Opossum :( - or - How to break bad news

[Jessie]

Yesterday Carroll and I went to play mini golf, and both forgot our phones here.  When we got back, I had a voicemail from my stepmom.  This alone was enough to get me worried, because she never calls me, dad always does.  To top that off, she was obviously crying.  "Jessie, I was just wondering if you were back in town yet.  Call me when you get this."

Oh shit! I thought my dad was hurt or dead or somehow incapable of calling me, and that explained her being upset, too.

So, I called her back.  She answered, still crying, and I immediately asked what was wrong.

"I just wanted to call and tell you about Opossum."

"She died?"

"Yeah.  She died just a little bit ago."

"Oh christ.  That's kind of a relief.  I thought Dad died."

Good god, man.  She scared the crap out of me.  Opossum is my cat who was roughly 23 when she died.  She was born to our cat, Tinker, when Tyler was barely able to walk, so I was about 7 years old.  We got to keep her because my great grandpa's friend lied to Tyler and told him he could keep the opossum that the man had caught, hence her name.

My stepmom said, "I guess I'm more upset about this than you guys are."  Not exactly, but yeah, if I have to pick between my cat dying and my dad dying, I'm gonna go with the cat every time.  I'm certainly sad; she's been part of my life for very nearly its entirety.  Just the relief of my dad being ok kind of overpowered the sadness I felt over the cat.  Plus, I saw her Friday and knew her time was limited.  She was down to, I'd say roughly half a pound, seriously.  She was nothing but fur and bones and tumors.  She was still happy though, despite being blind and deaf and toothless.  I held her and petted her and she snuggled up to me and purred as loud as she ever had.  She never cried or seemed to be in pain, and she got to die at home, naturally, without being put to sleep.  She was ready to go.  If she'd lived any longer, she'd have just been suffering. 

Damn, typing that made me tear up.  I'm gonna miss her.

[Alice]

I'm sorry to hear about Opossum.  But very glad to hear your dad is fine.

[Beefy]

Sorry, Jess

[dazie]

I'm glad your dad is ok, but I am very sorry you've lost your companion.  Better that she was happy though.   

[DownSouth]

Sorry, Jessie.

[Alice]

Random story side note on breaking bad news.

My mom went down south to see my Granddad who was in the hospital.  She called and said, "Honey, it doesn't look so good.  He's passed on." 

Something about that pissed me off at the time, but I find slightly amusing now.  Doesn't look so good?  I should say not.

[dazie]

Of course he's late.  He's never gonna get here- he's DEAD.

(not meaning your grandfather Alice, that's just the punchline of some joke that popped into my head)

[Gamplayerx]

Glad your dad's not dead.  Sorry about your cat.

[Jessie]

Thanks.  Here's a funny twist on the story. 

I called mom, who was watching Timothy, and told her (since the cat was once hers, as well).  She decided to let me tell Timothy when I got home, cause he sometimes flips a little when it comes to ANY death.  Well, he knew something was up, and kept asking her what.  She told him it wasn't a huge deal, kinda sad, but also good in a way.  So he convinced himself that I was pregnant (or had cancer).  So yeah, he was a little relieved to hear the cat had died, too.

[Gamplayerx]

So cancer and pregnancy rate the same with him?

You might want to file that information away to play up in a few years.

[Jessie]

Oooh the giraffe!

[Gamplayerx]

Oooh the giraffe!

Your fault.  I found it when I was looking for floppy-headed OBB.   

[dazie]

Your family members just aren't good at that sort of notification are they?

[VikingJuice]

Wow, a cat that lived to 23 ish?  That's incredible.  I thought my cat did well making it 15 years.  He was such a cutie.  He was a grey tabby with a big bull'seye marking on his sides.  His belly would sway back and forth when he ran, which was rare.  He was so lovable. He'd just flop down in your lap and start purring.

I know this is supposed to be about your cat but it made me think of mine.  I feel your loss.  Sorry to hear about it.

[Jessie]

Yep, she was crazy old.  Our dog is ~18, and my stepmom's cat is around 20.  They're doing something right over at dad's house.

[VikingJuice]

Yep, she was crazy old.  Our dog is ~18, and my stepmom's cat is around 20.  They're doing something right over at dad's house.

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