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In memoriam, Harley,
June, 1993 -
18 July, 2010
Devoted companion for over 1/3 of my life. She came to me as a
small bundle of fur with a stuttering purr that was three or four times
louder than anything that should be able to come out of something so
small. Thus earning her the name "Harley" from a female friend,
meaning that I had no hope of protesting the proclamation. She had
been found on the street, abandoned as a tiny kitten and taken to a
shelter. Her brief experience "outdoors" before being rescued
evidently cured her of ever wanting to go outside again. I could
hold a door open for her and she would only go as far as the threshold
and sniff at the fresh air, but would never try to go outside. She
knew that she had a good thing going with a roof overhead, catered
food/water and someone cleaning her litterbox for her inside!!!
Harley lived to be just over 17 years old, which I am told is better
than average, even for an indoor cat. But that is small comfort
when you are grieving the loss of a companion who had always been able
to sense whenever I needed comforting, and was right there at my side or
laying in my lap, offering me her reassurance that someone cared.
To whom do I turn in this time of sadness? Harley was my comfort
in times of need. I miss you already so much!
For her first 13 years our little family included Emily, who I
adopted the same day as Harley. Emily was already 3 years old when
I adopted the pair of them, her original family having to give her up
because of the new baby being alergic. The two were close friends,
and often spent time close together. Emily lived for over 16
years, we lost her in Sept. of 2006.
For several years the three of us lived and traveled back and forth
across most of North America in a motorhome. Harley & Emily have
seen more places than many Americans ever do in their lifetimes.
Much less any other cats!!! They have been to numerous National
Parks, seen literally tens-of-thousands of beautiful backroads,
uncountable wildlife, magnificent sunrises & sunsets over mountains and
oceans and plains, and stood nose to nose with a bear! (well... within 5
feet, with the glass of the windshield between them...) Below is a
map of all the places that we traveled together to in our motorhome; 29
states, and 4 Canadian provinces during our 4-years in the RV. And
yes, they went North of the Arctic Circle with me in Alaska!
Emily LOVED traveling in the RV and would literally RUN forward and
leap onto the dashboard anytime I went near the driver's seat of the
motorhome. Ready to watch the world being brought to her for her
entertainment. With the occasional nap thrown in after a hard
shift of being lookout...
Harley, on the other hand, tolerated the times that the "House" was
moving because her daddy was there. And preferred it much better
when we were parked. Often she sought the comfort of my lap while
rolling down the road to calm her nerves. On rough sections of
road when the RV was bouncing and making noise she would often find
someplace to hide...
For the last four years Harley has been a house-bound kitty and
enjoying her senior years basking in sunlight at various windows in a
home I am sharing with family. Plenty of birds, squirrels, and
chipmunks to keep her entertained; and a steady supply of adoration and
treats.
It is somewhat comforting to
know that both of my girls passed after having a chance to do what they
loved best.
Emily got to go on one last
trip to Kansas in the RV just weeks before her health suddenly
deteriorated. And a ride in the car with the window open to the
vet where we had to put her to sleep. But you could tell that she
truly enjoyed that last ride and being able to look out the dash and see
the world coming to her in her last hour. And she was laying in
her favorite bed next to an open window with the breeze blowing in as
she drifted off, right after having one last ride.
Harley had been losing weight
and having more trouble with her joints for a while now, but tonight,
after not eating/drinking today for the first time, she quietly stopped
breathing while curled up in my lap. No need to take another
disliked car ride to see the vet.
I hope that I brought them
even a small measure of the joy and love that they gave to me.
I will miss you both.
Previous Sighting: July,
2009 - Across the plains to the Black Hills and onward to visit a friend
in Casper, WY before heading to the USCA national sidecar rally @ Lake
Tahoe. Then down through Yosemite and over to to California
Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway... Some great scenery and
twisty roads along the coast and up through Redwoods National Park.
Then into Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to reach Glacier N.P. before
heading back homeward.
