I lost my beautiful baby Maxine today (she is the one on the left on the arm of the chair). She was diagnosed with congestive heart failure back in January, and she took a turn for the worst this week. She was 15 years old on May 1st, and I have had her and her sister Ali (the one on the seat of the chair) since they were 8 weeks old.
When she was young, she was not affectionate at all, her sister was the affectionate one. But over the years, little by little, she would tolerate kisses and hugs, and finally, over the last few days, would accept my kisses without a shake of her head.
She was my special pal - she would curl up and sleep next to me when I was working on my computer, and we would look out the window each morning and look for "birdies and buggies". She would sleep with me on her "sleepie side" of the bed on her blanket and would take over my office chair in the afternoon to sunbathe when the sun was shining on that side of the house. She hated, hated taking her meds, and would hide under the bed for hours when she thought it was medicine time. But then, last night, she told me she was ready to go.
She took a final "tour" last night, sleeping on her chair, then in her little cardboard house in my office, and then, for the first time in weeks, she slept next to me on my bed last night. We had a lovely morning together, all curled up, with her butt next to my leg, and then she went quietly to sleep at the vets.
I wish she would have stayed a little longer, but then we never get enough time with those we love. I will miss her so much already, but I am a better person because of her and her sister. She and Ali were my first pets ever, and she taught me how to be responsible someone other than myself, how it feels to love unconditionally, and finally, she taught me it was okay to let go.
She was my baby and my little girl and my joy and my savior in many ways, and I would not have traded any of the past 15 years for anything.
Thank you Maxie, for all the love you gave me, for allowing me to love you, and you will forever be a part of my heart.
