Lucy's Tribute

It has been 2 weeks since I said goodbye to my sweet Lucy, and I miss her immensely.
Previous condo - Lucy's last day.

I remember the first time we met.
It was July 26th, 2000 -- my birthday.
My boyfriend at the time, Dave, invited me to his apartment for the first time after my birthday dinner, and while we were talking, I noticed this fluffy thing staring at me intently.
I’d like to say it was love at first sight, but it wasn’t.
It’s crazy but he never mentioned he had a cat, so she caught me by surprise, and I just thought “Oh, cat!”.
I always loved animal, but I wasn’t particularly a cat person then, you know?

In fall that year, I moved in with Dave and Lucy to his apartment, which I still live in to this day.
And Lucy and I became playmates.
I’d tie her favorite bumble bee toy to a string, and drag it around the apartment, and Lucy would stalk it and attack it.
She also loved being chased. We had such fun chasing and being chased by each other, running down the hallway. Her favorite game was to start from a peek-a-boo, and end with one of us chasing the other into the bedroom.
And then we’d play some more with a feather toy on a stick.
Lucy loved playing with me, but she never cuddled with me at first.
I so wanted to cuddle with her, but Lucy always went to Dave for some cuddly time.
Oh I was so jealous!!!

I remember the first time she snuggled and cuddled with me.
It was the Christmas time that year.
Dave went to Okanagan to spend the Christmas holiday with his mom, but I couldn’t go because of work, and it was just Lucy and me.
I was sleeping and Lucy climbed on me and slept on me, purring.
It made me so happy!!!
Within a few months, we were inseparable.
And our bond grew stronger every year.

I was told that Lucy was a very sick kitten when she was first adopted by Dave’s old roommate from the SPCA.
And she always had something going on - asthma, IBD, upper respiratory issue, liver issue, chronic pancreatitis, diabetes, CKD, until pancreatic and liver cancer finally took her.
Through them all, she never stopped giving me love and healing.
She knew exactly when I needed some love and cuddle and when I needed to work or was busy.
She came to bed with me and snuggled up on my chest purring, but at exactly the right moment as I was falling asleep, she stepped down and curled up next to me.

Everyone who knew us said Lucy was a lucky cat to have me as her caregiver.
Although I appreciated the comment, I always knew that it was me who was lucky.
I knew that Lucy was taking care of me too. I really felt that she thought it was her job to make sure I was OK.
She always observed me with that questioning look on her face whenever I was sick or sad.
And she’d come and cuddle with me, which always made everything OK.
She was always so careful not to hurt me.
Even when she was attacking and throwing some kitty punches at Ginger, I only had to insert my hand in between them and Lucy froze in mid-strike.
Whenever she accidentally bit my hand at the vet, she always quickly licked where she bit even while on her back being poked or shaved.

The relationship between Lucy and me was mutual, beyond species difference.
She was more than a furbaby to me, and I was more than a mom to her.
We were each other’s best friend, guardian, teacher and healer.

My friend said something sweet the other day.
I don’t know if any of you remember, but I posted about my friend Paul and his cat Grendel when Grendel passed the end of last year.
Paul said, Lucy made him want to adopt a cat himself, and he got Grendel, which motivated his friend to adopt 2 cats, Buster and Lilla.
Lucy made me want to have another cat, so I adopted Ginger.
Seeing me and Lucy and Ginger, my friend adopted her cat, Kuro.
Lucy saved 5 other cats out of their shelters.

I would like to thank my LL family again for all your love and support.
On her last day, I re-read everyone’s comment in her condo, and that kept me strong.
Without your support and guidance, I couldn’t have cared for Lucy as well as I did.
Without your friendship and love, we couldn’t have had such a peaceful goodbye.

Lucy - Thank you very much for coming into my life.
I loved every moment we spent together.
I know you stayed in your broken and painful body for as long as you could to be with me, and that’s more than anyone has ever done for me.
You are my soul mate, I love you so much and I will always always love you.

Only picture of kitten Lucy before we met.
My beautiful Lucy & some more photos.
Lucy's reiki practitioner did a crystal grid to help her transition on the day she passed.

 

(((((Mariko)))))
What a beautiful tribute for your girl.
I love how she came into your life, how your trust and love grew for one another, how she inspired others to adopt kitties.
The love between you two will live on forever.
Thank you for sharing her with us. LL is a better place because of you and Lucy.
Sending you and Ginger love, light, and hugs.
:YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:

 

Oh Mariko, what a beautiful beginning of the love story between you and Lucy.
Thank you for sharing that with us.
I'm so sorry for your heartache. So many of us loved Lucy through you. :YMHUG:

Barb

 

Mariko, what a touching tribute. Thank you for sharing your very special bond, love and respect for each other with us. May your memories of that special love you shared with Lucy provide you solace and continued peace, until that day you're reunited with your lovely girl.

Hugs to you :YMHUG: and scritches to Ginger cat_pet_icon

 

Mariko, what a wonderful tribute. Thank you so much for sharing all that Lucy meant to you. Hugs to you. I hope the memories are of comfort. She will alwyas be near by, tucked away in a corner of your heart.

 

What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful angel. Your love for Lucy just radiates....truly inspiring!

 

What a beautiful tribute to Lucy. You were so luck to have each other. Sending hugs and peaceful comforting vines to you.

Hugs,
Kathie

 

(((((Mariko & Ginger)))))

I have been thinking about you two all this time, I am so glad you posted this! My eyes filled with tears, but in a good way! Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful tribute to your special angel Lucy! Those photos are priceless- her story is so incredible! I especially loved reading how you met and how your bond with Lucy was cemented. And that Lucy inspired the adoption and saving of those other kitties!!! I get what you mean that you were the lucky one to have met Lucy, she was that special!

Lucy certainly had to endure more than her share of life's trials and tribulations, but I know there was not a more suited human than you were to fill her life with all the love, comfort and luxuries in life. You can't ask for much more than that! I imagine your heart still feels heavy from her loss, but I know also that her memory will live in your heart (and ours too!!) forever, until such time that you join her at the bridge. .. I hope there is some comfort in that. Hugs to you and Ginger, and I hope Ginger is adjusting as well as can be expected. Sending continued prayers and healing vines! :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:

 

((((Mariko)))) what a beautiful tribute for your precious girl. You were both so lucky to have each other. LL mourns with you :cry: .

I know I've seen some of the pictures in your profile before, and I will say it again, Lucy was such a pretty girl. It's such an inspiration to everyone how your love and care carried her through all those issues and gave her a wonderful long life with you to share with a bond that so many don't get to experience. So many people give up as soon as there is a physical issue, and I'm so thankful for you and all on this board who showed me to keep on going, that there was hope to help our loved ones. I love that Lucy inspired the adoption of other kitties, how precious that is. Thank you for sharing your journey and special bond with us. It's so amazing. I know how much your heart is aching and am sending many hugs to you :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:

 

(((Mariko))) Thank you for sharing that tribute to Lucy with us. :YMHUG: :YMHUG: You and she were truly soul mates. I was lucky that I got to meet Lucy and see the love in your eyes and her response to you. You and she were meant to be. She was a beautiful girl and found the perfect mommabean.

 

{{{Mariko}}}

I hope that writing that beautiful tribute help to lift some of the pain from your heart and make you feel a little better. You will never stop missing Lucy, but I hope she will become more of a talisman for you - someone that makes you feel better when you think of her, not sad. Something to make you smile when you feel down. That is what Lucy would want, you know. She loved you as much as you loved her, and she knew that you wanted only to love and take care of her. Now let her take care of you. I'm sure she's smiling at you from across the bridge, watching and loving you and Ginger. She was such a beautiful girl. Her outer beauty was magnified by the inner beauty shining in her eyes. She will always be with you. Thank you for sharing her story with us. I was sad as I read it, but I felt uplifted, too. Such love can only be a good thing for everyone it touches. I wish you peace and serenity. I hope you and Ginger are taking care of each other, and that you will check in from time to time and let us know how you are. Many blessings to you both. :YMHUG:

 

(((Mariko)))
A truly beautiful tribute to Lucy and such a wonderful love story. The pictures of your sweet girl are stunning and you can see such happiness in her eyes. It has been a blessing for me to meet you and Lucy here. Your support helped us beyond words and a hope you can feel that support coming back your way now. Thank you so much for sharing your lives with us. Sending hugs and peaceful vines your way.

 

What a very lovely tribute to Miss Lucy. You 2 were certainly meant to be together. :YMHUG: She'll always be eternally grateful to have you as her caregiver, Mariko. You'll always be eternally grateful to have a very special furbaby in your life. You'll never forget her as long as she's in your heart, and your memories, which I know they will be. For eternity.

 

((Hugs)) Such a sweet tribute ...

 

Mariko, that is such a wonderful tribute. It was wonderful to hear of your love for Lucy and her love for you and how you two took care of each other. That love will never die. Thank you for sharing with us. Keeping you in my prayers. :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:

 

You wrote a wonderful tribute to sweet Lucy. You two were meant to be together, that's for sure. And wonderful that 5 other cats were adopted because of Lucy. Hugs to you, Mariko. We are thinking of you and sending comfort vines.
Liz, Anne, Zener and Tillie

 

Dear ((((Mariko)))),

Thank you so much for this wonderful tribute to your girl. The love and respect that you and Lucy shared is a beautiful thing. Her love for you just shines in her eyes in those photos. I know how much you miss her, but I also know that your memories of your life together will never fade. They will be a comfort to you now, and a source of great joy in the years to come.
You and Lucy have helped so many of us in LL. i hope you will continue to keep in touch with your LL family. Please give Ginger some extra scritches from us.

Many hugs,

Ella & Rusty

 

Wow, that was beautifully expressed and incredibly touching. Yes, Lucy was lucky to have you and you were lucky too. ♥ It is wonderful how your relationship with Lucy helped save 5 other kitties. That is so lovely. You are a shining example of what all pet owners should be. (((Mariko)))

 

(((Mariko))))

This is one of the most beautiful tributes I've ever read and brought tears to my eyes. The amazing love between you two is apparent in every word. I love the photos with Lucy as a young kitty all the way up to her last days. I know she will always and forever be with you.