Friday, March 23, 2012

Too Soon

My Dear Friends,

I come to you once again with a heavy heart.  My beloved Duchess passed away this evening.  She died peacefully in my arms.  I pray she knew how very much she was loved.  I think she did. The time we had together was far too short.  I am not ready to say goodbye.
We adopted Duchess at the end of August.  She was thirteen years old and she had been living in the shelter for eight years.   In the short time we had together, she became a loyal friend.  She was never cross, even in her final days.  I grieve for a dear, faithful,loving and affectionate friend.  I loved her the moment I saw her photograph on Petfinder and I will love her for all eternity.

Duchess' Petfinder photograph that sent my heart all aflutter!

My darling Duchess, recuperating after her surgery.

Duchess at the window in Autumn.

Duchess, in her favorite spot in the Library.

Beautiful Duchess on Gracie's bed.

Look at that beautiful face!

Duchess, in the short time we had together I was granted the bliss of being your friend.  I will never forget you. As we became familiar with each other, I found myself in constant awe of your beauty and your dignity.  You did not deserve to be abandoned in that apartment almost 9 years ago.  You deserved to be loved and cherished.  Though I know the people from the shelter loved you.  They often asked about you and I know they will be saddened to hear of your passing. My world was a better place because you were in it Duchess.  I miss you, my friend. I miss you so very much.

I love you, Paper Doll, my beautiful, delicate girl...

41 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness i was going through my blog list and noticed you had not posted in quite awhile and right away felt that something was wrong. I have been thinking of you Andie. I am so very very sorry for your loss. Nothing i say will take away the pain. Please know i am sending you lots of love and prayers.
    Pamela xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Pamela. I know you have had sadness and loss of your own. Your kindness is appreciated.

      Andie

      Delete
  2. I'm so sorry to hear about your beloved Duchess. I'm sure she knows she was loved.
    xoxoRosemary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosemary,
      You always have a kind word for me. Thank you!

      Andie

      Delete
  3. Oh Andie I'm so sorry... but by the Images shared I can see that Dutchess had Blissfully established herself in her new Home and I am quite certain she knew for certain how much Love was bestowed upon her there! I now envision her frolicking with my Beloved Rat Boy on the other side of Time and Eternity.

    Hugs from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Dawn. I like to think she is with your baby too.

      xo
      Andie

      Delete
  4. So Sorry, Andie. You gave her wonderful days at the end of her life. I am sure she was happy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Zosia,
      I needed that.

      xo
      Andie
      Thank you for your kindness.

      Delete
  5. I am so sorry for your loss. At least for the short time she had left here she was treated with such love and kindness. You made such an amazing difference to her life and you can see from the photos that she was so happy. You did a wonderful thing bringing her home with you and I am so sorry that your time together was so short.
    Huge big hugs to you, your family and your other kitties.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan,
      I know you understand and I appreciate your sentiment.

      xo
      Andie

      Delete
  6. So, so, so, sorry to hear this! I was so happy when you adopted this sweet girl, she had been waiting so long and so patiently for you. Your time together might have been to short, but it was enough for her to know that she was wanted and well loved. You were there for her till the end.

    Still, your grief must be overwhelming and I send you hugs and prayers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is, my friend. I am having a dificult time. I miss her so much. Than you.

      xo
      Andie

      Delete
  7. Sometimes it's a lifetime of loving in only a few months. You were graced with Duchess. XO T

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tara,

      I was. She was grace incarnate. She really was.

      xo

      Andie

      Delete
  8. What an amazing person you are...giving this beautiful cat a warm and loving place to live out her final days. Cats are so intelligent so I can imagine she knew exactly how much you loved her! RIP Dutchess

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think its really neat that she got to spend that time with you, in a real home. I know you'll miss her, but what a great thing that you got to be in each other's lives.

    Cris in La Grange

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Cris. I agree. I just wish we had more time. It makes me realize that I need to pay better attention to ALL my loved ones. Our time is so short.

      xo
      Andie

      Delete
  10. Andie! I'm so sorry and my heart breaks for you. Dutchess was so blessed to have you to love her and I know she knew that. You made her life so much better and loved her so much. You'll be in my prayers.
    Blessings,
    Shelia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, dear Sheila. Your words give me great comfort. They always do.

      xo

      Andie

      Delete
  11. Andie, I'm so sorry to hear about your beautiful Duchess.
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Mary,

      The ornament you ceated to resemble Shenanigan gives me great peace. I am so sad I have to make so many requests of you in one year's time. I will send photos of Frances and Duchess very soon.

      xo
      Andie

      Delete
  12. Andie I am so, so sorry for your loss but at least Duchess had a short time to be loved by someone as special as you. At least you were given a moment to make her happy, comfortable and treasured.

    XX
    Debra~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope so, Debra. I really do. I miss her so much.

      xo
      Andie

      Delete
  13. this is terribly sad and so bittersweet. your darling duchess was given the life and love all Gods treasures deserve, by you.
    blessings andie
    debra

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She deserved so much more, Debra. I thought I had more time. She was such a gift to me. I miss her. Thank you for your kind sentiment,

      xo
      Andie

      Delete
  14. My beautiful Divine. I am so sad to get your bad news again. I wish I was there to give you a hug. I am in spirit. Live goes on and now you can save another heart. I loves you so. Richard from my Old Historic Heart.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Friend,

      I was tempted to call you but you would not have understood me through my tears. Your friendship gives me great comfort. I hope you know that.

      xo

      Andie
      Kisses to darling Sissy.

      Delete
  15. Just came across your blog,
    you write so beautifully, so touching,
    what a beautiful heart you have!
    kind, caring Andie.
    my heart goes out to you.
    Aussie girl, animal lover.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is very kind of you. You must be a kind soul to extend comfort to a stranger. It matters. Thank you.

      Andie

      Delete
  16. Andie I am so so very sorry my dear. My Miss Belle is my sweet Himalayan and it would indeed break my heart to lose her. You are in my thoughts and prayers!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena
    The 2012 Artist Series

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dearest Andie, I'm so sorry! You must know that you were an Angle in precious Duchess's life, and without you, her time here would have been so much sadder. You gave her a beautiful and perfect 'sunset time', and were as much a gift to her as she was to you and your family...she was well loved, and I'm sure she knew it to the very bottom of her sweet heart.
    Much love and many hugs...
    xo Jessica

    ReplyDelete
  18. Andie,
    I am crying, too. Duchess was a sweetie pie, and truly didn't deserve her life in a shelter. She did, however, deserve your love, and went to Heaven in peace.
    Margaret

    ReplyDelete
  19. Andie, I am so very sorry for your loss. It is never easy and my heart goes out to you. You gave her a wonderful home and true and honest love...she had probably never experienced that before. She had your love and was able to pass in peace and contentment. I know how much you miss her but her love is still with you and yours with her. My heart goes out to you.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sweet Andie~ ~I was so saddened when your page opened to see the passing of your friend. My heart aches for you too. It is so difficult to let them go. . . so difficult.
    Ahrisha~ ~ ~ ~ ~

    ReplyDelete
  21. So sorry for your loss! Such a difficult part of the journey! I will keep you in my prayers! God bless & keep you.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Dearest Andie,
    With Easter thoughts, and blessings, to you, our sweet friend!
    Margaret & Kitties
    PS I just saw your profile picture! You're so pretty, OMG!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. You really are sweetheart for adopting Duchess and giving her a home. She found happiness with you.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Duchess was a lucky girl to have lived with your care!

    ReplyDelete
  25. "It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all."

    And as Queen Elizabeth II of Mother England recently said, "Grief is the price we pay for love.

    It's hard to believe such a beautiful creaturecould have remained in a shelter for eight years, Andie, but it was wonderful that you and she found each other and that she was able to send her remaining being wanted and vey much loved in such beautiful, luxurious surroundings.

    You and she did good things for each other, and no one will ever be able to take that away from you, dear girl.

    ReplyDelete

I love hearing what you have to say!

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...