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Irene …

This is a very personal post to a very dear friend… 



This week has been an emotional one… I'm not sure whether all the planets have aligned to make everyone especially miserable or whether someone up there is just rounding off January with a bang… and not in the good way…  so when spring time comes we'll all be a bit more grateful… this week a friend suffering from depression has given us the worries… people trying their luck and testing my patience beyond reason … a cousin I've never even met is in intensive care and whilst I'm not sad for myself, I'm sad for my dad because he's sad for his sister… we all know she's going to be ok but when your loved ones are hurting.. you hurt for them… which leads me to the saddest thing this week… 

One of my besties has lost her beloved cat… Irene was 15 years old and adored … She got very poorly last week and the the hardest decision had to be made by her parents… some people might say… 15 years is a long time… its only a cat… but to her it has been 15 years of unconditional love… 15 years of fluffy play time… 15 years giving a paw of reassurance… 15 years of excitement when she goes home… 15 years of sleeping in her bed when she has gone… and this week that dreaded phone call had to be made… Irene is now at peace… 

I know some one out there is shouting.. 'get a grip.. people have real problems!' but look here… life is relative and Irene was really special to a lot of people and was practically a member of our social circle… so give over and google something else if you don't like it! 

Even though we all found out via the wonders of social media… and texting each other 'did you hear about Irene?' I couldn't bring myself to call or text her when I heard in case she was busy and my virtual hugs and emotional txts might just push her over the edge and make her teary just when she didn't need it… but I had to pull in on the M50 for a tear or three… not because I ever met Irene but I knew the heartache it would bring my lovely friend… 

We have had many pets in Chateau Doll… and each one has been a member of our family… they've pretty much ousted me from 'their chair' .. they get the last sausage from the Sunday morning grill… they've laid in bed when we've been poorly .. and they know… pets just know when you're miserable.. they know to snuggle close when you need a cuddle… to act ridiculous to make you smile… our dog Belle will howl at the piano just to get a reaction.. I'm pretty sure she has attention deficit disorder… but when she does it… everyones got a smile on their face and she's a member of our family… I mean when she goes to get her nails clipped, my mothers phone is like a hotline cause we all know how much she hates it… first world problems you might say… nope.. it's sheer adoration for the best member of our family… the only member to give unconditional love, no matter how you look, what size you are.. what you're wearing.. they adore you! Tails wag when the key goes in the door… they purr to show you how much they've missed you… but to hear from afar that your fur baby is gone is heart breaking… and you know you've picked the right group of friends when you can all sit around in your slippers regaling stories of long lost pets and passing the tissues… 

so… we shall be celebrating Irene in the coming weeks but here's a few Irene facts that you should all know… 

Hurricane Irene caused extensive damage to the Greater Antilles and the US East Coast—name was retired after 2011… um…


Saint Irene is the patron saint of peace and of girls… In Greece, she is also the patron saint of policemen.. I'm not sure if this is helping…



Me, Myself and Irene: 2000 Jim Carrey film.. sorry… I'm not even going to justify that one with a picture… 

It's also the name of a swedish pop band… I'm clutching at straws now… 

More importantly … Irene is the name of a fabulous cat with soft black fur and devilish green eyes who my friend has had the privilege to own and adore for all of her fluffy life… 

Irene is a name derived from the Greek word for "peace"… which is where she is now, at peace… 

So all you pet lovers who know how it feels… at some point this weekend… raise a glass or a mug … to Irene… who is now chasing mice amongst the stars and purring down on us… 

as Nat King Cole sang.. "good night Irene.. goodnight Irene.. I'll see you in my dreams.."




9 comments

  1. Losing a pet is a horrible experience - they really are members of the family.

    A glass will definitely be raised for Irene here in Leeds.

    Sx

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  2. You're such a lovely, lovely friend for even thinking to do this. The loss of a pet is such an emotional, sad experience that we've all suffered at one point or another, whenever I heard of someone losing a pet I think of the ones I've lost and I do miss them. 15 years is a hell of a long time, I'm so sorry for your friend's loss. Goodnight Irene x

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    1. well my thinking is what's the point of having a blog if you can't celebrate the happy and sad things in life… x

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  3. Sitting here with tears flowing reading this wonderful touching post. As MissGreenEyes said you are a true friend and I am glad she has someone who understands this very emotional time. I have lost 3 dogs in the last year - they were all old stagers and I too had to make that terrible decision to let them go while they still had some dignity. I miss them every day still but have rescued 3 more and though they will never take their place but their unconditional love does help take the sting out of the healing process. Like Irene they too have gone to the great hunting ground in the sky. xx

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    1. aw.. I got teary reading that! Its such a hard decision.. you always have hope and we all know its kinder but we just want to keep them with us forever, a little selfish but its all from the heart.. and we've all been there… 3 in one year must have been SO hard… your new fur babies have a lot to live up to! x

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  4. It's taken me a few days to comment because my eyes kept filling with blinding tears every time that I tried.
    Thank you for such a heartfelt tribute to my sweet lady, Irene; my family and I are so touched by this, and it means so much to us that you have used this platform to tell the world about a cat that you never met, but that you knew brought so much joy to my life. I miss her terribly but I know that she had a long, happy life.
    This is so lovely, and you're such a wonderful friend for honoring my Irene. Thank you xxx

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    1. Aw… I'm tearing up reading this! I know exactly how you all feel… we are a family of animal lovers, every thing that stops in our garden gets a name! Time will make it a little easier but she'll always be up there peeping down! xxx

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