OPINION
Page 6 n THE ASIAN REPORTER
August 15, 2016
Volume 26 Number 16
August 15, 2016
ISSN: 1094-9453
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MY TURN
n Dmae Roberts
Joey’s gift
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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.