I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. . . .
For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
~Wendell Berry
For those of you who read Sin Boldly (or who followed me in the Chicago Sun-Times several years back), I have some news to share that breaks my heart:
Our beloved cat, Cleo, died unexpectedly last night at home in Laguna Beach. She went quickly and peacefully. We are just gutted.
Cleo was a profoundly beautiful animal and a wonderful companion. We adopted her a week after 9/11/01. She was our grace then and for all the years that followed.
I’m having a hard time fathoming life without her. Worst of all, I am on the other side of the country for work and was not there where she passed.
Please remember my family — especially my son, Cleo’s Boy — in your prayers. Cleo slept with him way up high in his loft bed the night before she died.
My sweet girl. Beautiful Cleo. Thank you for all the love, joy and grace you showed us. I miss you already.
See you on the other side, pretty.
READ “Cleopatra’s Right Ear” (Chapter 19 from Sin Boldly: A Field Guide for Grace) HERE
Sorry to hear about your loss! Our cats are brothers and very matched to each of my boys by personality. I don’t look forward to the day we lose either of them.
I am so so sorry for your loss. I know how you feel. I lost my Blackie-boy after 15 years. He was an absolute sweetheart of a cat. What made it harder was that he passed only 3 weeks after my dad died. Grief on top of grief…but he and dad are together now, both whole, healed and at peace. I take a lot of comfort in that. Our pets aren’t just pets; they are family. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sorry for your loss. “Sin Boldly” was such a meaningful book to me because of it’s heartfelt humanity and grace. I see that Cleo had no small part in engendering that humanity and grace in your own heart and home. With empath and prayer. wolfeman
My heart goes out to you! I, also, have a child with 4 legs & a tail (only mine woofs), and I can bear witness to your words: “She was our grace then and for all the years that followed.”
My Dorothy has been an instrument of grace from day one. I love the story of Cleo’s day one with yr husband claiming that “we will NOT become crazy cat people who call themselves Mommy & Daddy,” and then blurting out that very thing within minutes. See? They change us. Those bright little eyes reach the places within us that nothing else can. They are instruments of the dynamic love the Father showers on us and models of the soul-panting adoration that he wants from us. Our own uncertainty about their souls reminds me that God is bigger than I can fathom. As Jim Young would say “Live joyously the questions.” And grieve boldly, too.
May his grace & joy comfort you in your grief….
Ashley
I came to your site today to thank you for The God Factor. I looked it up on my Kindle late last night in a crisis of faith and it gave me so much comfort (I could feel John Mahoney’s kindness on the page!). So I offer you condolences on the loss of your companion, Cleo. We’ve experienced the loss of four different cats in our little family, and each one had a profound impact. Reading your piece today reminds me how fortunate we are to have shared space with these little creatures whose silly and joyous ways wend themselves into our hearts. God Bless.
Dear Cathleen,
My heart just weeps along with yours – I know the way Cleo wound her way around your legs and your heart. These precious pets who come to live with us for a while are such an extraordinary gift from God. I hesitate to use the word “pet” because it just isn’t full enough, because they do become like members of our family.
God bless and comfortyou, dear Cathleen, and yes, let’s be thankful for the time we had with them, the blessing they were in our family’s life, and the hope through our God that we’ll meet them again.
Prayers for you all.
xoxotonismith
She is beautiful … her power, self-possesion, and wit shines in her eyes. Perhaps Cleo has met out Felix who died the same day … without doubt they are safe, happy, and waiting … while we mourn them and also wait.
Definitely keeping you in prayer. We lost one of our cats about 6 months ago – a little himalayan I got from a rescue shelter. I had to bottle feed CJ. My son named him Cap’n Jack. CJ stuck. Last winter a feral cat had a little of kittens on my deck so we have Lily a calico from that little. She’ll be a year in March. It is so hard to lose a beloved Pat. I still miss our CJ and his funny antics. Hugs!