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| Cinder began life at my cousin Sandy's kitty. Cinder was Sandy & Dewey's first "baby", then Andrew came along
and life was fine. When Cinder was about 10 Sandy developed severe allergies while
pregnant with her second son Alex. Sandy asked Aunt Ruth and Uncle Bernie to watch her "for just awhile"
until after Alex was born. She and the doctor had hoped that once the pregnancy was over she would return to
her normal state with cats. But, that was not to be. Sandy's reaction to cats remained very severe - and she loved
them so much. Cinder was spoiled rotten and loved it! She ruled the house and that was that. Angus was afraid of her and would walk a wide path just to stay out of her way, but she'd track the poor little guy down and swat him every time. He never understood because he had Pooh and Maxie at home and they loved him! When Diarmid came around in 1991 she just wasn't ready for this perky white bundle of fur who wanted to do nothing more than chase her around and play. Diarmid, like Angus, lived with Pooh and Maxie and thought all cats were there to play with. Cinder had other ideas - she would just go upstairs or behind the living room sofa and hide from him - after a resounding "hiss" that is! 7 years after she came for her "short visit", Cinder passed on to the Rainbow Bridge still living with Aunt Ruth and now 17+ years old. Cinder had gone on to be a very, very spoiled lady, living a long and healthy life as Uncle Bernies "baby girl". |
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Starlight, or otherwise known as Star, (shown above around 1998) was originally a birthday present from my Aunt Ruth and Cousin Nancy to Uncle Bernie. They had
gotten her from a pet place that specialized in rescue animals. It was a pet store for supplies and such, and
the cats were allowed free roam of the place during the day - interacting with the customers. In March, 1993
Star was about a seven months old. She had been found outside a place called the "Starlight Lounge", thus
her name. Uncle Bernie doted on her big time - so does Aunt Ruth. When Nancy was still alive that was her "sister" who she used to tell "dad always did like you best". Star would spend her days on the back of the sofa up in Nancy's sitting area looking out the window. In the years since Nancy's death she still went upstairs to Nancy's old space and sat on the sofa. She got along with cousin Bernie's dog Molly, but she doesn't quite understand Diarmid or Alexander or Bernie's new dog Belle. My two were raised around cats and now live with two kittens and love to chase and wrestle. She didn't understand the need for running around chasing her. She just didn't know how to play. She knew the sound of my car and ran upstairs to hide under the upstairs bed until the Boys leaves (she knows they won't go up there). Star liked to lay on the table in front of the front window (as evidenced in the above picture) and also in the sunbeams in the back yard. She had a 10-12 foot lead out the front door and the side door so that she could "choose" her view. As I said, spoiled! Hey there's even a door mat just inside the living room door that has a picture of a black and white cat and the word "Starlight" across the top. In Recent weeks she was feeling a bit run down, didn't want to eat or drink and was exhausted just getting up and down. Aunt Ruth took her to the vet and they kept her overnight, rehydrated her and put her on some antibiotics and other medications. She wasn't getting any better and was just slowly shutting down daily. She would let me pet her - which in her good days she would hiss at that one. On May 17th Aunt Ruth & Uncle Bernie made the choice to take her to the vet and help her pass to the Bridge. They knew she wasn't going to improve and just couldn't see her health fail further or be in pain. She will be missed very much. |
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Molly was
born on 2/21/88 and shortly thereafter became the youngest "child" of my cousin
Bernie and his family. Molly's "home" was usually on Amy's bed, sleeping with her "big sister"
every night. Molly was a minature Schnauzer, albeit a rather tall one, and forever into something. When Molly was at her grandma Ruth's house Cinder wasn't too thrilled. Cinder was never fond of Molly's barking, although she otherwise ignored her. She didn't pick on Molly like she did Angus (who was the most mellow of dogs) or Diarmid. She got to know the sounds of the various cars which conveyed these d*gs and would get out of the way before they could even be seen. Molly always barked and barked and barked when she saw you - not because she was unhappy, but until you petted her she wouldn't stop barking. Stop petting and the barking would start again (of course, until she got yelled at for it). Now her hearings was not all that great, so she didn't always realize someone came in, and the barking is quite delayed. Cousin Sheila kept her groomed (usually) so that she has a clean look. Amy has given me some pictures of Molly which you will find in the Cousin's Memorial page photogallery. Molly was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2000. The final report showed a mass in her ovary, abdomen and liver. It is non-operable and chemo would only make her sick. The vet and specialists only gave her about six months to live. For the next 1-1/2 years she spent her time with her family that loved her so much. She had her good days and bad ones, but she didn't appear to be in pain. Around Christmas she weaked more as the tumors increased. She began to have trouble standing and her pain was starting to show. With the loving help of her vet and her dad, brother and sister at her side Molly peacefully passed to the Rainbow Bridge on Tuesday, January 8, 2002. She has joined all her friends and cousins that have gone before and is again romping through the green fields of Heaven. We will miss you dear cousin! |
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 Rainbow Bridge
 
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