Goodbye to Junebug :-(
Monday August 12, 2002 – 3:35 amI took Juney to the vet today, and… we ended up putting her to sleep. :-( Her chest was full of fluid and her lungs were almost collapsed because of that. Hence the breathing problems. The doctor wasn’t sure which of the 4 or 5 scenarios might have caused the fluid to build up, but no matter what the reason was, the prognosis wasn’t good at all. X-rays showed a big lump near her stomach, which could have been a tumor, or maybe something else. It wasn’t good whatever it was. So, there were things we could have tried, but every option seemed kind of ridiculous to even consider, in light of her very very advanced age, current poor health etc. Her life has been deteriorating steadily for the past year. So I decided on the best thing to do, and that was to stop her suffering… she really was, too. It was… the best thing I could do. It was gentle and she died peacefully and without pain, so… there ya go. Junebug is dead. Long live Junebug!!!! The best, most loving, smartest, most patient and sweetest cat on earth. A real movie star. I’m going to miss her very very much. :-(
August 12th, 2002 at 4:11 am
I’m sorry, Edith. It is hard to lose a beloved companion…
We will be thinking of you, and sending our love.
Hang in there.
August 12th, 2002 at 4:47 am
so sorry about your loss. Juney sounds like a wonderful friend and it was very kind and unselfish of you to keep her from suffering any longer.
August 12th, 2002 at 7:12 am
When you wrote that your Junebug needed to go to the vet over the weekend, and that she was at least 14, maybe older, I realized that she was probably on that ninth life at this point in your life. That’s a huge part of your life she lived through with you — more than a third of it. And y’know how independent cats are, but we imagine that they will just always be there in our lives. It’s good that you were home to take her and make the decision. Better than finding her dead or just gone. That love we have for animals in our life is just as real as the love you sing of in "Love Is Real." Then the inevitable happens, and seldomly when we’re ready for it. She looks like she was a good friend to you through all sorts of stuff over all those years. (Our Emma
lived 14 yrs. and saw the birth, at home, of all 3 kids, and protected them when they were babies). Yes, you did the right thing, but, I know it’s sad. Death’s so…f-i-n-a-l. Even without knowing you, I’m sure this is very sad for you. (Our vet sent a really thoughtful condolence card that meant alot; she knew that animals are more than just "pets" in our lives; they’re part of our families). Remember, she probably thought the same way about you as your do about her – remember, she watched you growing up over these years, too. And maybe even enjoyed your music as much as your friends and supporters do. Take care, and remember the good stuff about your feline friend, Junebug.
August 12th, 2002 at 8:21 am
you are a very good mom to juney, and i feel honored to have met her! take care edith, and i’ll be thinking of you.
August 12th, 2002 at 9:25 am
sweetie, i’m so sorry to had to let junebug go. i’ve grown up with animals and pets my whole life, and when one leaves, it’s hard. you were very brave and unselfish to put her best interests above wanting to keep her. you gave her a wonderful gift of not suffering anymore. you’ll be in my thoughts girl. xo
August 12th, 2002 at 12:24 pm
Clay – she was at least 16 and most likely even older than that. 14 years was only how long I had her. She was a full grown stray cat when I got her in 1988 — I didn’t know anything about her history, but the vet back then thought she was around 3 or 4.
June was an alley cat that showed up at the head shop I used to work at in Austin, when I was a snot-nosed punk with a blue mohawk. There was a store cat named Liza, and I would see June sneak in and eat Liza’s food. She was very hungry and over the next few weeks kept reappearing at the store’s back door looking for food. We made friends, and eventually she decided to adopt me because of the way I petted her tummy. She looked up and asked me to take her home, so I did. I was flattered and happy to comply, even though I was very allergic to cats. I basically willed myself to stop sneezing, LOL.
14 years is a long time, she sure stuck with me through thick and thin. She sat right here next to me for most of my adult life! I moved her to literally 9 or 10 different apartments across the USA, she never complained. The sight of piles of moving boxes made her happy because she knew she was allowed to scratch on ‘em. The worst part for her was all the times I had to leave her at home because I was off touring… she hated that. It made her very depressed, but she accepted it gracefully and forgave me every time I came back home.
Anyway… thanks for all the condolences. I feel just terrible about losing her anyway, no matter what anybody says, but that’s the way it goes. I just miss her so much and I feel awful that I had to make that decision. She was the best cat ever, I was lucky to have her even for a minute. I would have gladly lived with her my whole life!!
August 12th, 2002 at 6:42 pm
sorry to hear about Junebug. It sounds like she had a long, exciting life. It’s so painful when you have to put a pet to sleep. But I’m sure it was the best thing for her.
August 13th, 2002 at 2:21 am
My deepest sympathies. You did the right thing. She’s happy and free in the kitty afterworld and she’ll always look after you now.
August 13th, 2002 at 1:23 pm
Hi Edith,
Mark and I are really sorry to hear about Junebug. We feel honored that we were among the last to see her in this world…I was just showing Mark the picture of her you put up…I’m sure she’s gone on to a peaceful place with lots of nice things to smell and taste and comfy places to nap. She was a true blue friend. I know you miss her but you did the right thing.
August 14th, 2002 at 11:26 am
Hey, Edith,
Sorry about June. She was the best cat I’ve known, and one of the best friends I’ve had. Her sweetness was a true inspiration. Thanks for taking care of her, and being such a good mom to her, for all these years.
August 14th, 2002 at 12:20 pm
Oh Bill… I didn’t want to tell you, it’s too sad. Waaaahhhh! Thanks for the tribute, I’m sure she’d say the same about you. Waaaah…