My Angel

In loving memory of our Bolivia who we love so much.

Bolivia was with me almost 1/2 my life, I was so very lucky to have her for 18 1/2 years. She was very special to me and I am grateful for every moment. For years, I prepared myself for the fact that she would have to leave me someday. If she was sleeping very quietly, I would always check to make sure she was breathing. She was healthy for all of her life until this August. She took ill and we kept thinking each day was the last day. She hung on as long as she could, another month and a half. I had a lot of time to say goodbye and a lot of time to care for her, it was the least I could do after all that she gave me. She was a very loyal cat and in the end she held on as long as she could so that we could be together. She was strong and she was stubborn, she was going to let go until we were both ready. I have a few pictures of her on her last days where she was laying in the sun, looking up at it and enjoying it for the last time. She loved sleeping in the sun. One morning I woke up and she was ready to eat breakfast as usual, she ate all of the time. I turned around for a moment and when I looked back, she had collapsed. She look confused and at that moment I decided I couldn't let her go through that anymore. I felt I owed it to make the decision to help her go. I remember everything about our last hours and last moments, she looked peaceful and tired. In a strange way it was very special being there the moment that her heart stopped beating, the moment that she left my world. I hope and have to believe that she was on to something better.

Bolivia loved having her picture taken! She knew she was beautiful and she had to flaunt it.

With her brother Shaver. She loved being an only cat but she and Shaver would wrestle when they were younger. I would hear a loud thumping, running, meowing and then more thumping. It was always so strange to see them rolling over each other and make such a fuss. Shaver misses her, even though they were not that close anymore. I think he secretly admired her and he has never been without her until now. They had 15 years together, he is a bit lost without her.

Bolivia and Freda - trick or treating

Bolivia and Freda knew the neighbors were always good for treats. They would tell me how she would visit all of the time and they would give her salmon. This is a picture of my dog in her Halloween costume and Bolivia (could not get a costume on her) waiting outside the neighbors door on Halloween. The knew that there were trick or treats on the other side! Bolivia knew all of my neighbors in every single place I lived and I have lived in a lot of places over 18 years. She would sit outside and greet people when they came by, lay on her back and wait for someone to pet her. Especially men! People would always ask how "Colombia" was doing and I would correct them..."Bolivia is fine, thank you". She touched everyone she met. Even though I just started seeing the vet in my new neighborhood, they all came to say goodbye (some cried) to her in her last moments. She was surrounded by loving faces.

Looking cozy

She always looked so cozy. Believe it or not, this picture was taken in her last couple of months of life.

Bolivia passed away on what would have been my niece's 6th birthday. As her parents said, what more could a little girl ask for on her birthday than the best little kitty in the world.