The 1970s
Moody Blue, a cat
This cat was blind in one eye. Children thought the eye was the reason for the name, but, natch, it's because my father loved the song Nights in White Satin. This cat was hit by a car and taken to the vet. She didn't die, but ended up running away with her mouth wired shut. Or so my mother said. Before she done run off, she had a bunch of kittens.
Kittens of Moody Blue, several cats
The first batch of these, we got to keep two. Erin and I named them "Grey-White-White" and "Black-White-White." I thought those were the best names ever. I don't know how they died.
The second batch, we also kept two. I named mine "Susan" after the cat in Little House in the Big Woods and Erin named hers "Flower." They both died in an a tragic engine block accident.
Alexis I, a dog
A fabulous mutt that liked to chase cars, including the tractor my father drove. I think my father felt worse about telling us he'd hit our dog than he did about telling us he and our mother were getting a divorce.
The 1980s
Peaches II, a cat
This cat was a gift from Erin's 2nd grade teacher. I can't remember how she died, but it was probably horrible. (Uh, the cat's death, I mean.)
Boaz, a kitten
A missionary stepped on this kitten during a game of volleyball on the 4th of July. It's a really awful story, but also kinda funny if told in person.
Kama, a dog
Kama didn't die, even though she got hit by a car and had a blue cast on one of her legs: our Aunt Jane dognapped her. Kama had killed some of Jane's turkeys, so one day when we were all gone Jane snatched Kama away and drove away and let her go.
Sancho, puppy of Kama
Sancho had the sweetest dog feet ever. I think we had to give him away before Jane dognapped him. I guess that doesn't count as dying, but it still involved a pet that was there one day and gone the next.
The 1990s
Troi (known as Kiki), a cat
This cat was given to me and my boyfriend by a homeless guy. She could only meow if you weren't looking at her. We had to give her away when we moved to Chicago; I don't know what happened to her after that.
The 2000s
Clementine I, Bartholomew, and Spiro T. Agnew; mountain cloud fish
These fish lived happily in a regular fish bowl until they were cruelly boiled to death in a house fire.
Phillip, penguin tetra
This fish suffered from frostbite. His tail fell off. It creeped me out so much that I couldn't talk about it for an entire year.
The Present
My current pets are all alive. Mr. Tumnus does not count.
well... remember to keep Gavin and Evan out of the engine blocks.
Posted by: sven at March 3, 2003 10:18 PMThis is how those urban legends about Mormon missionaries ritualistically stomping cute little kittens start.
Posted by: flamingbanjo at March 3, 2003 10:57 PMActually Brent, Sancho, puppy of Kama, was dognapped at the same time. They were both taken as I remember it. And are we really sure that Aunt Jane just let them go? And how did we find out anyway? Did she end up telling Dad?
My clearest memory is standing outside on the road yelling, "Kaaamaaaa!" figuring she was just, you know, hiding behind the canal. I hate our relatives.
I think you are right that they were both dognapped together...did only Sancho come back? I do remember trying to find a home for him.
Didn't Lyons rat on his mother for turning into Cruella Deville?
(It might interest you, Gentle Reader, to know that our Aunt Jane had her stomach stapled and lost over 100 pounds and then later had all her teeth pulled and replaced with fake teeth. This is the same aunt whose living room floor is covered with Astroturf.)
Posted by: ida at March 5, 2003 10:59 AM