Sad times -

I was the unfortunate finder of Lucy-Goosey's lifeless fur this week. I had let her outside during the night, and when she hadn't come meowing at the door by morning I knew something was wrong. Lucy is such a scaredy-cat. She likes going outside, but not for more than an hour or two; (sometimes she keeps her adventures to under 30 seconds.) She doesn't have front claws due to the toll she took on our leather couches, but we really didn't think she needed them considering she's almost always inside. I called for her whenever I was coming or going, but didn't start looking for her until I got a minute the next day. I walked across the street to a popular mouse-hunting field, and from about 20 feet away I could see one of her white paws. I knew instantly it was her because it was my favorite paw, with the dark grey spot. Tears coming. I ran over and looked down. No question. Tears. I knelt down and pet her cold, stiff head. There was an open gash in her abdomen. What happened to my poor, scared Lucy Lu? Sobbing. I tried to pick her up and bring her home, but she was stuck to the ground. Looked around for someone to help me. No one but Magen, standing back, watching me cry like a baby. I could tell she already knew. Loud sobs. I ran back home and called Lance, but he was out climbing poles. Tried to get my emotions under control for Andy's sake, but it was difficult. Lucy was my baby. She was scared of everyone but Lance and me. Very scared of Andy and the different noises he would make. Magen and Katie would come and go, but it was just Lucy and me for so long. All the way across the country and back. She was always right by my side, walking between my feet, perched on the toilet waiting for me to get out of the shower, sitting under the pine trees watching me mow the lawn, laying in the shade of my lawn chair as I baked in the sun, getting tangled in the sheets every time I made the bed, sitting with me whenever I was on the computer, attacking the printer when I turned it on, tearing apart the wrapping paper when I needed to get a present wrapped, knocking ornaments off the Christmas tree faster than we could hang them up, one thing after another, until the doorbell would ring, and then she'd race to the nearest bedroom and hide under the bed until she could no longer hear strangers' voices. She had a short tail and super-long whiskers, and she loved laying on her back to have her belly rubbed. Wouldn't sleep in a cat bed, but always at the foot of our bed. Everytime one of us would get up during the night, she'd hop off the bed right behind us and not go back until we did. Occasionally she brought mice home, proving that a cat doesn't need claws to hunt. And she was a feisty one. Lucy sent Katie running with her tail between her legs anytime she got within ten feet of her. But she absolutely loved playing with Magen; sneaking up on Magen and wresting with her was her favorite thing to do. Magen never saw the fun in it.
When Lance came home he went and got Lucy. I strongly considered taking her to the taxidermy, but the look on Lance's face when I mentioned it told me that he thought this loss had made me completely crazy. So I settled for keeping one of her beautiful long whiskers. Lucy was laid to rest back in the trees, near the river, next to where Maximus is burried. I hope she had a happy life. I hope she knows how much I love her and miss her. Most of all, I hope I get to see her again someday.