GA Rosie is flying free

Yesterday, Rosie left for the bridge, in the lap of her favorite bean--Son Bean--in a most loved armchair. It was peaceful. Appropriately enough, the wild roses that edge the woods all around the house began blooming yesterday, so the house was fragrant with the scent of her namesake flowers. We've been kind of in hiding ever since although I tried twice to come here earlier. Of course, I keep hearing her everywhere and jumping up thinking it is time to test or feed or--as in latter days, make sure she hasn't peed in the hallway.

She had been going downhill fast, but even at the end, I think she was uncomfortable less than 1/3 of the time, but it was catching up rapidly. She enjoyed a day and a half of bowls of her favorite treats--freeze-dried chicken, turkey and salmon. I left them in spots I knew she would frequent. She had lots of yogurt, gravy foods and whatever struck her fancy. And with all that, she was down in the greens, even on the 1/4 unit we reduced her to--just to be safe.

When I looked at the number of pee pads, diapers and blankets I had all over the place, I truly realized how we had been accommodating a little more each day. And that's how it creeps up on you.

I have not been able to go back into my writing office because she was almost always there with me and I'm not ready for that without her yet.

Thank you so very much to everyone here who made the process of helping her get her BG in control so much more pleasant than it might have been. And for being there at the end when it was hardest.

Here are a few pictures, including Basil. I know she would want you to see her beautiful colors when she was younger and still a bright redhead!

The first is of those two kittens who came home with us. If you click, they should be available larger.



For the first time since 1996, there are no pets in our house. Looking at pictures today of when we had two dogs as well as Rosie and Basil, I remembered how ACTIVE everyone was. Rosie had gotten very sedate and quiet, but we loved her every bit as much--more--than when she was a youngster.

 

You were so kind to your kitty. Thinking of you and yours.

 

She is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing your experience of yesterday and these beautiful pictures.. I think that she was as truly blessed to have you as you were to have her. It sounds like a lovely day yesterday and a beautiful way to say goodbye. I know how hard it is..

Sending you and your family so much love and light- and I know Rosie is smiling down on you as she enjoys being reunited with Basil.

 

Hugs, Lydia.... She was a beautiful girl and she will be watching over you!
Fly free, Rosie

 

Sending Hugs and Prayers to you and your family. What a beautiful thing it was that the roses bloomed on the day that she passed. She and Basil are united again at the bridge. I hope she sends you a sign.

 

Lydia
What beautiful babies
I am so sorry that it was time for sweet Rosie to cross. You gave her such wonderful care.
It is strange how we don't realize how much we are doing when we love them so much and would do it all again.
Fly free Rosie and land softly.
Sending tons of comfort and heartfelt sympathy to you and your family.

 

Thank you Lydia for sharing that with us. I ve been thinking of you and Rosie yesterday. Rosie say hello to all my kitty angels up there. A lot of for you Lydia

 

Bless you. It is so hard to loose our family we love them so much.

 

So nice that you honoured her favourite things. My condolences.

 

Thank you for sharing Rosie with us. She will always be remembered. Sending prayers to you and your family. Fly free sweet Rosie.

 

{{{Lydia}}}

We were all thinking of you yesterday. I'm so glad Rosie's last days with you were happy ones. So special that the roses bloomed to honor her. You made the most loving, unselfish decision in letting her go before she really began to suffer. It takes a very strong, kind person to do that, when all you want to do is hold them and never let go.

I know she is happy to be reunited with her beloved Basil. What adorable babies they were, and grew into lovely cats. Rosie was very memorable - such a free, adventuresome spirit she had. The Bridge will be a much livelier place with her there!

After we set Cinco free, I came home and looked at the wall to wall pee pads in my family room and thought the same thing. It took me a little while before I could bear to gather them all up. I, too, would do it all again.

Fly free, sweet Rosie, and land softly.

 

I could not imagine a world without kitties!!!! Thank you for sharing for the wonderful pictures of Rosie & Basil. My what a lovely addition they must of been to your family! and many more to you!

 

Such beautiful pictures! I'm sorry it was Rosie's time to cross, but she and Basil are together waiting until you will all be together again. Hugs, prayers, and our deepest sympathies to you....

 

I am so sorry it was Rosie's time to go to the Rainbow Bridge. Her final days were filled with love and treats and to sit on her favourite bean's lap to take the journey would have made her feel very content.

 

No words yet Lydia..just tears... but know that you're in my heart

Fly free sweet Rosie...You will be missed by so many

 

(((((Lydia))))))

Seeing your photos of Rosie, it is striking how much she resembled my calico, George. (His photo is in my profile.) There is something about those tricolor kitties that at least for me, makes them very special. You have been such a good and caring bean for both Basil and Rosie. I'm glad she crossed the Bridge in peace with those who love her surrounding her.

Fly free sweet Rosie and land softly. Look for Gabby on the other side. She has an affection for calico kitties -- George was her best friend.

 

I'm so sorry. Rosie had a great life with you. I'm sure the house feel very empty.
Liz

 

Lydia, my heart hurts for you and your family. Thank you for the posting the photos. Rosie was so beautiful!! Many Big hugs!!

 

Lydia I can't express how sorry I am for the loss of sweet Rosie. She sure did make the days around here quite exciting. She'll always be remembered. Rest peacefully sweet girl

 

{{{{Lydia and family}}}} I am so sorry it was Rosie's time to cross. Thank you for sharing your last moments with her with us. How appropriate that the wild roses started blooming to escort Rosie to the Bridge where she could see her Basil again. The skies were very bright here last night - I think I saw a new tricolour one. Such beautiful babies.

 

(((((Lydia)))) I am so sorry for the loss of your dear sweet Rosie. Those are such wonderful pictures of Rosie an Basil, such beautiful memories, your post brought tears to my eyes. It was almost one year ago that I had to say goodbye to my sweet little girl Tiger, and like you, for the first time in over 20 years, I found myself with no cats in the house- it was devastating........ I am sending you my strongest healing and comfort vines and prayers--maybe someday a super lucky kitten or two could find their way into your home as I can tell that would be their luckiest break ever!

 

So sorry Rosie had to leave. Hugs and prayers for you and your family.

 

I'm so sorry it was time for Rosie to cross. But how lovely that the roses bloomed for her as she crossed. Thank you for posting the pictures; Rosie was a beautiful kitty. Lots of hugs to you and your family.

 

Dearest Lydia~ Rosie's presence will be so miss here on the boards. Hers was a personality bigger than life with a loving and devoted family and a momma that understood how important all the girlie things were. She made all the Full Moon parties so much fun with her antics and post party tales to tell and she was just everyone's gal! My heart is heavy for you and your family and I hope that in time you will be able to smile when you think of her and find solace in her being so loved by so many. Thanks for sharing her with us. Sending lots and lots of hugs

 

She was so loved, my deepest sympathies to you and your family

RIP Contessa Rosie - I think there is no doubt that she truely was royalty to make those roses bloom for you.

 

Dear Lydia...I cannot express the sorrow I feel for you and you family . There are no words when your kindred spirit has crossed into the next phase. I cry for your and I cry with you. Rosie is now pain free..although your pain is still very sharp right now..just know that all your love gave Rosie the most loving crossing,,,,

 

Goodbye sweet Rosie. Fly free and land softly.

I'm so sorry for your loss Lydia. My thoughts are with you and your family

 

Lydia, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I admire your courage in facing her illness. I know what you mean about not being able to go to certain places in the house. I distinctly recall the moment I said to my husband "I am not doing well. I cannot sit down because my lap will not be filled" It was important to admit. It helped to say it out loud. Blessings to you.

 

Welcome to the Rainbow Bridge dear sweet Rosie. Be sure and send a sign to your beloved bean when you are able.

Anne

 

I'm so sorry ((((Lydia)))))
It's a hard hard thing we have to do.....but the love shared is such a precious gift. And you will see her again some day and be with her forever.
Fly Free Rosie...

 

So very sorry for your loss.

 

Dear Lydia, DH, and grown-up children,
Rosie is flying free and we know that there was a wonderful celebration at the Bridge when she arrived. Mannie and Stu prepared a welcome banquet in their Two Chefs Bridge Kitchen, and all the GAs were there to greet her. Basil hugged his sister.
Here in L&LL we will always remember Rosie as a breath of fresh air. I am so happy that the roses in your garden bloomed to let you know that Rosie arrived safely at her destination.
Thank you for those lovely pictures and for sharing your wonderful girl with us. We loved her, too.

In deepest sympathy,
Ella & Edward, Rusty, and Stu (GA)

 

Lydia, thanks for sharing so much of Rosie's story. I loved the pictures of her and Basil - they are so sweet together. Obviously bonded and very much in love. I'm so sorry she had to leave . . . they never stay with us long enough.

Fly free sweet Rosie, and land softly. You are cherished and so very missed.

 

((((((((((Lydia, DH, and Son bean))))))))))

Fly free sweet little Rosie... land softly.

 

My deepest condolences Lydia to you and your family on the loss of your sweet Rosie. How apt that the roses bloomed to send her on her way to the Rainbow Bridge. Fly free and land softly beautiful Rosie.

 

Lydia, I am so, so sorry for your loss. How perfect her namesake's flowers bloomed for her, to help send her on a soft cloud of sweet scent to meet all the kitties waiting for her at the Bridge! While we grieve for the loss of our dear friend, others are rejoicing to meet her at the Rainbow Bridge. Fly free, sweet Rosie, and land softly back in your loving family's heart

 

((((Lydia)))))

I am just seeing this now.

I am so sorry for your family's loss.

Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos of Rosie and Basil.

I am glad that Rosie passed in the arms of her favourite bean, she knows that she was loved of that I am sure. So like the Contessa to send you a sign of roses in bloom. I can see her now creating a stir at the bridge

I hope that time will ease the pain for you all.
We will all miss Rosie and her anticss.

 

Lydia, I am so sorry for your loss. It is never easy saying goodbye. Hugs to you. The photos are wonderful. I hope those, and the memories will be of comfort. Fly free Rosie, land softly at the Bridge.

 

((((Lydia and family))))

Letting go is the toughest but greatest gift we can give. Rosie was so beautiful and so well loved. I know those words will not bring you comfort but it is so true and she will take that to the Rainbow Bridge and wait for you to join her and Basil. For her, it will be just the blink of an eye.

Fly free, sweet Rosie. Forever loved by your mama.

 

I'm so sorry that it was Rosie's time to cross. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts.

 

I'm so sorry.

 

Sending my deepest condolences to you and your family, Lydia. What a wonderful life she had...now she is with her beloved Basil. Thank you for sharing those pics...she really did have such a beautiful, intense red on her coat!

Dawn

 

I am so sorry for your loss, Lydia. Rosie was such a lucky girl that she had you and your family as her beans. Basil and her were beautiful cats - thank you so much for sharing those pictures with us. She is with her brother now and I am sure that she is wearing new sparkly boots and being the life of the party at the rainbow bridge.

 

I'm so sorry it was Rosie's time to cross. I know she loved you as much as you loved her. She and Basil are reunited at the Bridge and I'm sure the Contessa is planning some shenanigans for all our other beloved GAs.

 

Kind friends, again, thank you so much. I have been reading every word in this thread. I can't bring myself to empty her last water bowl. I know, it's silly. I decided I would use it today to water my favorite house plant.

 

No words just lots of these

 

Huge hugs Lydia

 

It's not silly at all. Sending more prayers and hugs.

 

Just know how much you , DH, DS and Rosie are in all our thoughts! And what a great thing to do with her water.

 

Not silly at all! I think it's just continuing her to give nourishment to something alive. I hope that your heart will heal in time Lydia.

 

I'm So sorry Lydia...and I so understand the water thing, I still have KT's last numbers on the whiteboard. Remember, she's not gone, you just have to hug her differently.

Soar high on your new angel wings sweet girl...landing softly back in Mama's broken heart.

HUGE BIG LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG Hug,

 

I'm so very sorry for your loss, Lydia and family.

Such lovely photos of two very loved kitties ((((hugs))))