, and then shared his private thoughts about that woman, that man, and a life with plants, plants… and more plants, in his own column. He was there, stoic and unamused, as I downed a gin and tonic and licked my own wounds after a hard day at work. His passing is like that of an old friend. Know that he will be missed by many!

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  47. He'll be missed as much as he was loved. Heartbreaking when the body can't keep up with the spirit. Your beautiful boy. Love to you and Vince xx

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  48. Oh how is it that such a small creature in the grand scheme of things can leave such a huge void upon departure?? I was praying that Estorbo would stick around till you got back but clearly the universe had other plans. A friend in PE was also away from home when her gorgeous black boy Suede had to be put down and I remember how distraught she was. I wish I had had the pleasure of Storbie's acquaintance in the flesh (umm... fur?), but through the gorgeous pics and the voice that you gave him, I feel as if I had. I often address my black monster as Cousin of Estorbo, and I can't see him jump onto something without silently imaging him saying "Look, hooman! I make muy buena yompa!" Don Estorbo may be gone but his spirit lives on. xx

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  49. Awwh I'm sorry Marie and Vincent. Losing a pet is very hard. Thank you both for sharing his furry life with us.

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  50. Marie and Vince I am so sorry Estorbo is gone. The loss of a beloved pet is awful- the very worst of times. - Anne, George

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  51. When my Mom was in hospital and passing, my uncle (by marriage to my mother's sister) told me about the difficult days of successive decisions that he went through when his parents were passing. He said, "No matter what you do, it will be the wrong thing.' By which he meant it will feel like the wrong thing, even as we do the absolute best we can in the moment as the moments hurtle past. I found that (and still find it) comforting. I am so sorry you couldn't be with Estorbo at the end but maybe he picked his moment, thinking with his great heart that that might spare you some pain.

    time heals,
    Melanie

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  52. Having been through an enormous amount of loss over the past year, I so know how you feel about the loss of your cat. Big hugs

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  53. I have loved your kitty for a long long time and my heart is very heavy with the loss~ the sweet beautiful and most loving spirit of Estorbo will live on always in our hearts. I too have suffered two great losses in a very short period of time in my animal family this year and my heart goes out to you~ I so deeply feel your pain. Estorbo will always be bigger than life to me, such a truly beautiful and precious boy! Your blog has been my favorite since the first day I found it.

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  54. Marie,
    Just so very sorry for you and Vince. I always especially loved any post with Estorbo.
    Regards,
    Deirdre

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  55. I am so sorry. Condolences.

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  56. Having been away from your blog for several days, now just seeing the Estorbo has passed away, I express to you my sadness. Each of these creatures are so wonderfully unique and splendid for the short time we have them. They put such dents in the heart.

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