 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-06-28 12:07
I see several threads that Shadow Cat might have interrupted with a rant that clarinets are evil larvae of the vacuum cleaner devil; that we should let the friendly cats bat the mousepieces down the stairs onto the concrete basement floor, chew up the reeds to dispose of them, etc. etc., but she's not here to complain any more. Shadow Cat died on Tuesday the 23rd, at age 21. She'd been the feline Dorian Gray, only sick once in her life before then, but her digestive system suddenly shut down and she seemed to be in pain. Steroids, anti-nausea drugs and antibiotics provided only a brief respite. An ultrasound, X-Rays, pee tests, poop tests and blood tests failed to provide a definite diagnosis. The veterinarian said that only a biopsy could confirm she had cancer of the type that infiltrates in tentacle-like fashion instead of forming a mass. The biopsy might kill her and certainly would torture her. If it did confirm she had cancer, the prognosis was terminal anyway. Rather than see her suffer and waste away, my husband and I reluctantly agreed to euthanasia as the most humane end. We miss her a lot.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-06-28 12:28
I'm so sorry. She was so much more than a shadow for so many, many years.
I will practice with my screech stick today in tribute.
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Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2009-06-28 12:46
Lelia, I too am very sorry for your loss.
She miaowed me once...
Tony
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Author: Curinfinwe
Date: 2009-06-28 13:39
I'm so sorry. I know what it's like to suddenly lose an old cat who was a lifelong friend and meant the world to you. My sympathies.
Post Edited (2009-06-28 13:48)
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Author: reedwizard
Date: 2009-06-28 13:54
Leila,
Please accept my condolences on your loss, it is never easy saying goodbye to a companion.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-06-28 14:45
Yes, I'm sad also, but treasure her sage thots re: cls and their playing. 21 is a desired blackjack hand and seems to be equivalent to my 90, a dern good lifetime. Being in "Shadow", perhaps her ghost will still ?disturb our equanimity, please. Regards, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-06-28 15:37
21 years for a cat is a very good age, and you know she went away quickly and peacefully so take comfort in that - better that way instead of her suffering from the effects of the anaesthetic, biopsy and also the cancer for what may only have been a few more months. Best remember her how she was instead of what she would become.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2009-06-28 17:31
Hi,
I am not a current cat owner but have been in contact over the years with several cats (friends, neighbors, and relatives) and I fondly remember:
1. Murray
2. Little Cat
3. Purll
4. Pyewacket
5. Murphy
6. Sootie
and numerous others. All made a great impression on my life as they each had a unique personality.
Shadow Cat will live on in your mind for a very long time.
HRL
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-06-28 17:41
My condolences to you, Lelia. I lost one of my dogs a little over a year ago to brain cancer at age five. It's hard to say goodbye to them, but you always treasure the time you had together.
Jeff
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Author: Margaret
Date: 2009-06-28 19:25
I'm sorry to hear this. I found 'her' posts amusing and know that you will miss her.
Condolences from a fellow cat person,
Margaret
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Author: Phurster
Date: 2009-06-29 05:28
I am sorry for your loss. Recently my noble hound passed away. For 17 years she was my most devoted fan. Whatever the reed no harsh criticism passed her lips. I feel your pain.
Chris
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Author: Fishamble
Date: 2009-06-29 10:07
Sorry to hear your news Lelia. I think you acted in her best interests. And to live to 21 years - you clearly gave her a good life.
David.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-06-29 11:11
Thank you, all of you. Many kind-hearted animal-lovers here. We're not used to her absence yet -- half-asleep, I still roll over carefully in bed and when she's not there, I imagine her off on one of her nightly patrols of the house. Then I'm surprised all over again in the morning when I go into the kitchen and find her food and water dishes gone. This is the first time Kevin and I have gone cat-less since 1971 and we do intend to adopt another cat when the time seems right, but not immediately.
I quit playing the soprano clarinets while she was ill, because they annoyed her so much. Some of her irritation was for theatrical effect, I suspect -- sometimes she'd flounce off in a diva huff if I asked, "You want to hear some clarinet?" but sometimes she'd stay long enough for us to miaow back and forth at each other at increasing (and increasingly peevish) volume, until she'd make a big production of stomping off down the stairs. Even so, I haven't wanted to go back to the high-pitched instruments yet. She liked the bass sax and didn't mind the contra-alto clarinet so much.
As I told someone who e-mailed me privately, I imagine her in some fictional afterlife, teaching in a telepathic academy for pre-natal kittens. They'd probably start her off with Training Your Stupid Pet Humans 101, but eventually she'll give advanced seminars:
The Screech-Stick Menace
The Garbage Truck Monster
Warding Off the Vacuum Cleaner Demon
Teaching Your Stupid Pet Human to Catch Mice with Her Mouth
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: marcia
Date: 2009-06-29 16:24
Lelia I empathise with you. Perhaps Shadow Cat is in kitty heaven playing with my former, much loved cats.
Marcia
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Author: spage
Date: 2009-06-29 17:10
> Teaching Your Stupid Pet Human to Catch Mice with Her Mouth
Did she? Teach you, that is? If so I am very impressed indeed!
But I can indeed see her teaching
> The Screech-Stick Menace
A house without a cat is a hollow-sounding edifice indeed. I hope. when the time is right, you find another full-on personality. I am sure Shadow Cat would approve of somecat keeping you in order (especially if she's had time to teach either the 101 or screech-stick class in the pre-natal academy).
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Author: classicalguss
Date: 2009-06-29 17:43
So sorry about your loss. We've been there and there is very little that one can say. Cats, and all critters simply make life better. Make sure that you open your heart to a new kitty and soon. There's one out there right now who needs you.
And when you think of your Shadow, go here: http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html
I play this every time someone dear goes away.
Best Wishes,
Roy
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2009-06-29 18:12
Thank you for sharing your pet with us, Lelia. We all enjoyed our time with Shadow Cat. It isn't often we hear from cats here, especially ones with a sense of humor (or horror).
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-06-29 19:22
> Teaching Your Stupid Pet Human to Catch Mice with Her Mouth>
>>Did she? Teach you, that is? If so I am very impressed indeed!>>
Nope. She got quite exasperated with my inability to learn this essential survival skill, even when she patiently crept up and dropped live mice on my face in the middle of the night. She couldn't have made it any easier for me, yet all I could do was wake up with a shriek while the mouse escaped. She waxed indignant when my husband or I would then go catch the terrified rodent in a shoebox and evict it down to the culvert, instead of eating this carefully selected prey -- after all the trouble she'd gone to! When we replaced the house roof and no more mice came in, she tried to content herself with screech-stick mousepieces, but got even more annoyed with me for keeping them all safely caged.
Yes, we'll adopt another cat, but we need to wait a bit. She's a hard act to follow.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: lj
Date: 2009-06-29 21:09
I'm very sorry for your loss--I enjoyed it when Shadow Cat took over your computer. I'm sorry you didn't have more time with her in which to hone your obviously pitiful hunting skills. My late cat was thoroughly disgusted that I never adequately appreciated the entertaining possibilities of a conveniently detached bird head and only managed to shriek. We humans are indeed a sorry lot. Again, sorry for your loss.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2009-06-30 00:36
Dear Lelia,
Let me publicly express the sympathy that I have already expressed to you privately.
I have been wondering, is there any way, on this board, to collect all the
Shadow Cat Commentaries and add them to the Keepers file? They are unique, and too good to lose.
Mark?
Susan K.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2009-06-30 00:41
ohsuzan wrote:
> I have been wondering, is there any way, on this board, to
> collect all the
> Shadow Cat Commentaries and add them to the Keepers file? They
> are unique, and too good to lose.
Just because things aren't in the Keepers doesn't mean they're gone ... there are about 300,000 messages currently archived and available via search.
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Author: Cindyr
Date: 2009-06-30 03:09
Lelia: Sorry to hear about the passing of Shadow Cat. You did the right thing for her. I know how hard it is to loose an animal that you're strongly bonded with. My cat Toby lived to 20.5 years (insulin shots the last 5.5). I still remember her slow, steady, purr on the pillow every night helping me to go to sleep. When it was time, I also took the same course you did about not putting her through a difficult invasive procedure.
You'll know when the time is right to welcome the next cat.
Cindy
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Author: pewd
Date: 2009-06-30 04:42
you don't own cats, they own you.
you don't adopt cats, they adopt you, then spend the rest of their lives training the human how to properly care for their needs.
sorry to hear of your loss.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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