Thankful Thursday...This Is Not Goodbye

 This blog has been such a wonderful part of my life, a true labor of love...It has allowed me to share some of the sweetest souls I have ever known and in that process, I've made some lovely friends who, like myself, value animals as family...For me, Jacqueline's Cat House actually became a photo album of these precious babies that I have been blessed to love and hold in my heart forever...In January 2020, the blog changed after daily posts for 10 years to a once a week post, the result of losing 3 of my babies; now, after Halle's sudden loss, I have decided to stop regular posts and will only post sporadically, on special occasions...I started this blog for 5 very exceptional cats and with only 1 remaining, I'm finding it hard to continue...So, while there will be other posts, I would still like to give thanks at this time...Thank you for every single kind word and comment=they have put many smiles on my face and lifted me on many days...Thank you for caring about these sweethearts I've been so fortunate to call my own...And of course, I want to thank everyone for sharing our lives over the last 11+ years, it has truly been my honor to share these sweet, extraordinary babies with you all.

Adored, cherished, loved and treasured forever...

Calle, Halle, Sukki

2009

*****A special thanks to Ann from Zoolatry for her friendship and help over the years.*****

And Then There Was One...

I am devastated as I write this post...It is with a heavy, sad heart that I let you guys know my Halle Cat passed away last week in my arms...On Wednesday, 08.25, Halle was fine when I got home from work; a few hours later, she stumbled over to me and I realized she had suffered a stroke...After speaking with my Vet, I thought she could recover and made an appointment for the next morning...I spoke to Halle constantly, reassuring her "Mommy was with her and she would be fine", "I knew she was scared but I would not leave her"...I was holding her in my arms like a baby, looking into her sweet face, talking softly to her when she suddenly had a heart attack and died; it was reminiscent of my Calle's death...She was cremated the next day...It was a complete shock and I still can't believe she is gone; I truly never saw this coming...Halle and Sukki had their yearly Vet visit about 2 weeks before and while Halle's medication for high blood pressure was increased, her blood work looked good and she seemed fine until the last hour of her life...Sukki misses her sister like I do~deeply, terribly, constantly...Our home just doesn't feel right without Halle there...The last time I had only 1 kitty, I was in my 30s and Sukki has never lived as an "only cat" in her life so Halle's death has created a great emptiness that feels overwhelming at times...I'm grateful we have each other, but we are both truly heartbroken over Halle's loss...I was so blessed Halle chose me to be her Mommy for almost 17 years and that is what I will try to remember through this tremendous grief.

I know her family that went before, including Daddy Cat, Mommy Cat and her littermate, Calle, were waiting to greet my precious Halle as she went to the Bridge...

My darling angel Halle Cat.

Halle (10.23.04-08.25.21)

Love never dies...Love is eternal.

"What we have once enjoyed, we can never lose...All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."~Helen Keller

"Always the years between us...Always the years...Always the LOVE...Always the hours..."~Virginia Woolf