Checkers Is Home!

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Barb & Checkers (GA)

Member Since 2009
Checkers was born in a barn, seventeen years ago. His mama lost her life in the road, and it wasn't known that there were kittens in the barn, until they came staggering out, starved, dehydrated, and very sick.
They were brought next door to my DD, Susan, because she was a licensed wildlife rehabber. She took them to vet, and kept them.

Fast forward a few weeks.

She bamboozled me into babysitting, for “a week”, so she could go out of town.
I told her, “yeah, I’ll watch your dumb kittens, but don’t even hope I’ll keep one”.

My husband had died less than a year before, my mom had just died, and my little dog had lymphoma. I did not want annoying kittens around me!

OMIGOSH!
...These kitties gave me a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

They made me laugh, until I cried.
Checkers was the worst troublemaker of the two.

He ran up and down the drapes, the furniture, the countertops, the bookcases. They were in and out of the blinds.
If there was a box, his butt was hanging out of it, if the dog was eating, he shared it.
He loved to be on the back of my chair, nose in my hair. He loved freshly shampooed hair.
He loved to bat his stuffed mousies under the fridge, and came running, when he saw me pick up the yard stick, cause that meant, I was getting all his mousies out from under.
He dropped those silly mousies in his water.

He slept on the pillow next to mine, butt end facing me. I feared those big bunny feet!
He loved rough play with my son. How he could bunny kick! I never allowed his feet near my wrists, during play.

When I couldn’t find him, I just yelled “TUUUUNA”, and he came running…also the can opener brought him…every time. His little brother Clancy learned from him, to come for tuna, too. LOL

How I loved his sleek, smooth, shiny coat. I buried my nose in his fur, and inhaled deeply. I loved him so much, I couldn’t get enough of him.
Every night, for seventeen years, I kissed his head, and told him “Mommy loves you”, before I went to bed.


Thank you FDMB for being here for us, the last three years.
I deeply appreciate all the help, caring for him.
I could not have gotten through all the days and nights of fear, when he soared so high, or dropped so low, without all of you to hold my hand.
Thank you for celebrating with me, every time he had beautiful numbers, and was off the juice for 3 months, until dental infection, put him back on.

I am eternally grateful to you, my LL friends..

Barb


I put some photos in Photobucket, to show how he looked, young and healthy.

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Barbara ... y/Checkers
 
:YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG: ...what a beautiful tribute to a beautiful spirit. What a little imp he was!!! I'm not sure which picture I love best, but the picture of him and Samantha together...that expression on his face says it all :lol: !

In return, we are eternally thankful to have you, Barb, as part of our family. Much love and hugs...
 
((Barb)), thank you for sharing such beautiful and fun memories of Checkers. :YMHUG:
What a joy it is to see these photos! Checkers was something else!
Sending you love as you bring your sweet boy home ♥♥♥
 
What a character!! The photos tell the story almost as eloquently as you did. Checkers will be missed - not only by you but by many of us here.
 
(((((Barb)))))
Such precious pictures of Checkers. He was a character :lol: :lol:
Thanks so much for sharing them with us and for always being there for us too :YMHUG:
I am so very glad you have brought Checkers home ♥♥♥
 
Hi Barb. It's so nice to see you on the board. I loved your post, what a great story. After looking at the pictures is easy to see how you had to keep the kittens. What a cute kitty Checkers was. I love the photo where he is stealing some of the turkey on the table and his facial expression in the one you titled HE TOUCHED ME is priceless.

Thank you for sharing Checker's story and pictures.

Have a great evening Barb.
 
Barb, what a wonderful condo, a heartfelt story. So lovingly written. What a lucky kitty Checkers was, to have adopted you. Thank you for sharing this, it was wonderful.

It has been wonderful too to share this world we call LL with you for such a long time. It has been an honor.

I am so glad Checkers is home. The circle is now complete.
 
Bar, thanks for sharing Checkers' story with us - it was touching and loving and funny - brought all kinds of tears to my eyes! The pictures tell a thousand words. What a special relationship you shared! I'm glad he's home again - somehow I think he'll always be close by you.
 
((((Barb))))
Those pictures are priceless. Little Checkers was so cute, and all through his life he had the most expressive face. And what an acrobat he was in his younger years--climbing the 'fridge!! We are so glad that your boy is home with you. You have wonderful memories and I know that he will always be very close to you, watching over you.
You have been a good friend to Stu, Rusty and me. I hope that you will continue to visit LL. We will never forget Checkers.

Hugs and much love,

Ella & Rusty
 
Oh Barb.....thank you so much for posting more of Checkers story and those absolutely adorable photos. I know how much you is him.. He and Samantha were stunning?
 
(((Barb)))
Thank you for sharing the memories and photos of Checkers.
It made me smile that he was a funny little guy since he was a kitten.
Hugs to you. :YMHUG:
 
(((Barb))) What a beautiful tribute and story of how Checkers came into your life. I love all the pics, especially the one of him showing Samantha how much he loves her. Also eating the turkey! Lots of love and hugs to you. Please stay in touch.
 
She bamboozled me into babysitting, for “a week”, so she could go out of town.
I told her, “yeah, I’ll watch your dumb kittens, but don’t even hope I’ll keep one”.


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Did you not realize that you had the word sucker imprinted on your forehead and Checkers knew this!

Thanks for sharing your story of love!

Peace
 
Your post brought a smile to my face. I appreciate the story and the great memories you shared with us. I laughed out loud at the kitten Checkers climbing up the rope. The look of determination on his face :lol: And the one where he was standing up and reaching for his food up on the counter :smile: you must have had a camera ready.
I'm so glad that you (and Checkers) are a part of our family, Barb :YMHUG: I hope you come to visit us, very often.
 
What a wonderful tribute to Checkers. Barb, thank you for sharing the story of how he came to be with you and those wonderful pictures. You were blessed to have found each other. Sending hugs and prayers to you. :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
 
HI Barb,

Loved your story. I can relate. I have a cat who loves the smell of freshly shampooed hair, too. And I have a friend who call her cat Velcro because he climbs the drapes. Cats are so wonderful.

donaleen
 
I think this is the best kind of love story. A love that's unconditional, that fills your heart to overflowing, and that goes beyond a lifetime.
Thank you for putting so much love in the world, Barb and Checkers <3
 
What a special love you shared with a kitty that was such a character! And such awesome pictures. I'm so sorry for your loss, thanks so much for sharing your stories, they were so precious! Hugs to you :YMHUG:
 
Glad your boy is home with you, once again. The pictures are purrfect, just like Checkers. Thank you for sharing him with all of us. ((((Barb))))
 
What a sweet little post. I'm sure that just writing this was therapeutic. Remembering the beginning, thinking about all of checkers' little quirks, and sharing those with friends who can totally relate to the surprising unconditional love that comes when a little one enters your heart.

Charlie snuck into my life too. Details are in her profile. We hung onto each other as long as we could.
It's funny too because at the beginning, I was so sure I didn't want a cat. Charlie changed all that.

No doubt in my mind that both charlie and checkers are up at the great dinner table in the sky, sitting on the backs of chairs and waiting us to both join them for the great banquet!

Thank you for sharing your stories and pictures,
Jill
 
Happy landings, Checkers! Although your physical body is gone, your spirit lives on in those who love you! May you all find peace in your hearts.
 
(((Barb))) Thank you so much for sharing the photos and story of Checkers. He really was quite the rascal - no wonder you fell in love with him. I'm glad he's back home now where he belongs. :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
 
What adorable pictures! Checkers was a character. He was lucky to have a wonderful life with a great mom like you. Hugs...
 
(((Barb)))

I'm so glad that Checkers is back home with you, right where he belongs .. I loved the photos of checkers .. each one I saw I kept saying "oh now THAT one is my favorite" Then the next photo would come up and I'd say it over again! I love the baby kitten photo of checkers .. and I love the photo with gabby and checkers .. but I cracked up at the "he touched me" photo .. and I grinned at the magnet jumping photo .. loved the kibble reaching photo .. I guess I just loved them all! Thank you for sharing those photos with us ..
 
((Barb)) what an amazing tribute! Loved all the photos! Hope you are dong ok. I know the pain you must feel. My heart still aches for Scrabble. Big hugs! Take care.
 
What a wonderful story of how Checkers came to join your family. Lots of sweet memories there. Thank you for sharing that with all of us.

{{{{{Barb}}}}}
 
((((BARB)))) What a wonderful tribute to your sweet boy. It is so nice to see you on the board. I haven't been around much. We've had a hard year on LDMB and sometimes it is easier for me to take a break when the sadness gets overwhelming. It's like every kitty is my kitty. Know that I am thinking about you and hope you are doing well.
 
(((((BARB!!!))))) That was so wonderful and I loooooooove the pictures. What a great life you gave Checkers (and he gave you!) and such a fitting tribute for him. I'm happy you have that comfort of having him home now. Thank you so much for sharing.
 
Oh Barb, I've missed every news on LL these couple of weeks but glad I got Checkers home. I wish you are coping ok & do take care. Just remember our furry babies are always staying by our side, in another form.
 
(((( Barb ))))

Barb, I'm so sorry to learn of Checker's passing. It's so very hard to lose them.
I can relate to the yardstick story, that's a common occurrence in my household, too.
Hugs to you.
 
Checkers Is Home

(((Barb))) I'm glad Checkers is home with you. I hope you set up a nice place for him, maybe with candle and one of those great pictures you have of him. That way you can see that he is right there watching over you. (((((HUGS))))))
 
I really enjoyed your story of Checkers and OMG, those photographs are terrific! I laughed at him jumping for magnets because it looked like he was climbing straight up the refrigerator like SpiderMan. The look on his face was hysterical in the one called "he touched me!" You captured so many cute action shots. It was sweet how he was sniffing Gabby's hair. I loved that one. I agree with Devon, in that I kept saying to myself... now THIS one is my favorite... then I'd see another on and say, oh, wait, look at this one!

Thank you for sharing your memories of the amazing Checkers. He will always hold a special place in my heart too... because of you. I'm glad he is home with you now. I hope this will bring a little comfort to you. (((((((((Barb)))))))))
 
Those pictures are too danged adorable! Thank you for sharing! :-D I got a kick out of him on the countertop with the bird. :lol: I think he may have been saying... "JACKPOT!!!!!! ALLLL MINE!!!!!!" :lol:
 
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