I haven’t written anything in the last week. Nothing. And it’s not like I haven’t tried. It’s just that everything I’ve tried to type has turned into an obituary for my cat, Copy, who was put to sleep last Tuesday evening. So – although I can understand how you all might not want to read a eulogy for my cat – I’m writing this now, in the hopes that once I’ve posted it, I can get back to work on my novel.
Writing without Copy might be extra difficult because she liked to spend time with me when I was writing. But probably it’s just been hard to write because I’ve been preoccupied with losing such a big part of my home life. I adopted Copy when I was just six months out of college. She was there through my first 10 years of real, honest-to-goodness adulthood: new jobs, new apartments, new boyfriends. Through shack-ups, break-ups, break-downs, break-ins – she was there for everything. Often, she was more of a roommate than a pet. She woke me up in the morning, hung out with me when I got dressed for work, met me at the door when I came home, sat on my lap when I wrote and always knew when I had a migraine.
It was a very satisfying friendship and I knew it couldn’t last forever, but it was a shock when the vet told me that Copy would have to be put to sleep.
Suffice to say, very little last week went as planned. We canceled our Thanksgiving trip to Texas because the cat – before we knew she would have to be put down – was too sick to stay in a kennel. And then there were several free days when I could have spent hours writing, but was unable to. Every blog post, every short story, every section of my novel I’ve tried to work on, has drifted toward the subject of cats in general and my cat specifically. So I decided to not write at all.
It’s nearly been a week now, and I have to start writing again. I’m hoping that this blog will get the ball rolling again. I think it might be working. I have an idea for a short story already, and there aren’t any cats in it.
Real, honest to goodness tears in my eyes right now. Beautiful tribute to a wonderfully unique cat (ironic I know, given her name).
I hope it has helped spring your mind into writer-mode…if not, well, I think there’s a market for sad kitty stories…Maybe those “Chicken Soup” books? jk
Can’t wait to read what you come up with.
Thanks, Tam. I know that Copy was a big fan of you (and your couch.) Well, except when we were both holding her down to bandage her tail.
I think I’m finally in writer mode again. I have a short story in the works and I have to get on some submissions. So maybe the blog post worked.
I’m so sorry for your loss Ann. I think it was the right thing not to write during that painful time. Perhaps, now, writing about something other than cats, you can begin to move away from that deep sadness — at least for the time you’re writing.
Thank you, Jane. There’s such a difference between different kinds of writing. When I was working as a reporter, the work of writing for the newspaper was an effective distraction from grief. But creative writing is not the same.
That was beautifully said. And beautifully sad. I’m sorry, Ann 🙁
Hello Moj. Thank you for your comment. I’m sorry, too. We miss her.