Elvis has left the building.
We put Elvis to sleep last Tuesday.
It was time.
She had not been eating well and she just wound down and down… Even after Paul had a very serious conversation where he explained to her: earth is for eaters; if you don’t eat, you can’t stay… nonconformists will not be tolerated.
The hospice vet came to the house in the morning. We held her on our bed, on her favorite blanket. We told her that she didnāt have to be afraid, and that we loved her more than anything, and she willĀ always still be here, right in our hearts, forever.
Elvis’s head was on my shoulder when she died. I hope she didnāt know what was happening.
An hour later we took her to be cremated.
We took her all the way to the machine because my heart hurt to think of her being alone, or with strangers; and I wanted to be with her as far as I couldā¦ I don’t think she knows any of that. But it mattered a lot to me.
Then we waited for her ashes and took her back home.
She’s got a little shrine right now, with lots of flowers from the garden, and her fuzzy ball, and the small dish of whiskers she shed/I found over the last 12 years.
Itās on the spot on the rug where she would RUN, as soon as you walked in the door; she would start doing her aerobics because she wasĀ so excited that you were going to pet her…Ā At night she comes upstairs to the bedside table.
When I’m ready she’ll get moved to the Elvis Memorial Library. (Previously known as Cleveland bookcase)
For twelve years, Elvis was basically half of myself, soĀ I expected to be sad. Really sad. Debilitatingly sad. But I didn’t understand the actual FRANTIC physical sensation of missing her. Wanting to pick her up and feel her fur and talk to her and hear her purry chirp.
And I would like to say officially: THIS IS A HORRIBLE SYSTEM.
How has humanity not just curled up and died from incurable loss?
I literally do not comprehend how people survive when it is human family.
Iāve been camped out in my tent of sadness… it was really unmanageable at firstā the tent kept collapsing and trying to suffocate me.
But I think now Iāve got it packed into something more wheelbarrow-sized, which is nice and convenient because it’s portable, so when youĀ have a breakdown outside your house, you have all the supplies.
Making this video was helpful, but also so sad… I can’t believe she’s really gone.
*If you can’t watch the video, try reloading the page, or being sure that you aren’t inside of the Facebook app… it seems to break the video.
I miss everything about her. Our conversations. Her smell. Her chirp. Her smoochy face. Her white feeties. Her wompy ear.
But I know she had a wonderful life and THE MOST LOVE, and that’s really the best that any of us can hope for in this life.
August 9, 2016 @ 2:01 pm
I’m so sorry Vicky. We are similar in this respect and I too have two pets that are my everything. I smother them with love and I don’t think it’s very healthy but I can’t help myself. They are the children that I so much desire but don’t have. They are my life and the thought of losing them brings tears to my eyes as did this post. Be strong. What a lucky girl Elvis was to have two loving parents <3 RIP little one.
August 9, 2016 @ 2:04 pm
I’m crying, and I never got to meet Elvis
August 9, 2016 @ 2:06 pm
Great tribute video but sooo hard to watch! Remember what Agent K said in MIB ” Elvis isn’t dead, he’s left the planet” and now your beloved Elvis has joined him ?.
August 9, 2016 @ 2:09 pm
Prayers for healing and peace. When we had to have our cat Elvira put to sleep we cried for days, as we had her for 23 years. It is just as hard when we loss a 4 legged family member as it is a 2 legged family member.
August 9, 2016 @ 2:10 pm
I’m so sorry. It gets better. I lost my sweetest girl a year ago this week. She was 15. I feel your pain and the empty sadness that fills up our lives when they go.
August 9, 2016 @ 2:30 pm
I’m soooo sorry. I put my little furry girl to sleep just over a year ago., and the panic does eventually ease. It leaves an ache behind, of course it does. But there are smiley, laughing moments of memory too, and those are much lighter to carry around with you. She will be with you forever, not in the way you might have wished, but there just the same – always loved, every minute.
August 9, 2016 @ 2:36 pm
While we all knew it was coming, I am so sad to hear Elvis has passed on. More than the funny stories, Craigslist scores and remodeling updates, I most enjoyed reading about and seeing Elvis. She was a unique and beautiful soul.
I understand the panic, having lost my own Heaven sent babies (dogs). It’s the worst pain in the world and it makes me, too, question the entire nature of this reality. The only thing that makes it better is time and knowing that you guys and Elvis were graced with belonging to and loving each each other while in this realm. To love like that is the best it gets and the entire reason for being here. I’m pretty sure you’ll be together, again.
*hugs*
August 9, 2016 @ 2:43 pm
Oh, Victoria, I am so sorry for your loss. Elvis has always reminded me of my Shamu, who was also a tuxedo cat. They were probably related, as Shamu had a heart on his paw. ( I too had a stroller just for him.) I cried all the way through your video of the good times that ya’ll shared together. I know you will miss her. Please find comfort in knowing she will be missed by all of us cat lovers. She was a true sweetheart.
Maureen
August 9, 2016 @ 2:43 pm
I have been following your posts for years now, but this is the first time I’ve ever responded to one. As all of us pet lovers realize they are not just pets, but are our cherished family member, heart-mate, and best friends. And when we lose them, we grieve, just like if we lost a human. I know from experience your sadness will diminish in time. You have a memorial bookcase, I chose to have a memorial garden. Each of my beloveds has a beautiful flowering tree over them, and when they bloom each spring, it brings a smile and good memory back to me. As many others have stated when the time is right (and you know when it will be), please rescue another. There are so many out there that are waiting for love. After we lost our Sweet Sadie, we were blessed enough to find 2 sisters that had been abused, neglected, and deprived. It took awhile but they were eventually able to accept our love, and become the beautiful beings that they are. People tell me how wonderful that we rescued these two, I tell them we didn’t rescue them, they rescued us when we needed it most. Peace and good thoughts to the both of you.
August 9, 2016 @ 2:47 pm
What a beautiful tribute, I am weeping and must postpone watching your video right now. You are absolutely right, THE MOST LOVE, it’s all we can hope for. I don’t have any wise words, but to say that us humans, we adapt. The grief gets so that it’s easier to carry, and the good things get easier to remember without so many tears. Thank you for sharing with us. And I hope all the goodwill and kind thoughts buoy you.
August 9, 2016 @ 2:52 pm
I’m sure Elvis is in kitty heaven right now picking out anothe little kitty for you to love.
You never know who might come into your life to love, although another kitty will never take the place of your sweet Elvis.
August 9, 2016 @ 2:57 pm
I am so sorry for your loss. It is devastating. Be kind to yourself as you grieve.
August 9, 2016 @ 2:58 pm
What a beautiful tribute to the love you shared. I am so very sorry for your loss.
August 9, 2016 @ 3:05 pm
Ooh I am so sorry for your loss!
August 9, 2016 @ 3:07 pm
My heart breaks for you and Paul. She lived a life full of love, affection and attitude. I love her little heart shaped beauty spot. My deepest sympathies.
August 9, 2016 @ 3:10 pm
What a beautiful tribute video. I’m sure it was difficult for you to put together and I, for one, truly appreciate your sharing it with your online peeps. It is obvious, from the video, what a place Elvis had in your life. How fortunate we are when our cats choose to love and live with us; how crushingly sad it is for us when they pass. My heart goes out to both of you.
August 9, 2016 @ 3:14 pm
I am sorry for your loss. The price of love is grief. The gift of love is memory.
August 9, 2016 @ 3:24 pm
Crying with you.
August 9, 2016 @ 3:27 pm
I have sad tears in my eyes hearing this. I am so very sorry for the loss of your beloved family member. Sending you and your family heart healing prayers. She is playing happy and healthy on the bridge now and you will see her again. Gods Blessings to you.
August 9, 2016 @ 3:29 pm
I’m so sorry. I lost my dad, it’s hard. Maybe kissing a cat isn’t as hard, but even half of what I felt is beyond devastating. Every time one of my animals is sick to the point of needing a vet (which is a couple times a year) I try to imagine our lives without them and it hurts really really bad. So you have my deepest sympathies.