Tributes

February 2011 - May 2024

Saffron

Light a Candle for Saffron

About Saffron

Ragdoll

Seattle, WA

Poached salmon

Being carried like a baby

She came when called, which Ragdolls rarely do, and she knew 'up', at which she would wait to be lifted.

Any tricks or words they knew?

-----

Being left in a room with the door shut. She did not scratch or cry, she simply waited, which was somehow worse.

Was there anything they really disliked?

-----

She followed the household. Whoever moved, she moved with them, settling wherever they settled, a soft blue-eyed shadow all day long.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

She padded to the door and flopped over at my feet, belly up, inviting me to pick her up, which I always did.

How did they greet you when you came home?

-----

Wherever I was, as close as possible, draped over an arm, a lap, a keyboard, a book.

Where did they love to sleep or curl up?

-----

She went entirely limp when lifted, so completely relaxed that strangers thought something was wrong. It was simply her enormous trust.

What were their funny habits or quirks?

-----

She was the kitten who flopped over the moment she was picked up, utterly boneless, trusting completely. I had come to see a different kitten. I left with her.

How they came into your life?

You trusted everyone, completely, always. In a careful world, you were the bravest thing in the house.

A message you'd like to say to them

-----

Pick her up, let her go limp in my arms, and carry her from room to room the way she loved.

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

-----

A quiet Sunday with the whole family home, her moving from lap to lap, settling on each one in turn.

What was your last happy moment together?

-----

A patch of afternoon sun on a wooden floor, and the weight of a trusting cat going limp in your arms.

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

-----

She fell asleep so completely in a sunbeam that she slid slowly off the back of the sofa and did not even wake up on the way down.

The funniest thing they ever did?

-----

The afternoon my mother passed, Saffron would not leave her chair, and sat in it for a week, keeping watch over the empty place.

A memory you'll never forget?

Every evening she waited to be carried up the stairs to bed, in my arms, on her back, like a small furred baby.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

She was not an adventurer. Her world was the house and the people in it, and she wanted nothing more than that.

What adventures or trips did you share?

-----

She draped herself across my chest and purred, a dead weight of pure trust, and the whole world narrowed to that.

How did they comfort you on a hard day?

-----

My elderly mother, who lived with us, and whose lap Saffron occupied every afternoon for the last two years of her life.

Did they have a best friend, animal or human?

-----

All of us equally, which was its own quiet gift. She did not choose. She loved the whole family exactly the same.

Who was their favourite person?

Every evening she waited to be carried up the stairs to bed, in my arms, on her back, like a small furred baby.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

She was not an adventurer. Her world was the house and the people in it, and she wanted nothing more than that.

What adventures or trips did you share?

-----

She draped herself across my chest and purred, a dead weight of pure trust, and the whole world narrowed to that.

How did they comfort you on a hard day?

-----

My elderly mother, who lived with us, and whose lap Saffron occupied every afternoon for the last two years of her life.

Did they have a best friend, animal or human?

-----

All of us equally, which was its own quiet gift. She did not choose. She loved the whole family exactly the same.

Who was their favourite person?

She came when called, which Ragdolls rarely do, and she knew 'up', at which she would wait to be lifted.

Any tricks or words they knew?

-----

Being left in a room with the door shut. She did not scratch or cry, she simply waited, which was somehow worse.

Was there anything they really disliked?

-----

She followed the household. Whoever moved, she moved with them, settling wherever they settled, a soft blue-eyed shadow all day long.

Did they have a daily routine?

-----

She padded to the door and flopped over at my feet, belly up, inviting me to pick her up, which I always did.

How did they greet you when you came home?

-----

Wherever I was, as close as possible, draped over an arm, a lap, a keyboard, a book.

Where did they love to sleep or curl up?

-----

She went entirely limp when lifted, so completely relaxed that strangers thought something was wrong. It was simply her enormous trust.

What were their funny habits or quirks?

-----

She was the kitten who flopped over the moment she was picked up, utterly boneless, trusting completely. I had come to see a different kitten. I left with her.

How they came into your life?

You trusted everyone, completely, always. In a careful world, you were the bravest thing in the house.

A message you'd like to say to them

-----

Pick her up, let her go limp in my arms, and carry her from room to room the way she loved.

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

-----

A quiet Sunday with the whole family home, her moving from lap to lap, settling on each one in turn.

What was your last happy moment together?

-----

A patch of afternoon sun on a wooden floor, and the weight of a trusting cat going limp in your arms.

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

-----

She fell asleep so completely in a sunbeam that she slid slowly off the back of the sofa and did not even wake up on the way down.

The funniest thing they ever did?

-----

The afternoon my mother passed, Saffron would not leave her chair, and sat in it for a week, keeping watch over the empty place.

A memory you'll never forget?

Gentle

Trusting

Boneless

About Saffron

She came when called, which Ragdolls rarely do, and she knew 'up', at which she would wait to be lifted.

Any tricks or words they knew?

-----

Being left in a room with the door shut. She did not scratch or cry, she simply waited, which was somehow worse.

Was there anything they really disliked?

-----

She followed the household. Whoever moved, she moved with them, settling wherever they settled, a soft blue-eyed shadow all day long.

Did they have a daily routine?

-----

She padded to the door and flopped over at my feet, belly up, inviting me to pick her up, which I always did.

How did they greet you when you came home?

-----

Wherever I was, as close as possible, draped over an arm, a lap, a keyboard, a book.

Where did they love to sleep or curl up?

-----

She went entirely limp when lifted, so completely relaxed that strangers thought something was wrong. It was simply her enormous trust.

What were their funny habits or quirks?

-----

She was the kitten who flopped over the moment she was picked up, utterly boneless, trusting completely. I had come to see a different kitten. I left with her.

How they came into your life?

You trusted everyone, completely, always. In a careful world, you were the bravest thing in the house.

A message you'd like to say to them

-----

Pick her up, let her go limp in my arms, and carry her from room to room the way she loved.

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

-----

A quiet Sunday with the whole family home, her moving from lap to lap, settling on each one in turn.

What was your last happy moment together?

-----

A patch of afternoon sun on a wooden floor, and the weight of a trusting cat going limp in your arms.

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

-----

She fell asleep so completely in a sunbeam that she slid slowly off the back of the sofa and did not even wake up on the way down.

The funniest thing they ever did?

-----

The afternoon my mother passed, Saffron would not leave her chair, and sat in it for a week, keeping watch over the empty place.

A memory you'll never forget?

Every evening she waited to be carried up the stairs to bed, in my arms, on her back, like a small furred baby.

Did you have a little ritual together?

-----

She was not an adventurer. Her world was the house and the people in it, and she wanted nothing more than that.

What adventures or trips did you share?

-----

Wherever I was, as close as possible, draped over an arm, a lap, a keyboard, a book.

How did they comfort you on a hard day?

-----

My elderly mother, who lived with us, and whose lap Saffron occupied every afternoon for the last two years of her life.

Did they have a best friend, animal or human?

-----

All of us equally, which was its own quiet gift. She did not choose. She loved the whole family exactly the same.

Who was their favourite person?