Remembering Mama

Friday will mark the forth anniversary of Athena's death. The last time I actually saw her was four years ago today, the 29th of August, 2003. That was the morning I went into the hospital for neck surgery, and I wouldn't come back home until September 1st. Exactly what happened during those few days is still a mystery to me. What I do know is, Athena got out when she shouldn't have, and that she was dead by August 30th. I still don't know how she died. I guess it really doesn't matter that I know.

Anyway, usually I leave some cat food in a bowl by our front door with a candle burning, but since we moved I don't think I will do that anymore.

I miss her very much. I was looking through her pictures on flickr just now deciding which ones I wanted to use, and I found that I miss her more than I realized.

So, here are a few of my favorite Athena pictures, beginning with those of her as a baby...

These first two are scans of pictures I took with an old fashioned film camera. You remeber those. In this one, Athena is the one on the pillow. The other two kittens were her brother Rocky, (the black and white kitten,) and Mitzy. We were fostering the three of them, but Athena and I were so well bonded that my wife adopted her for me. I won't ever forget that day; it was one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me.

A devoted sister, it was always clear who was the dominant one of the three. I don't know much about cat psychology, but it always appeared to me that Athena stepped in as the surrogate mother. She cared for the other two, looked out for them, and even led them. She would literally round up the other two, and bring them to wherever she wanted them all to be. I remember once they were all playing in our living room, and had separated off into their own little territories as they explored their new surroundings. At one point Athena ran into the middle of the room and cried just once. The other two kittens instantly came running, and met her in the center of the room.

I often wonder how the other two are doing. They both went to good homes, and I assume they are alive and well.

This is probably one of the first pictures of Athena with her new baby brother, Angel. He was already starting to get pretty big when this picture was taken.

Angel and Athena got along quite well. I am not sure if that was because she was around before he was, so he was used to her, or if because he honestly liked her, or if it was just his age. He sure doesn't treat the three cats we have now like he did Athena. Even Salem, who was part of our household long before Angel AND Athena, is not safe from Angel's barking and harassment. Odd that he treated Athena differently.

I think Athena decided Ebby was her kitten from the day we brought Ebby into our home. You can read about Ebby's admission into our household, and how Athena and she bonded, here.

Right up until Athena died, she and Ebby were inseparable. It was very clear Athena loved Ebby by the way she treated her. She obviously cared for Ebby as she did for her own siblings. I remember one afternoon I came home from work to find Athena quite distressed. She kept crying, and she would pace back and forth right in front of me. If I tried to walk anywhere, Athena would get right in front of me as if she were intentionally trying to block me.

It didn't take me long to realize something was wrong, (I am quick like that,) and at once it dawned on me that Ebby wasn't anywhere nearby. I quickly understood Athena was upset because her beloved Ebby was missing. Thinking she might be trapped in a room in the house, I started walking through the house while calling for Ebby, but then I realized that Athena could only be this upset if she couldn't find Ebby herself, so I went outside to look for Ebby.

Once outside I heard Athena cry again. I looked back, and there she was sitting in the window watching me look for her daughter. I called Ebby's name,and before long Ebby came running. (She has always been real good about coming when you call her. Even when she doesn't want to get caught, she will come when called.) Finding Ebby was the only cure for Athena's distress.

I can't imagine any of our pets trying to groom Ebby like this now. Ebby is usually very grumpy these days, and prefers to be left alone. She was a little grumpy when we first got her, but she became more so after Athena died.

Athena always found our turtle Charlotte fascinating. I eventually bought a cover for Charlotte's tank because Athena constantly prowled the edges of the tank like that, and I was afraid she would fall in one day. I eventually moved Charlotte's tank outside where it stayed until the end of her life in November of 2005.

Probably the most poignant of the pictures I have of Athena is this one. At least it is for me. Athena always wanted to go outside, but I would never let her. I always feared for her safety. Ultimately, she did get outside, and my worst fears were realized. The morning I went into the hospital I told her that I would be back, and that she needed to stay inside, and out of trouble.

Silly, talking to a cat like that.

Don't forget the Friday Ark at The Modulator for all sorts of critters, and the Carnival of the Cats this Sunday

Posted by Jeff at August 29, 2007 12:00 PM