RIP Madeline L'Engle, and Her Ladyship

[hobgoblinn]

I just read where Madeline L'Engle has died at age 88. One of my first favorite authors, and her themes and images and ideas still resonate with me. I realized that she must have been older than I am now when she wrote A Wrinkle in Time. Gives me hope that I may still grow in wisdom enough to write things worth saying. If I get off my ass and Just Do It. I'm strongly considering an original plot for nanowrimo this year, instead of fanfic.

And I also had to put my ancient pussycat to sleep this afternoon. Wee Hob is moody and sad, and her younger feline companion, a brain damaged eternal adolescent cat named Samwise is wandering about the house, confused that he can't find his friend anywhere. Her full name was "Her Most Exalted Ladyship, Queen Mab" because when I got her she was so very dignified and tolerant of the antics of younger cat (real adolescent then). It was shortened to Ladyship, then M'lady, and finally just Lady. She was the sweetest and most patient beast I have ever known, and I still remember how thrilled Wee Hob was when I got him back and she chose His bed to sleep on and adopted him as her own kitten. One of my friends who is sensitive to the thoughts and ways of animals said that she considered us all "her kittens", and she felt very content to look after us and shake her head at our strange ways.

I feel guilty and sad I couldn't do more for her, but even if I could have afforded the cost of trying to save her, it was a long shot at best, as her organs seemed to be failing, and without extensive bloodwork we couldn't have even known what to treat, or if it was treatable. But we made sure she didn't suffer, and Wee Hob has decided that was a good thing. We buried her next to his godparents' dog, who had always wanted a kitty cat of her own. We never met this dog, but we have heard all the stories. And now Wee Hob will have a place he can visit her.

Anyway, that's my life for today.

Comments

[usedtobeljs]

I'm so sorry for the loss of your pet.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

thanks.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I am sorry about Lady. She sounds much loved and loving in return.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

thanks.

[timeofchange.livejournal.com]

So sorry to hear about your cat. It's hard. I had to put down two old lady cats when my son was one and two, and it was very sad.

Also, blown away by the news of Madeline L'Engle. "A Wrinkle in Time" meant so much to me when I was a child. I honestly didn't realize she was still living, and now she is gone. RIP, indeed.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

I honestly didn't realize she was still alive, either, until I saw the death notice. I think her Meg was probably the one female protagonist with whom I really connected and identified as a child and young adult reader. Shame there's not more of that kind of writing out there, or that I didn't stumble across more of it back then.

I don't think I ever had a realistic idea of cat lifespans growing up, because outdoor cats living by a busy street are not long for this world, and back then, they were all half strays we sort of took in. I've never had a cat get old enough to need this kind of care. I know I did the right thing, and now I think I'll know what to do, and maybe react sooner, when Sam gets to that age. But right now he's a young healthy guy. Unless he finds a way to stick his paw into an electric socket or something, he's got a few years yet.

thanks.

[dragonydreams.livejournal.com]

::hugs:: I'm sorry for the loss of your Lady.

I recently finished re-reading A Wrinkle in Time and was once again very impressed by it. It's very sad that the author has passed on.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

I've never been able to read anything of hers beyond the Wrinkle trilogy (and there's a fourth about Sandy and Dennys, but I don't classify it as part of the other particularly.)

Maybe I'll try some of her other work now. She was an amazing writer.

Thanks for the hugs.

[willowgreen.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry about your cat. It's so hard to have to let them go. :-(

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

thanks

[nwhepcat.livejournal.com]

Aw, I'm sorry to hear about your kitty. She sounds like a grand lady.

And I was sad to hear about Madeline L'Engle too.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

thanks, Lady.

[empresspatti.livejournal.com]

Oh Sweetie! So sorry about your cat. Don't feel guilty. Sometimes the most humane thing you can do is let go before suffering becomes horrible and acute.

My sympathy to you and Wee Hob.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

yeah, I know. thanks.

[ex-shitsu-to509.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the loss of your wonderfully named cat. You wrote about her so well, could really feel the love.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

thanks. for the concrit, too. you know how to make a writer feel better.

[fishsanwitt]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

It's always difficult to lose a member of your family.

::hugs::

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

thanks

[ladyforash.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear about your Lady. :hugs:

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

thanks.

[gillo]

You made the right choice, I'm sure, but that doesn't make it easy. The loss of a pet is always upsetting, but you have many memories you and your family can share. {{hugs}}

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

thanks.

[headrush100.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear about Lady. *hugs*

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

thanks. *hugs back*

[lady-clover.livejournal.com]

I am sorry to hear about the loss of Lady. It's never easy to say goodbye, especially when it is a cat of her quality.

Don't beat yourself up over not prolonging her life. Pet medicine is as expensive as human medicine anymore. My mother spent thousands on her cat, Bubbles, and the end was the same but with more suffering. You did the right thing.

Thanks for betaing that last chapter for me. Had I known that you were in crisis though I wouldn't have asked.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

It was a joy to beta for you-- especially as I really couldn't do any actual work the first hour or so of the day yesterday because someone else hadn't delivered me a graphics file I kind of needed. No crisis, really; I was resigned to the inevitable when I made the appointment that morning, and while sad, it was also a relief. Thanks.