Shona died within a year of my mother: the last, other than then plants
and me, of a household once lively with parents, dog, and cat.  She
lived to twenty-one: part chocolate Burmese, part tortoise-shell
Siamese, rich aqua-marine eyes.

I named her, at kitten-hood and after many weeks, from the Yiddish for
precious/beautiful/exalted because I cherished her nobility, quickness,
rapport, and repartee for which I estimated her to be unique.

Except for my Washington stay, we  lived together either at an apartment
in town or with my folks..  In my absence she snuggled with my mother
who one night carried her back to me saying she found the cat too
disturbing.  Shona never left me again.

My mother died on her hospital bed in her living-room.  When I put Shona
beside the body she looked, paused, jumped off the bed, went to a corner
of the room where I never saw her go, curled up, and slept for at least
a day.  She finally woke, gave me a hello, and didn't again sleep in
that corner.

In cool weather she would maneuver under my blankets and curled into my
crotch.  No lovers ever were closer, none more trusted.

When she died I cried for a week.  Of course I mourned more than Shona:
she catalyzed my grief.

From time to time she shows up and talks to me.  She seemed more
proficient with English than I with Cat.   Then, I have no ear for
accents.

S.

----- Original Message -----
From: "greer.bobby" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "I. S. Margolis" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2000 12:00 PM
Subject: Re: Eggstasy? (was Astro Bird Incident report)


> Betty,
>
>     I am so glad Astro is okay. I know how one bonds with animals.
When my
> Doberman Maxx had the stroke and died, I went into a deep depression.
It
> didn't help that the next day I called my best friend and he had just
been
> given a terminal diagnosis re: cancer of the liver. I still miss Maxx
and
> Paul.
>
> Bobby
>
> I. S. Margolis wrote:
>
> > Would we bond so closely with our own species?  Wonder of the world.
> >
> > Glad Astro stayed this side, not yet with the stars.  Safe and warm
with
> > mommy.
> >
> > S.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: On Behalf Of Betty B
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2000 12:59 AM
> > To: C-PALSY
> >
> > Subject: Astro Bird Incident report (maybe kind of interesting?)
> >
> > I've had quite a weekend and it occurs to me to share some of the
> > details
> >
> > When I came back home Saturday night, I thought "Oh God, I'm going
to
> > lose my
> > little girl."  She and I have a special bond and I am not prepared
for
> > that
> > tragedy.  I can't tell you how elated and thankful I am that she
> > survived.
> >
> > I just wanted to share this with you.
> >
> > Betty
>
>
>
>