Mom and my sweetest cat died this year. Mom in April and my little princess yesterday. [View all]

I HATE this year. Mom was 95 and my little Siamese princess was 14. Both lived good long lives and went loved - but BOTH IN THE SAME YEAR? Ugh.

My little princess had cancer and was having trouble breathing the last couple of days, and hadn't eaten or drank in 5 days. I did get her to nibble and drink a little Friday night. I got the diagnosis Friday evening and hoped to keep her at least nibbling and comfortable through the weekend but it was not happening. She only slept fitfully Friday night and Saturday morning would not even come to the kitchen for breakfast - and for the entire week, even when she did come, she didn't eat anything. She was wheezing, coughing and gurgling even when awake and at rest. She snored so it was hard to tell if it was congestion or snoring when sleeping - but she would just get to sleep then suddenly awaken with a cough. She couldn't rest and was miserable. Any food or water I brought to her Saturday morning and most other of those 5 days was refused with exception of Friday night. I just could not wait and took her to the emergency vet Saturday morning. I don't care it costed more, I was not going to let her suffer two more damn days just to save myself a couple hundred bucks.

Mom - besides being 94, had COPD and congestive heart failure, macular degeneration (legally blind) and she also suffered at the end - many emergencies where she could not breathe and numerous breathing treatments before she finally took her last breath. It was everything 3 of us could do to care for her 24 x 7 in the end.

I know -- no one lives forever. And we usually outlive our pets. I had two cats. I still have one but the house is so quiet with only one and my little princess was the sweetest one. Why is it that it seems the sweetest and best pets and humans always go first?

I HATE THIS YEAR. It was also beset by massive financial expenditures related to both of these incidents and house problems. Thousands of dollars I'll never get back. Some of it was necessary - other of it was weird stuff that just happened. When you own a house or car, you never know what's going to leak, blow up, stop working or develop structural issues or whatever.

I HAD to be with Mom when she passed and with the family after and at the memorial. I made a video of her life, the people in it, her crafts and paintings, her accomplishments, her sentiments, photos of her and our family - right up until her last Christmas in 2021. it was shown at her memorial. It is a keepsake for all in the family.

I arranged to have my little princess's ashes returned to me and am purchasing an urn to keep her with me. I got her at 4 months and was her Mommy for 14 years. I took care of her best I could, loved and protected her, got her vet care when she was sick. She was my spoiled little princess and I miss her so much and my dear Mumsy too.

Have I said I HATE THIS YEAR YET? I HATE IT!