Farewell, Max (Summer)

Max's passing was such an event, I assumed I'd already written on it. By God's will, it happened on a teacher workday. Shane and I were both home. All three of us loaded Max up and took her to the vet.

We'd known Max's time was short. I'd broached the topic with Shane in advance. Max has been with us for Shane's whole life. A loss of a pet is a time to grieve. Grieving is hard, but necessary. It's important to give yourself time and learn how you grieve and what your needs are in those moments. 

The three of us took Max into the room together. Carrie asked me to take Shane out of the room for the final decision. He didn't realize what had happened until we left without Max.

Carrie wrote a post as part of her grieving process. I'll republish it here.

17 years.. Max gifted me so much of her time.

The day I found her, she was a stray kitten at a farm I was visiting for the day. The farm owner was free lunging a stallion and she came bolting in to chase the end of the lunge whip. I quickly picked her up and she stayed with me the whole visit. I never let her go, she came home with me that day from that farm in Maryland.

I was engaged, and found myself selling my house in Richmond, so, where did she go? Soon to be hubby, Mike, became cat sitter and she went to live with him. There are few people out there who think that it's a good idea to harness and walk a cat. My husband was one of those. He would put a harness on an excited Max and take her for walks in the apartment courtyard. She was always eager to go.

Expecting Shane and my hubby said I was in nesting mode. I needed to make sure the baby room was ready. Max dutifully guarded (and claimed) Shane's crib. I ended up getting Shane new bedding after he was born and let Max keep the original to snuggle in.

Attended Cousin's wedding, and brought back baby Bucket. Max was a tolerant dictator, but the two were quite happy together playing around the house and getting into mischief.

She saw Shane grow up for the last 12 years. He has not known a home without her. Her gentle presence and kindness with him was always evident.

Always eager to explore every room, nook & crany and meet every visitor with a bright greeting. We called her the room ninja, as she was eager to bolt into every bedroom without warning. After a while, she'd loudly meow to let us know that she bravely subdued the random lone sock or belt, and then be met with pets and loves.

Max, you were such a part of my life. You stayed and comforted me through times of sorrow and grief, and shared in my happiness and joy. I look for you, and you're not here. The house has a noticeable emptiness... My heart is breaking... I love you, little girl. 

I grieved, too. I could feel everyone's sadness, so it was a weighty day. Personally, Max was the first cat I decided I liked. I tried to walk her on a leash while Carrie and I were dating and I was cat-sitting her. Once upon a time, I wrote up some of her story.

Carrie posted a bunch of pictures on Facebook that I'm reposting here in memory of Max. She was a good cat. Rest in peace, Little One.