Klarinet Archive - Posting 000067.txt from 2009/07

From: "Lelia Loban" <lelialoban@-----.net>
Subj: [kl]Remembering Shadow Cat
Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:31:40 -0400

John Ranck wrote:
>The post said "Remembering Shadow Cat" - does that mean (s)he's no
>longer with us?

Yes, I announced her death last month. On the bulletin board, I started a
thread, but here, I appended the announcement to a reply on an existing
thread,
[kl] Alternate for Eb Reeds.
http://test.woodwind.org/Databases/Klarinet/2009/06/000070.txt

This is what I wrote at the end of that message:
>A sad coda: Until this week, I'd have expected this message to be
>followed (if not pre-empted) by a rant from Shadow Cat, stating
>that she's making her stupid pet human type this, that we should
>hand over all clarinet reeds to cats for disposal, that we should
>dump the evil screech-sticks in the driveway and run cars over
>them, etc., etc., but this Tuesday, Shadow became shadow at
>age 21.

Her digestive system shut down suddenly. Although tests showed no tumor,
X-Ray and ultrasound exams showed thickening in some internal organs. The
veterinarian thought she probably had a fast-growing cancer of the type that
spreads out in tentacles instead of forming a solid mass. Until then, she'd
only been sick once in her life. She'd been the feline Dorian Gray, still
healthy and active despite her advanced age. Because she was obviously
suffering, we followed the veterinarian's recommendation that the time had
come for euthanasia. My husband and I have been very sad about losing her.
She'd been with us since she was small enough to fit in the palm of Kevin's
hand and 21 years is a long time even for humans. We'll probably adopt
another cat, but we're not ready to do that yet.

Oddly enough, I haven't played soprano clarinet at all since she got sick.
She did hate that high-pitched sound. I've disliked it myself ever since
she died. I suppose the aversion will wear off as I get used to the lack of
feline commentary on whatever I do, but I've been practicing piano,
contra-alto clarinet and bass sax since then.

Lelia Loban
http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/Lelia_Loban

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