In Memory of Gracious

Coconut, Tiger & Gracious

We have some sad news from our home....Our dear sweet cat Gracious died yesterday. Our next door neighbor called and said he was laying dead on the other side of their house. We could not tell how he died. No visible signs to give a clue. He was laying peacefully on his side. We are guessing he maybe got hit by a car or perhaps drank or ate poison somewhere.

The kids seemed a little upset but got over it quickly moving on to wondering what kind of pet should we get next...but me on the other hand, I seem to be the saddest about it. I'm trying to go on and not think about it but he was such a sweet loving cat. We only had him for 6 months but I feel like I really bonded with him. You know... I had not had a cat since I left home for college and since then I came to think that pets were too much trouble and could not relate to people who were so attached to their pets..I mean their just animals right? But I was wrong. Pets can bring so much joy to people's lives.

They say they improve your health and lower your blood pressure.

This picture was taken the day before Gracious died. Notice how Tiger is licking him!

We buried him in the backyard and the kids decorated his grave with pretty flowers. I thought that was sweet. I will miss him and I know Tiger will. They had become such great buddies. Always sleeping cuddled up and playing so cute together. Here is a video I took of them playing together on Easter.

Last week we had a major ordeal with Gracious which makes this even more sad to me. The day after Easter Gracious did not come to eat with Tiger and I did not see him for a while...then later that day I heard him meowing out in the woods behind our house but he could not get home. So I thought he was hurt out in the woods and went looking for him. I found him stuck about 60 ft. up in a tree and would not come down. Tiger actually lead the way and stood at the base of the tree! We tried everything to get him down. Justin made this pvc pipe contraption and hoisted some tuna up in a bucket to him and that did not work. He was so terrified to come down and just meowed and meowed.

On the fourth day he was up there I decided to call a tree service to see if they would get cats out of trees. The first place I called said they would come and do it for free! So they came later that day to get him down.....then more bad things happened. As I was showing them were Gracious was, Joshua got out of our fence and ran out into the street. A man who lives down the street stopped and then called the police. I am so thankful Joshua was not hit. I got to him before the policeman got there. That was very nerve racking to say the least!

Thankfully they got Gracious down from the tree just fine and after eating and drinking seemed like his old self. But that is not the end to the story....... Justin came down with a miserable breakout of poison something...ivy,oak or sumac, we don't know. It must have been the vine going up the tree Gracious was in. He broke out all over both his arms and on his chest and stomach!! He has been just miserable the last several days. But it is finally starting to heal!

So that is our sad story. Oh yeah.... and we found a hermit crab from our trip to Galveston last month and he died last week. We buried him out in the backyard too. Hermie...may you rest in peace as well :)