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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2016)
OPINION Page 6 n THE ASIAN REPORTER August 15, 2016 Volume 26 Number 16 August 15, 2016 ISSN: 1094-9453 The Asian Reporter is published on the first and third Monday each month. Please send all correspondence to: The Asian Reporter 922 N Killingsworth Street, Suite 2D, Portland, OR 97217 Phone: (503) 283-4440, Fax: (503) 283-4445 News Department e-mail: news@asianreporter.com Advertising Department e-mail: ads@asianreporter.com General e-mail: info@asianreporter.com Website: www.asianreporter.com Please send reader feedback, Asian-related press releases, and community interest ideas/stories to the addresses listed above. Please include a contact phone number. Advertising information available upon request. Publisher Jaime Lim Contributing Editors Ronault L.S. Catalani (Polo), Jeff Wenger Correspondents Ian Blazina, Josephine Bridges, Pamela Ellgen, Maileen Hamto, Edward J. Han, A.P. Kryza, Marie Lo, Simeon Mamaril, Julie Stegeman, Toni Tabora-Roberts, Allison Voigts Illustrator Jonathan Hill News Service Associated Press/Newsfinder Copyright 2016. Opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of this publication. Member Associated Press/Newsfinder Asian American Journalists Association Better Business Bureau Pacific Northwest Minority Publishers (PNMP) Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon MY TURN n Dmae Roberts Joey’s gift Correspondence: The Asian Reporter welcomes reader response and participation. Please send all correspondence to: Mail: 922 N Killingsworth Street, Suite 2D, Portland, OR 97217-2220 Phone: (503) 283-4440 ** Fax: (503) 283-4445 News Department e-mail: news@asianreporter.com General e-mail: info@asianreporter.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES (U.S. rates only) Individual subscription (sent bulk rate): q Half year: $14 q Full year: $24 q Two years: $40 Individual subscription (sent first class mail): q Half year: $24 q Full year: $40 q Two years: $72 Office subscription (5 copies to one address): q Half year: $40 q Full year: $75 q Two years: $145 Institutional subscription (25 copies to one address): q Half year: $100 q Full year: $180 q Two years: $280 NEW SUBSCRIBER / ADDRESS CORRECTION INFORMATION FORM: Subscriber’s name: Company name: Address: City, State, ZIP: Phone: Fax: E-mail: Mail with payment or Fax with credit card information to: The Asian Reporter, Attn: Subscription Dept., 922 N Killingsworth Street, Suite 2D, Portland, OR 97217-2220 Phone: (503) 283-4440 * Fax: (503) 283-4445 q q q For VISA, Mastercard, or American Express payment only: Name (as it appears on the card): Type of card (circle): VISA Mastercard Card number: American Express Security code: Expiration date: Address of card: The last four issues of The Asian Reporter are available for pick up free at our office 24 hours a day at 922 N Killingsworth Street, Suite 2D, Portland, Oregon. Back issues of The Asian Reporter may be ordered by mail at the following rates: First copy: $1.50 Additional copies ordered at the same time: $1.00 each Send orders to: Asian Reporter Back Issues, 922 N. Killingsworth St., Portland, OR 97217-2220 The Asian Reporter welcomes reader response and participation. If you have a comment on a story we have printed, or have an Asian-related personal or community focus idea, please contact us. Please include a contact name, address, and phone number on all correspondence. Thank you. The next day, he ate food from a spoon then ’ve had four cats in my adult life. The oldest, Mimi, a black and white kitty, lived 21 years crawled to the nearby litterbox on his own. For before she passed away. I joke she was old two-and-a-half weeks, he appeared to be on the road enough to graduate from college if she had been to recovery. He ate voraciously with no help, took to human. Her daughter, Mojo, was 17 and died before residing in a cardboard box we called his “kitty condo,” and was able to walk to the Mimi. When my husband and I litterbox. He wasn’t paralyzed adopted two twin tabby cats, Joey anymore; the vet was amazed and Kiki, 12 years ago, we when I told her. We thought it was thought we wouldn’t have to a little miracle. worry about their health for many Then in late July, Joey stopped more years. using his litterbox and couldn’t In my July column, I wrote walk. He crawled, became about Joey having stomach incontinent, and was losing his problems, but that he had begun spirit. The only joy he had was to get better. The day after I wrote eating; each day we cleaned up his the piece, Joey had a stroke and messes. He barely moved. A few was paralyzed on one side. The vet times, we found him in a corner of thought he might live only the kitchen, perhaps trying to find another 72 hours. We grieved and a place to die. It was no kind of life waited for any signs of recovery. for him, one I wouldn’t want for We had to feed him baby food and Joey (2004-2016) acted more like a puppy than a kitty. In this photo, his re- myself. We then made the tough his medicine through a syringe. flection is seen through a window looking decision so many people face. His sister just sniffed at him and outside at a power pole. In early August, our vet made a walked away. Animals have a house call. Joey went painlessly and quickly. The more practical way of dealing with illness. Joey was always more puppy than kitty. He vet technician who arrived with Dr. Carr took a paw followed me wherever I went. He always greeted us print of Joey in clay so we could remember him. when we got home by sitting a few feet from the door Richard built a casket for Joey and we laid him to and meowing at us. He would fetch earplugs or rest in our backyard. I know he was just a cat. And I know the world string, and we played hide-and-seek throughout the house. If he was in another room, I’d just call out has much to grieve right now with human atrocities “Where’s Joey? Where’d he go?” He would find me, and violence undeserved. Somehow, though, the sit down just out of arm’s reach, and look at me. unconditional love we receive from our pets reminds Then I’d say, “There’s Joey!” Though he enjoyed us to be human and have more compassion for hanging out with us, he didn’t care much about others. Joey gave us many gifts. In his prime, he brought being petted or brushed. Playing and eating were his passions. I often referred to him as a us joy; in his decline, he brought Richard and me techno-kitty because he loved technology. He’d run closer, reaffirming our love. This experience led us to the phone when it rang and try to bite it. He to real talks about aging and coping with the loss of rushed to investigate the vacuum cleaner, more friends, or each other. I’d thought I was better prepared to lose Joey, but fascinated than afraid. And he always posed for I guess one is never fully ready. At least I had an “selfies” on my iPhone. When Richard and I brought Joey home from the extra three weeks with him after his stroke. I’ve vet, he was still paralyzed on the right side. After noticed that the older I become, grieving is not just three days and much weeping, I tried to make peace for the one loss, but also every previous loss. Grief with saying goodbye. The night before we were compounds. However, there’s a greater legacy to going to call the vet to euthanize him, I said to Joey: remember, which is how we all live on. In memory. Be at peace my baby boy, my buddy, my friend, my “If you want to let go, we’ll help you. If you want to Joey. stay, then show me a sign — any sign.” I Opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of this publication. Wondering what events are going on this week? Check out The Asian Reporter’s Community and A.C.E. Calendar sections, on pages 10 and 12.