I don’t want this to be a sad post. I want it to be a post of gratitude. For more than eleven and a half years, you’ve let me into your computers, mobile devices and hearts, and I thank you for spending the time to read my blog and books, for enjoying my photos, for donating to causes I’ve told you about, and for helping me to rescue cats who were in need. I wish I could do it forever, because the kind of connection I share with my readers is what makes life worthwhile. But as some of you already know, I’m very ill and it is time for me to retire from this blog.
The blog will continue without me. I do have someone stepping up to take over, and I know you will love her. I will introduce you to her tomorrow. She will introduce herself to you next week.
Am I dying? Yes, probably. I am not going to pretend my illness is any less than what it is. A few months ago, I was diagnosed with chronic renal failure. The test results indicated it was only in the very early stages, and while many cats can go on for years, having a good life while dealing with CRF, I have other ailments complicating things and in the past month things have gotten very bad for me. To put it into perspective: my human is a vintage film fan and an admirer of John Barrymore, a hard-living actor from a famed theatrical family who wore his body down and died when he was only 60. Barrymore’s good friend, writer Gene Fowler said, “Nobody runs downhill faster than a thoroughbred.” Apparently, the same is true of me, a feline thoroughbred, although actually, in cat years, I’ve outlived John Barrymore by a little bit. The one thing I do find unforgivable is that Binga, who is two years older than me, is outlasting me. I get the sneaking suspicion that she may outlive everyone in this household.
I honestly don’t know how much time I have left. This past week in particular, I have been slipping away. I have not eaten on my own in two or three weeks, and yesterday I looked so sad that my human felt too sorry for me to force me to eat anything. I didn’t even look twice at the KFC chicken thigh she offered me for lunch. She couldn’t eat it either. I have an appointment at the vet today, and if there is something they can do there to make me feel better, I will be coming home. If not, I may not come home at all. I have written a couple of posts ahead of time — tomorrow’s post about Summer, the new girl, and Monday’s astrology post about Virgo. If I come home, I’ll do this weekend’s Caturday Report and Sunday Catinee. If I don’t, the blog will be dark this weekend.
So this is my thank you and good-bye. My human and I do not believe in the rainbow bridge, so I don’t know that I will ever see any of you again after I’m gone. But I hope I will continue to live on in your hearts.
Your friend always,
Sparkle
SOURCE: Sparkle the Designer Cat – Read entire story here.