Michelle and Mannie (GA)
Very Active Member
Good Morning LL! 
Today is Mannie’s day…
It has been two years since Mannie crossed to the Bridge, and not a day goes by where I don’t think of him. And remember. Remember that day in the vet’s office when I first heard the word “diabetic”. Remember that first shot of insulin and hoping beyond belief that I’d survive this. Remember that first Hypo one month later. And the one after that. And the next one after that. We had three of those before I found FDMB. Remember that first home test and thinking how patient he as with me and my fumbling and trembling fingers, and being so thankful to FDMB. Remember what an incredible home tester he was, no matter how many tests I messed up. Remember those five wonderful years we had together as a team. Remember that day in the IM Vets office when he was so sick, and I heard those words “maybe two more weeks”. Remember that day two weeks later when I held him in my arms and said goodbye. But above all, remember what a privilege it was, pure joy, to be able to care for him. What a wonderful rewarding journey!
A few weeks ago I had been visiting condos, went to see how Ann and Tess’s kitty was doing, clicked on her SS bookmark I had, and what should appear? It was Mannie’s SS. A sign and a greeting from the Big Guy. I must have stared at that chart for ten minutes, and then I began to read…. All of it. OMG…. What a journey those five years were. What a journey it was two weeks ago when I reread it all. I ended up by reading his goodbye condo. I have to admit, the tears did flow, some from sadness, but most from amazement, wonder, joy. It is incredible to me, even two years later, how remarkable of a community we have here at FDMB. The support on that day was overwhelming for me, it still is, two years later. I will be forever grateful to all that have ever visited me and Mannie in Mannieland, and shared our incredible journey. I thank you all to this day.
So…. Today we celebrate. One incredible sugar cat, and one incredible group of people: FDMB. Life is a journey, make it the best that you can. Mannie and I are honored to be a part of it. Thank you for all the support over the past several years. For today, remember all the happiness and fun he brought to so many. A day of good cheer, fond memories. Party on! As it should be. Mannie said so.
I’ve included two condos that I hold close to my heart. I am so grateful to CD, who created this video for me, on the one year anniversary of Mannie’s crossing to the Bridge. I wanted to post it again today, as it really is so indicative of Mannie, and the kind of kitty he was. I’ve also included the link to the condo I posted a few days after Mannie’s Crossing, my remembrance of him. I hope you enjoy them, and that some of the quiet dignity and grace that made Mannie Mannie.
Here’s to you Big Guy. This day, and these memories, are for you. Miss you tons, but life is good too. As it should be, know you'd approve.
Mannie 1997-2013, his final condo
Mannie, One Year Ago Today...
One Year Ago Today….
by Michelle
Where does time go…. Has it really been a year? It is hard for me to fathom such a length of time when I think of Mannie. It seems like just the other day when I was poking and testing and calculating and feeding and shooting and charting …. and hoping. It seems like just yesterday that Mannie was so engrossed in those nanners. He LOVED those nanners! They were slept on, drooled on, cuddled, stacked and restacked, moved around to make the perfect sleeping bed, defended from the other civvies at all costs…. It seems like just yesterday that Mannie was basking in those sun beams, he was such a master at finding them all… It seems like just yesterday that Nicholas was Mannie’s best buddy and Mannie his, that those two were inseparable, that Nicholas shared his fuds, that Nicholas helped with Mannie’s testing, that Mannie watched over Nicholas while he slept. It all seems like it was just yesterday. It has been a year since Mannie left us for the Rainbow Bridge. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss him, yet remember him ever so fondly.
Mannie, I hope I did right by you. I hope every day that I did right by you. You never complained. Ever. Even when you were so sick, and we tried everything we could to help you. All those vetty trips, the meds and the pills, the extra shots of this that and whatever, the odd fuds, all those labs… yet you never companied. Ever. I hope I made the right decisions. It is something I wrestle with every time I think of those last few months, when I knew what the outcome would be. So many compounded illnesses…. What I can never forget about you was that through it all, you always were just you: the never ending purrs, the evening lap cuddles, the steals from the human’s breakfasts lunches and dinners and Nicholas, the outdoor kingdom that you patrolled every day until your last, those nanners, and that incredible bond between you and Nicholas. To this day Nicholas has not forgotten you, he still remembers – everything. I think of those last two weeks, especially those last two weeks, and hope that I did right by you. I know I gave it all I had. Could I have done more? Should I have? I let you be my guide, and with that thought I find comfort. You were so incredible. Full of quiet dignity and grace, what an example you set for us all. Thank you for being you, from the bottom on my heart.
Mannie was a shelter adoption. We adopted him after another furkid wandered off one day, leaving BJ alone. So after days of searching for Corky, we decided to adopt so BJ could have some much needed company, and brought Elsa and Mannie into our home. The laugh of the situation was that that wandering kitty returned 2 weeks later with that "so what's the big deal" look on his face. Mannie was my son's cat. When we went to the shelter for that meet and greet Mannie literally leaped into my eldest son's arms and purred and purred and purred. We knew then that he was meant to be with us. Home we went with the cutest tailless bundle of fluff. He was 8 months old then. There never was a dull moment with Mannie: a tree climber, dog chaser, ladder climber, cake eater, squirrel lover, sunbeam chaser, stray kitty adopter, chow hound, the memories are endless.... One day back in 1998 we knew something was wrong... after a long process we learned Mannie was Diabetic, and so began what turned out to be a rewarding journey. We grew so much as a team, Mannie and I. I would not trade any of it for anything. Mannie taught me patience, preference, team, compassion, understanding, acceptance, honesty. He taught me self-less unconditional love, giving and not asking anything in return, He taught me that life is a journey, keep on living, never look back, be true to who you are and remember that you can still have a life, even with diabetes. Thank you Big Guy, for everything.
One of the joys during the past three years was the arrival of Nicholas. He and Mannie had such an incredible bond. They were truly best friends. At first Mannie had no clue what that crying tiny thing was. He'd check him out, sit and watch from a distance. When things got a bit noisy off to the basement he'd go, relief from a crying baby. I'd find him creeping up stairs moments later to see if that noise maker had quieted some. So so cute, and so so Mannie. Over the course of two years those two learned to share, whether it be nanners, or fishie crackers or a nap or two. They looked for each other every day. It was such an incredible bond. Nicholas knows things are different now, but it was a difficult concept for him to understand as a two year old. He told me several times during the months that followed Mannie’s crossing that "Man-NIE now hap-PY" Yes, that he is. Happy. Nihcolas now knows Mannie resides in Mannie’s Garden, a special place out in the yard. He believes that Mannie loves his garden, and the Lola and Bug and Elsa tend to it, to make sure all stays well, and that Mannie is doing OK. He believes that Mannie plays there, chases sunbeams there, loves the flowers and all that grows there. Mannie – this young boy will always remember you. Always.
Mannie was larger than life. I always use to think of him as just my tailless bundle of fluff, such a cute loving fun stoic kitty. And then FD, and LL, and Mannie Lore entered the picture. FDMB, and all the wonderful people here enabled Mannie and I to grow as a team. I cannot thank you enough for that, all of it. Mannie Lore was incredible….. from his being the head chef in LL, to the KTSS, to the FDMB Olympic Diving Champ, to the President and CEO of the CPC, to the charter member of Nanner Anonymous, to the activities director, to the Nanner King, to the Rainbow bandit, to the creator of the Treehouse, the developer of the kitty bus, the roadster, the wheelies in Tarragon’s driveway, and more. I remember one day posting that he had made my coffee…. The next thing I know here he is running his own barista business. And the fuds dance. Remember the fuds dance? And the Remembrance Circle… what a wonderful thing that is. Mannie Lore just grew and grew. He became larger than life. So many here have described him as such. I think he was…. From the origins of Mannie Lore, to his just being who he was: tackling all with quiet dignity and grace.
Mannie, I will remember you today with much joy in my heart. I hope all will. He is no doubt having the time of his life at the Bridge, celebrating life with all his friends, human and furry. Remember him fondly today. No sadness or tears, or unhappiness. Remember all the happiness and fun he brought to so many. A day of good cheer, fond memories. Party on! As it should be. Mannie said so.
Here’s to you Big Guy! Always remembered, never forgotten.
Today is Mannie’s day…
It has been two years since Mannie crossed to the Bridge, and not a day goes by where I don’t think of him. And remember. Remember that day in the vet’s office when I first heard the word “diabetic”. Remember that first shot of insulin and hoping beyond belief that I’d survive this. Remember that first Hypo one month later. And the one after that. And the next one after that. We had three of those before I found FDMB. Remember that first home test and thinking how patient he as with me and my fumbling and trembling fingers, and being so thankful to FDMB. Remember what an incredible home tester he was, no matter how many tests I messed up. Remember those five wonderful years we had together as a team. Remember that day in the IM Vets office when he was so sick, and I heard those words “maybe two more weeks”. Remember that day two weeks later when I held him in my arms and said goodbye. But above all, remember what a privilege it was, pure joy, to be able to care for him. What a wonderful rewarding journey!
A few weeks ago I had been visiting condos, went to see how Ann and Tess’s kitty was doing, clicked on her SS bookmark I had, and what should appear? It was Mannie’s SS. A sign and a greeting from the Big Guy. I must have stared at that chart for ten minutes, and then I began to read…. All of it. OMG…. What a journey those five years were. What a journey it was two weeks ago when I reread it all. I ended up by reading his goodbye condo. I have to admit, the tears did flow, some from sadness, but most from amazement, wonder, joy. It is incredible to me, even two years later, how remarkable of a community we have here at FDMB. The support on that day was overwhelming for me, it still is, two years later. I will be forever grateful to all that have ever visited me and Mannie in Mannieland, and shared our incredible journey. I thank you all to this day.
So…. Today we celebrate. One incredible sugar cat, and one incredible group of people: FDMB. Life is a journey, make it the best that you can. Mannie and I are honored to be a part of it. Thank you for all the support over the past several years. For today, remember all the happiness and fun he brought to so many. A day of good cheer, fond memories. Party on! As it should be. Mannie said so.
I’ve included two condos that I hold close to my heart. I am so grateful to CD, who created this video for me, on the one year anniversary of Mannie’s crossing to the Bridge. I wanted to post it again today, as it really is so indicative of Mannie, and the kind of kitty he was. I’ve also included the link to the condo I posted a few days after Mannie’s Crossing, my remembrance of him. I hope you enjoy them, and that some of the quiet dignity and grace that made Mannie Mannie.
Here’s to you Big Guy. This day, and these memories, are for you. Miss you tons, but life is good too. As it should be, know you'd approve.
Mannie 1997-2013, his final condo
One Year Ago Today….
by Michelle
Where does time go…. Has it really been a year? It is hard for me to fathom such a length of time when I think of Mannie. It seems like just the other day when I was poking and testing and calculating and feeding and shooting and charting …. and hoping. It seems like just yesterday that Mannie was so engrossed in those nanners. He LOVED those nanners! They were slept on, drooled on, cuddled, stacked and restacked, moved around to make the perfect sleeping bed, defended from the other civvies at all costs…. It seems like just yesterday that Mannie was basking in those sun beams, he was such a master at finding them all… It seems like just yesterday that Nicholas was Mannie’s best buddy and Mannie his, that those two were inseparable, that Nicholas shared his fuds, that Nicholas helped with Mannie’s testing, that Mannie watched over Nicholas while he slept. It all seems like it was just yesterday. It has been a year since Mannie left us for the Rainbow Bridge. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss him, yet remember him ever so fondly.
Mannie, I hope I did right by you. I hope every day that I did right by you. You never complained. Ever. Even when you were so sick, and we tried everything we could to help you. All those vetty trips, the meds and the pills, the extra shots of this that and whatever, the odd fuds, all those labs… yet you never companied. Ever. I hope I made the right decisions. It is something I wrestle with every time I think of those last few months, when I knew what the outcome would be. So many compounded illnesses…. What I can never forget about you was that through it all, you always were just you: the never ending purrs, the evening lap cuddles, the steals from the human’s breakfasts lunches and dinners and Nicholas, the outdoor kingdom that you patrolled every day until your last, those nanners, and that incredible bond between you and Nicholas. To this day Nicholas has not forgotten you, he still remembers – everything. I think of those last two weeks, especially those last two weeks, and hope that I did right by you. I know I gave it all I had. Could I have done more? Should I have? I let you be my guide, and with that thought I find comfort. You were so incredible. Full of quiet dignity and grace, what an example you set for us all. Thank you for being you, from the bottom on my heart.
Mannie was a shelter adoption. We adopted him after another furkid wandered off one day, leaving BJ alone. So after days of searching for Corky, we decided to adopt so BJ could have some much needed company, and brought Elsa and Mannie into our home. The laugh of the situation was that that wandering kitty returned 2 weeks later with that "so what's the big deal" look on his face. Mannie was my son's cat. When we went to the shelter for that meet and greet Mannie literally leaped into my eldest son's arms and purred and purred and purred. We knew then that he was meant to be with us. Home we went with the cutest tailless bundle of fluff. He was 8 months old then. There never was a dull moment with Mannie: a tree climber, dog chaser, ladder climber, cake eater, squirrel lover, sunbeam chaser, stray kitty adopter, chow hound, the memories are endless.... One day back in 1998 we knew something was wrong... after a long process we learned Mannie was Diabetic, and so began what turned out to be a rewarding journey. We grew so much as a team, Mannie and I. I would not trade any of it for anything. Mannie taught me patience, preference, team, compassion, understanding, acceptance, honesty. He taught me self-less unconditional love, giving and not asking anything in return, He taught me that life is a journey, keep on living, never look back, be true to who you are and remember that you can still have a life, even with diabetes. Thank you Big Guy, for everything.
One of the joys during the past three years was the arrival of Nicholas. He and Mannie had such an incredible bond. They were truly best friends. At first Mannie had no clue what that crying tiny thing was. He'd check him out, sit and watch from a distance. When things got a bit noisy off to the basement he'd go, relief from a crying baby. I'd find him creeping up stairs moments later to see if that noise maker had quieted some. So so cute, and so so Mannie. Over the course of two years those two learned to share, whether it be nanners, or fishie crackers or a nap or two. They looked for each other every day. It was such an incredible bond. Nicholas knows things are different now, but it was a difficult concept for him to understand as a two year old. He told me several times during the months that followed Mannie’s crossing that "Man-NIE now hap-PY" Yes, that he is. Happy. Nihcolas now knows Mannie resides in Mannie’s Garden, a special place out in the yard. He believes that Mannie loves his garden, and the Lola and Bug and Elsa tend to it, to make sure all stays well, and that Mannie is doing OK. He believes that Mannie plays there, chases sunbeams there, loves the flowers and all that grows there. Mannie – this young boy will always remember you. Always.
Mannie was larger than life. I always use to think of him as just my tailless bundle of fluff, such a cute loving fun stoic kitty. And then FD, and LL, and Mannie Lore entered the picture. FDMB, and all the wonderful people here enabled Mannie and I to grow as a team. I cannot thank you enough for that, all of it. Mannie Lore was incredible….. from his being the head chef in LL, to the KTSS, to the FDMB Olympic Diving Champ, to the President and CEO of the CPC, to the charter member of Nanner Anonymous, to the activities director, to the Nanner King, to the Rainbow bandit, to the creator of the Treehouse, the developer of the kitty bus, the roadster, the wheelies in Tarragon’s driveway, and more. I remember one day posting that he had made my coffee…. The next thing I know here he is running his own barista business. And the fuds dance. Remember the fuds dance? And the Remembrance Circle… what a wonderful thing that is. Mannie Lore just grew and grew. He became larger than life. So many here have described him as such. I think he was…. From the origins of Mannie Lore, to his just being who he was: tackling all with quiet dignity and grace.
Mannie, I will remember you today with much joy in my heart. I hope all will. He is no doubt having the time of his life at the Bridge, celebrating life with all his friends, human and furry. Remember him fondly today. No sadness or tears, or unhappiness. Remember all the happiness and fun he brought to so many. A day of good cheer, fond memories. Party on! As it should be. Mannie said so.
Here’s to you Big Guy! Always remembered, never forgotten.
- "To have loved and then said farewell is better than to have never loved at all.
For all of the times that you stooped and touched my head, fed me my favorite treat and returned the love that I so unconditionally gave to you.
For the care that you gave to me so unselfishly.
For all of these things I am grateful and thankful. I ask that you grieve not for the loss but rejoice in the fact that we lived, loved and touched each other's lives.
My life was fuller because you were there, not as owner, but as my friend. Today, I am as I was in my youth.
The grass is always green, butterflies flit among the flowers and the sun shines gently down upon all of God's creatures.
I can run, jump and play and do all of the things that I did in my youth. There is no sickness, no aching joints and no regrets and no aging.
We await the arrival of our lifelong companions and know that togetherness is forever. You live in our hearts as we do in yours.
Companions such as you are very rare and unique. Don't hold the love that you have within yourself.
Give it to another like me and then I will live forever. For love never really dies, and you are loved and missed as surely as we are."
♥ ♥ ♥
) Some of the first posts I read were from you- that's how I discovered what it meant to be GA, CPC, and a Naner King- I had no clue! I was also surprised to realize that you live so close to me, small world! 
).
Can it have been two years since Mannie crossed, and six months since Zener crossed and so many whatevers since so many of our beloved sweet kitties have crossed? I hope we can be where you are in remembering and celebrating Mannie one day in the near future. We still get so sad when these sorts of anniversaries come for other kitties who are now GA, and when new kitties cross the bridge.
