Fly Free, Sweet Gracie 💔

"There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart.” – Mahatma Gandhi

 

Our hearts are broken beyond belief. On Tuesday afternoon, our beloved Gracie made her journey to the Rainbow Bridge. She was 20 years old.

 

Adopted at the robust age of 13 (along with her sister/littermate Zoe) in September 2013, beautiful and gentle Gracie packed a whole life’s worth of love into her seven years here with us. The pawprints she left on our hearts will remain forever, and we know there will come a day when her memory brings more smiles than tears. But for now, there is only deep sadness.

 

Gracie Grace, we will love and miss you forever, darling girl. There were so many things that made you uniquely special. Like how you helped Mom Tracey put on her makeup every day, resting your paws on her thigh as she applied it while sitting on the couch. We will miss your funny, old ladycat meow, and the way you sang the song of your people with such gusto (especially when you had a vet visit). And how you would steal Mom’s spot on the couch whenever she got up. And the way you were still playful when the mood struck you. How you loved chasing the red dot, and playing with your favorite toys, like the mouse-on-a-string, fleecy wands, and especially the collar stays from Dad meowmeowmans’ dress shirts. And how you headed upstairs each night to drop the hint to everyone that it was time for bed.

 

While we’re remembering, can you remember how, when you were younger, you would instigate tussles with Zoe, you little rascal? Or how you were such a speedster, especially when it was time to eat?

Gracie and Zoe

 

In November of this year, Gracie was feeling really good, and had reclaimed a little of that youthful pep in her step. Check out this video of her (taken about three weeks ago) trotting from the kitchen to join us for some family time on the couch. Not bad for a 20 year-old with arthritis and advanced kidney disease, huh? 💕

 

Earlier in life, Gracie loved lounging in sunpuddles, but in her twilight years, she was partial to her heated cat bed on the couch. Her culinary palate also evolved with age: once a fan of turkey and giblets, she graduated a few years ago to a more refined chicken and lobster pâté. She did retain her lifelong love of tuna fish; it remained one of the things that had the power to wake her up from a solid sleep.

 

Ava is a little confused by Gracie’s sudden disappearance. Although she and Gracie were 17 years apart in age, they had a very respectful relationship, and we even caught them snuggling on a few occasions. Gracie was very good with her much younger sister; as an older cat, she didn’t often concern herself with Ava’s silliness, effectively defusing any shenanigans by walking right past.

 

Gracie and Ava

One last thing: Gracie loved her Christmas tree, and we were glad we got it set up over Thanksgiving weekend, so she was able to lay under it for one last season.


Gracie under her tree (November 27, 2020)

Fly free, sweet Gracie. We love you always with all of our hearts, and will see you again. Wait for us, okay?

XOXO

Mom Tracey, Dad Kevin, and Sister Ava