Good-bye, Mark Twain

On February 11, 2015, my beloved cat Mark Twain died suddenly of an apparent heart attack. No two cats are alike, but Mark Twain was truly one-of-a-kind. The author Mark Twain, with his sense of humor, could not have asked for a better namesake.

Farewell

"Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship,

and it is far the best ending for one."

--Oscar Wilde

Toys from Christmas Past

The "Canine Genius" keeps Rebel occupied for a while, while Mark Twain likes to play with his favorite chipmunk toy which he recently rediscovered in the large pile of cat toys near the fireplace.

Naptime

The Fireplace

The coziest place to be is in front of the fireplace, according to just about every single cat in this household. And I agree with them wholeheartedly.

Mesmerized

Mark Twain appears to have recovered completely from his long battle with FUS. His favorite place to be these days is in front of the fireplace. He'll sit and stare at the fire, as though mesmerized, for long periods of time.

Definition of Education

"That which reveals to the wise,

and conceals from the stupid,

the vast limits of their knowledge."

--MARK TWAIN

Thunder

"Thunder is good, thunder is impressive;

but it is lightning that does the work."

--MARK TWAIN

Cats' Rule

There is a rule which most, if not all, cats seem to follow, and it is: "Whoever runs first, gets chased." And in our household, Karma is the one who gets chased most often when she has no interest in playing this game with Ginny's adult kittens. Quentin and Emma appear to be the worst offenders--I mean followers of this rule, since both of them look for Karma in hopes of chasing her. How do I know this? It is written all over their faces when they look at her. So if Karma is not sleeping (they do respect sleep), she tends to keep a watchful eye out for the rascals who insist on playing tag with her. Some of the cats, Yoda and Mark Twain, for example, love to play tag with the others, and take turns running after one another through the house.

Fluid Prejudice

"The very ink with which history is written

is merely fluid prejudice."

--MARK TWAIN

Three Out of Nine

I spent the entire month of October worrying about Mark Twain, who required two emergency veterinary visits and was hospitalized for approximately a total of ten days. This past Sunday, I was getting ready to take Mark Twain back to the veterinary hospital for another catheter (and an operation this time), when he suddenly took a turn for the better after Rebel comforted him, so to speak. Mark Twain was diagnosed with FUS. Although he's not out of the woods yet, Mark Twain is doing well, but he did use three out of his nine cat lives in a month's time.

Everyone

"Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side

which he never shows to anybody."

--MARK TWAIN

Day After Tomorrow

"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow."

--MARK TWAIN

Full Value from Joy

"Grief can take care of itself,

but to get the full value from joy

you must have somebody to divide it with."

--MARK TWAIN

Highest Perfection of Politeness

"The highest perfection of politeness is only a beautiful edifice, built, from the base to the dome, of ungraceful and gilded forms of charitable and unselfish lying."--MARK TWAIN

A Compliment

"You must not pay a person a compliment,

and then straightway follow it with a criticism."

--MARK TWAIN

Exercise

"I have never taken any exercise,

except for sleeping and resting,

and I never intend to take any.

Exercise is loathsome."

--MARK TWAIN

Shoemaker's Son

The shoemaker's son always goes barefoot.

--Proverb

Contentment

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I know this photo represents Mark Twain's idea of perfect contentment, having his best buddy lie down next to him.

The Cat

"Of all God's creatures there is only one

that cannot be made the slave of the lash.

That one is the cat.

If man could be crossed with the cat

it would improve man,

but it would deteriorate the cat."

--MARK TWAIN