Stormwatch Sunset Kiley Rose

Stormwatch Sunset Kiley Rose

Jan. 2001 - Jan. 2011

My Mom had just turned 71 when she asked me, "Can I get a cat?" I told her that of course she could get a cat. What a silly question. We looked at different kinds of cats. We looked at different cat rescues. We talked to cat breeders. And I even took her to a cat show to talk to different cat people. My Mom had her heart set on a long hair and fell in love with the Maine Coon cat breed. Well none of the rescues worked out but we met a wonderful woman who bred, showed and sold Maine Coons. She took a liking to my Mom (and who wouldn't!) and bumped her up the waiting list. Fast forward two months and the first meeting of my Mom and this tiny kitten with the half black and half red face. While looking at the available kittens this little bit if a thing came and started climbing up my Mom's leg. A few weeks later Stormwatch Sunset Kiley Rose (Her official name), better known as Rosie, came to live with Mom and me.

Rosie was the light of my Mom's life and spoiled rotten. Whatever Rosie wanted Rosie got! When my Mom became ill Rosie would lay on Mom's lap for most of the day. Rosie even went to the rehab/nursing facilities the three times my Mom stayed at them. And somewhere in my photo files there is a picture of Rosie in Mom's lap the day my Mom died.

After Mom passed Rosie became my cat. She would greet me when I came home from work and sit on the back on my chair while I stitched. Her purr would get so loud I would have to turn up the volume on the tv! Of course that meant she had to purr louder!

Rosie got along with my dogs. Well, most of the time she ignored them. When she came to us I had my 7 year old Irish setter, Maggie. Rosie would tease Maggie and use those extra long whiskers on Maggie's nose or feet to wake Maggie up and move from whichever comfortable pillow Maggie was sleeping on. Eighteen months after Maggie passed I brought Rory home. Now it was poor Rosie. He would chase her around the house and chase her and chase her. She never put out a claw but always jumped on a table to get way and swat at his nose when he came near.

Rosie left us sometime during the night on January 3-4. Around 6 pm on the 3rd I had heard her doing her hairball hack and had to yell at Rory since he always thought that was the time to bother her. I didn't see her before bed but that wasn't unusual. Hairball days (as I called them) were always times she would hide. Yesterday morning I went to get my clothes and found her at the foot of the bed she had shared with my Mom. To say I was devastated is an understatement. I am heartbroken. It feels like I have lost my Mom all over again. Mom and Rosie were always together. I spent quite a few hours yesterday crying. After a few phone calls with my sister (Thank you Sharon) I calmed enough to realize that Rosie is now where she belongs.

With my Mom. Her Mom. I miss you both.

Until next time.........

Love and stitches and tears

Kathy

and licks from Rory too