sand paper kisses... a loss is a loss...

There is nothing worse than your first day back to reality after vacation. Canada was so much fun, but I came home sleep deprived, with a lost voice and the start of a cold. This morning I had barley sat down in my office for my first day back at work when I received a call from my mother.

She told me that our childhood cat had passed away.

When I was younger I never understood why people cried over their pets. It was just an animal right? But a few years ago we had to put my childhood dog down and I was shocked at how much it affected me. I was a mess. She was apart of our family. I miss everything about her whenever I see another dog.

Sheba has been with us since 1995. That is almost 19 years! Alex picked her out of a box of kittens outside of a Target one day and brought her home. The whole family was thrilled. A kitten! A new member of the family! Yes, she was very old, however, she has always been super healthy and active and didn't really start to decline until the last few years. So am I totally surprised? No. Am I totally devastated? Absolutely.

We lost a huge part of our family today.

I have never considered myself a cat person, and I always jokingly said that Sheba and I had a love hate relationship. But she was almost like another sibling. She has been around since I was 5 years old. She would annoy me, and she would love on me. She has just always been there. I remember when she had kittens and how exciting that was to watch. I remember how mad she was when we first got our dog Bridget. I remember waking up and every once in awhile she would be sleeping right on my face! Or how she would hide under the couch and attack your feet as you walked by. And how she loved to jump. She would jump from the floor, to the top of the piano, to the stair landing. From the counter to the kitchen table. This cat just loved jumping. How she would try and drink the milk from your cereal bowl. And probably my favorite thing about her was how she just wanted to cuddle with you, and would purr loudly when you would let her sit on you and pet her. Oh and you can't forget the adorable freckle spots on her white stomach.

Sheba represents, in a way, my childhood. In fact the timing is interesting. My little brother is the last to get married in our family. My parents will truly be empty nesters. It is like she waited until we were all gone before she went. She was with all of us until we entered adulthood.

It seems funny to get all sentimental about a cat, but when they have been apart of your memories for most of your life, it is hard to imagine she wont be there when I go home. For her sake I am happy she has passed, she didn't seem comfortable in her old age.

However, I will miss those sand paper like kisses I would get on my ankles. I sure did love you Sheba. Sure, she was "just a cat" but she was ours. Gah, and the tears start again...