Mike & Bo (GA)
Member
Hello everyone,
Bo has been gone two weeks yesterday, I miss him so much. There is a big void in my life right now and there are lots of tears. The following are memories of Bo (and his sister Tiger) and a tribute to my little boy.
Bo was born along with his sister Tiger on February 6, 1991. They both came to live with me at the end of March 1991. My world changed that day; it was the start of a long, loving and compassionate bond between the three of us.
They both had their own distinct personality, Tiger being shy and reserved, Bo being the big bad brother of the house. But they both showed unconditional love to me and I returned that love. Every single day they loved me for who I was. Our love for one another never waned over the years, it only got stronger.
Tiger passed away on October 1, 2005, which was much unexpected, causing us much grief and pain. Since the time of Tiger’s passing Bo got extra close to me and I to him. Bo was diagnosed with diabetes in October 2008 and I wanted to help him as much as I could. I did a google search and found the Feline Diabetic Forum. What a life saver you people were. From day one I received expert advice in learning the proper treatment for Bo. But it wasn’t so much the advice but the closeness of being a member of the group. Every day it was a pleasure to post Bo’s numbers and read about the other sugar cats in the Lantus forum and conversing with the mama and papa beans. Even though I was Bo’s caretaker, most times getting his shots at 3am/3pm; 4am/4pm and being there for him I did not mind at all, all that mattered was providing care and making him comfortable as possible. In fact, I miss our daily routine so much. Almost every AM and PM pre-shot our routine was that I had all the equipment ready to test him and had his supper waiting in his dish and went over to the couch and tell him it was time for supper. Bo would come over and up on the couch (most of the time I helped him up and put him there), talking to him sweetly as I took his BG reading. Halfway through his supper I would give him his insulin shot. He was great about this, letting me do my thing, very rarely making a fuss.
When I learned that Bo was diagnosed with cancer on January 7 2010 I posted to the members and received many healing vibes and best wishes for my Bo. Five short days later I posted the passing of my beloved Bo and have received many responses that were very heartwarming about his passing. I have printed those out and will read them again and again and share them with friends and family. I can’t read them with a dry eye.
While searching for spiritual and comforting words I found a quote that I really loved: “There is sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief…and unspeakable love.” - Washington Irving.
Here are some of the many memories that Bo and Tiger have shared with me over our years together:
• Over the last year Bo enjoyed being brushed and it became part of our morning ritual. The brush had two sides, one wire for his back area and the other was nylon for his head and face. I would actually hold the brush near his face while he moved his face into the brush. This way here he controlled what part of his face or chin would receive the greatest pleasure. He always ended up drooling, biting and licking the brush.
• About two months before Bo was diagnosed with diabetes I had bought him a beautiful ramp that ran the length of the bed on one side. Bo was starting to feel his age, he couldn’t jump onto the high bed and the makeshift steps that I had weren’t the best. After about 15 minutes of teaching him how to walk up and down he became a pro. It saved a lot of wear and tear on his joints. Often, especially after his early morning breakfast and insulin shot I would get back into bed and a few minutes later he would come up that ramp to be with me. I would always lift my left arm until it formed a circle to my chest and he would walk over and poke his little face into the opening and then laid down where he fell asleep after some petting and talking.
• When Bo’s sister Tiger died on October 1, 2005 I didn’t know how Bo would react to her passing. He was kind of quiet for a day or two. The next day I still had the carrying case in the bedroom and when I went in one particular time, Bo was sitting inside the case, mind you he hated the thing because he knew he was going to the vets when I brought it out, but he was very relaxed as if to say that I hurt for Tiger because she went to several doctors the month before she passed away. But after that day Bo knew he was my #1 guy now and our love for one another grew stronger every day.
• When I was out and pulled into the driveway they could the car door shut. Almost without exception they were by the kitchen door to greet me, brushing up against me to show that they missed me.
• One day in summertime I had gone shopping and one of the items I bought was an angel food cake in the plastic container with the plastic top. I had a piece earlier and left the cake on the counter. I went out to cut the grass and about an hour later I went inside to discover the angel food cake was lying on the kitchen floor and about an inch of cake was missing all around the top edge! The two guilty cats were licking their lips; obviously they had enjoyed their snack. None of them would admit who was the one who knocked it down off the counter.
• Back in the day I had a few old very smooth sheets. The hallway was long, at one end I would ruffle a sheet and it slowly drifted towards the floor, like a big giant bubble. Bo and Tiger would take turns and run full speed towards the sheet and end up sliding then biting the sheet or patting it down with their paws. It made me laugh to watch them; it was just like watching two little kids having fun.
• They both drank water from the bathtub, Tiger would always drink from the top edge of the tub and reach over and slurp it up that way; Bo always went IN the tub, coming out later with a wet face, chest and feet.
• It was fun to watch their reaction when they received their scratching post and cat nip from Cat Claws. When I received the package I would call to them that it arrived. Most of the times they would be inside the outer box before I could take everything out because of the strong aroma of the fresh catnip. I opened up a bag and sprinkled some of it in the box and they would rub their faces in it, rolling around and having a ball.
• When they were kittens they would easily get lost on me. I had to make sure I didn’t step on them hiding in a pile of clothes. One time I had to go to court as part of my job and retrieved my suit from the closet and left the house. Thank God court was cancelled because when I got back home about a half hour later putting the suit away there was Bo inside the closet, but he didn’t seem to be upset though.
• Like most other animals they hated thunderstorms, especially Tiger. Most of the time they retreated to the bottom of the stairs near the basement door or under the bed. It took quite a while and a lot of encouragement for them to get back upstairs after the storm passed.
My love for Bo and Tiger will never die along with all the beautiful memories we shared. Their spirit lives on! I know someday we will be reunited.
I would love to stop by the Lantus forum now and then and say hello. I don’t want the friendships to end. You guys were my rock when I needed you the most.
Mike & Bo (GA 1/12/2010)
Please enjoy this slideshow presentation that remembers my Bo in pictures, starting when he was around 6 weeks old to just before he passed away. In many of the pictures his sister Tiger (GA 2005) was with him as they were very very close siblings. Please have your speakers on to hear the beautiful song (Canon by the London Symphony Orchestra) that accompanies the slideshow.
Remembering My Bo Slide Show
