100 Words – Grief, Frailty, and Fright
October 29, 2011 
18 Comments
As I type this I am completely alone in the house. Completely alone. I love my people, but I don’t get enough time like this – hours upon beautiful quiet hours in which I can have uninterrupted thoughts.
There is only one thing wrong. Usually when I have the house to myself I’m not actually completely alone. There is usually another little life in the house, curled up in a warm spot somewhere or weaving through my legs, or sitting on my chest as I type with paws wrapped around my neck. Last weekend our beloved cat companion was killed by a car and I don’t know exactly what to say about that except that I can’t remember anything that so wrecked me like the moment that I tried to pick up her dead body from the road near our house.
I couldn’t do it. I howled on my knees by the side of the road equally horrified by the stiffness of her body as I was by the prospect of leaving her there for one more minute. It wasn’t rational, she was already gone. There was no life left in her to feel uncomfortable. But that’s what shock will do to you, what sudden grief will do to you – gut you of all rational thought and leave you on your knees on the side of a very busy road with your head bent less than a foot away from the yellow line, not caring if it gets lopped off by speeding metal and steel just so long as the dead body of your cat isn’t left in the dirt and exhaust fumes one minute longer.
It was eventually managed in a collaborative effort in what was probably minutes but felt like an interminably long time.
How could you not fall in love with this face?
The house…the house is much more quiet without her vibrant little presence and I still haven’t gotten used to it.
My pick this week is from Daniel Hathcock whose piece resonated with me even though I’m not exactly sure why yet:
Mad Ones
Thoughts are naked at 3:00 in the morning.
Camping out here at this
Little kitchen table with the
Ugly blue vinyl striped Wal-mart tablecloth.I have a massive cup o’ Joe,
But I’m getting drunk reading my Kerouac
And the mad ones.It hurts to know you’re
Not the person you thought you were.
Not a roman candle exploding,
But still a spider.8 legs of confusion, of doubt,
Of quiet little mouse-like
Timidity choking on half conceived words.Frailty personified.
Fear made flesh.The words are alcohol and
The bottle is full.
Always ready for yet another shot.
I’m reading several books at the moment, but I want to leave this prompt open for anything to do with spooks, ghouls, spectres and other haunty things in celebration of
HALLOWEEN
Or All Hallow’s Eve, or Dia de los Muertos, or All Soul’s Day. Point is, scare the ever-lovin’ crap out of me. Ok?
- Muahahahaha
I’m so sorry to hear about your cat.
I’ve had cat companions for 23 out of my 28 years and I know that silent, empty feeling too well.
Chaotically Yours recently posted..Six Sentences: "Glancing Into the Abyss"
Thanks CY, she had a peculiar bond with all of us, and us with her. It’s very sad that she’s gone.
Losing a pet is terrible. I’m sorry for your loss.
seeking elevation recently posted..Friday fluff
So sorry for your loss. Losing a member of your family, no matter how many legs or how much hair she may have, is an awful feeling. I would never wish it on anyone. I don’t cotton to prayer, as we say in the south, but you have my thoughts and positive feelings. Hope that can help.
And now it seems a bit trite, but I’m glad you enjoyed my piece even if it is a mystery to you.
Daniel recently posted..The Mad Ones
I could feel your grief in your words. It will take a long time to dull; its strength is an indication of how much you loved.
Peace when able, Robin
Robin Hawke recently posted..Listen
I don’t know what will happen to this house when one of our furry kids – one dog, two kittens, passes.
So sorry for you loss. Daniel’s piece was excellent.
Lance recently posted..Twenty Killer Hurts
I am sorry for your loss, VV. It hurts
okay – so I totally missed the SCARY part of the prompt and wrote a piece on grief – because it is close to my house right now. Sorry. Perhaps a SPOOKY piece will come out, too – but check out my spooky poem written several years ago – it is linked in my piece.
*walks off shaking head at her strangeness.
barbara recently posted..Grief
D’aw. Sorry if my grief ended up overwhelming what was meant to be the prompt.
You are all sweet. Just as an update, of course I miss the little fur ball, but that moment of having to try to pick her up was the worst. Don’t worry, I’m not in that state on any kind of ongoing basis. Now it’s just the reminders that she’s not here which are sad but manageable.
Deepest sympathies, VV. Glad you’re back.
I am so sorry for your loss. You have my sincere condolences.
So sorry to hear you’ve lost your companion. Our furry family members add a special depth and warmth to our families and that remains in our hearts, even after they’re gone.
I’ve had trouble visiting, but today, the link worked. And for the second time in a week, I find myself in tears reading of a friend’s loss of a beloved cat. I’m so sorry, VV. Were anything to happen to my Pandora, I would be inconsolable. She’s getting older, and is often forced to endure big hugs these days. I’m hoping she doesn’t mind too much, because I’m storing up.
Today is something of an anniversary for you and me. Two years ago, I wrote the first post on my then new blog for your 100-Word Challenge. It’s been awhile since I participated, but today, 365 posts later, I’m thinking I should come back. I’m getting kind of wordy, and the challenge would be good for me.
I’m finding myself terrible at writing anything spooky!
seeking elevation recently posted..Trifecta
I’m sorry. It’s always hard when a companion dies, especially through violence. I decided to go for a sentimental Halloween instead of a scary one:
http://www.irodius.com/2011/11/hallowed-evening.html
I, Rodius recently posted..Hallowed Evening