Tributes

January 2007 - February 2021

Clementine

Light a Candle for Clementine

About Clementine

Maine Coon

Salt Lake City, UT

Roast lamb

Running taps, cardboard boxes

Zit, blijf, and 'wandeling', which was the only word that ever made him move quickly.

Any tricks or words they knew?

-----

Rain, stairs, and being told no.

Was there anything they really disliked?

-----

Morning bicycle ride in the basket, a slow walk along the canal, then fourteen hours of committed rest.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

He did not get up. He raised his head, made one small noise of acknowledgement, and waited for me to come to him.

How did they greet you when you came home?

-----

Under the duvet, at the very bottom of the bed, pressed against my feet.

Where did they love to sleep or curl up?

-----

He burrowed. Any blanket, any coat, any bag left open on the floor became a tunnel he had to be inside of.

What were their funny habits or quirks?

-----

She was found in a barn in the Borders, one of five kittens, already twice the size of her siblings. The farmer said she was 'a bit much'. She was.

How they came into your life?

Fourteen years and you never once did anything you did not want to do. I admired you enormously.

A message you'd like to say to them

-----

Put him in the basket and cycle the long way round the canals with no destination at all.

If they were here right now, what would you do?

-----

His last spring, asleep in a square of sunlight on the wooden floor, entirely content.

What was your last happy moment together?

-----

Cold mornings by the Prinsengracht, and the specific sound of a bicycle bell.

What reminds you of them? (song, place, object...)

-----

He got stuck halfway into a duvet cover and walked around the flat as a small angry ghost for ten minutes.

The funniest thing they ever did?

-----

The night of the storm when the power went out and he sat in my lap for four hours without complaining once, which was entirely out of character.

A memory you'll never forget?

Coffee at the window every morning, him on the chair beside me, both of us watching the boats.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

Every August we took the train to Utrecht to see my sister. He sat on the seat like a paying passenger.

What adventures or trips did you share?

-----

He would press his whole warm length against my side and refuse to move, which is its own kind of argument against getting up.

How did they comfort you on a hard day?

-----

A tortoiseshell cat named Suus who lived on the boat opposite. They stared at each other across the water for years.

Did they have a best friend, animal or human?

-----

My grandmother, until the end. He was never entirely mine and we both knew it.

Who was their favourite person?

Coffee at the window every morning, him on the chair beside me, both of us watching the boats.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

Every August we took the train to Utrecht to see my sister. He sat on the seat like a paying passenger.

What adventures or trips did you share?

-----

He would press his whole warm length against my side and refuse to move, which is its own kind of argument against getting up.

How did they comfort you on a hard day?

-----

A tortoiseshell cat named Suus who lived on the boat opposite. They stared at each other across the water for years.

Did they have a best friend, animal or human?

-----

My grandmother, until the end. He was never entirely mine and we both knew it.

Who was their favourite person?

Zit, blijf, and 'wandeling', which was the only word that ever made him move quickly.

Any tricks or words they knew?

-----

Rain, stairs, and being told no.

Was there anything they really disliked?

-----

Morning bicycle ride in the basket, a slow walk along the canal, then fourteen hours of committed rest.

Did they have a daily routine?

-----

He did not get up. He raised his head, made one small noise of acknowledgement, and waited for me to come to him.

How did they greet you when you came home?

-----

Under the duvet, at the very bottom of the bed, pressed against my feet.

Where did they love to sleep or curl up?

-----

He burrowed. Any blanket, any coat, any bag left open on the floor became a tunnel he had to be inside of.

What were their funny habits or quirks?

-----

She was found in a barn in the Borders, one of five kittens, already twice the size of her siblings. The farmer said she was 'a bit much'. She was.

How they came into your life?

Fourteen years and you never once did anything you did not want to do. I admired you enormously.

A message you'd like to say to them

-----

Put him in the basket and cycle the long way round the canals with no destination at all.

If they were here right now, what would you do?

-----

His last spring, asleep in a square of sunlight on the wooden floor, entirely content.

What was your last happy moment together?

-----

Cold mornings by the Prinsengracht, and the specific sound of a bicycle bell.

What reminds you of them? (song, place, object...)

-----

He got stuck halfway into a duvet cover and walked around the flat as a small angry ghost for ten minutes.

The funniest thing they ever did?

-----

The night of the storm when the power went out and he sat in my lap for four hours without complaining once, which was entirely out of character.

A memory you'll never forget?

Warm

Regal

Stubborn

About Nora

Zit, blijf, and 'wandeling', which was the only word that ever made him move quickly.

Any tricks or words they knew?

-----

Rain, stairs, and being told no.

Was there anything they really disliked?

-----

Morning bicycle ride in the basket, a slow walk along the canal, then fourteen hours of committed rest.

Did they have a daily routine?

-----

He did not get up. He raised his head, made one small noise of acknowledgement, and waited for me to come to him.

How did they greet you when you came home?

-----

Under the duvet, at the very bottom of the bed, pressed against my feet.

Where did they love to sleep or curl up?

-----

He burrowed. Any blanket, any coat, any bag left open on the floor became a tunnel he had to be inside of.

What were their funny habits or quirks?

-----

She was found in a barn in the Borders, one of five kittens, already twice the size of her siblings. The farmer said she was 'a bit much'. She was.

How they came into your life?

Fourteen years and you never once did anything you did not want to do. I admired you enormously.

A message you'd like to say to them

-----

Put him in the basket and cycle the long way round the canals with no destination at all.

If they were here right now, what would you do?

-----

His last spring, asleep in a square of sunlight on the wooden floor, entirely content.

What was your last happy moment together?

-----

Cold mornings by the Prinsengracht, and the specific sound of a bicycle bell.

What reminds you of them? (song, place, object...)

-----

He got stuck halfway into a duvet cover and walked around the flat as a small angry ghost for ten minutes.

The funniest thing they ever did?

-----

The night of the storm when the power went out and he sat in my lap for four hours without complaining once, which was entirely out of character.

A memory you'll never forget?

Coffee at the window every morning, him on the chair beside me, both of us watching the boats.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

Every August we took the train to Utrecht to see my sister. He sat on the seat like a paying passenger.

What adventures or trips did you share?

-----

Under the duvet, at the very bottom of the bed, pressed against my feet.

How did they comfort you on a hard day?

-----

A tortoiseshell cat named Suus who lived on the boat opposite. They stared at each other across the water for years.

Did they have a best friend, animal or human?

-----

My grandmother, until the end. He was never entirely mine and we both knew it.

Who was their favourite person?