Bubblegum

I could write paragraph after paragraph about one of the sweetest little ladies to ever exist and it still wouldn’t be enough. Words in general will never be enough, because Bubblegum was an experience in herself.

From Princess Bubblegum to my “child”, my best friend, my angel… you went by many titles, some sillier than others. Everyone was your friend, and I do mean everyone — even vets and nurses, you never truly met a stranger. If someone even looked at you, they were yours to harass with kisses and claws you never truly learned how to retract. That was just another unique thing about you, wasn’t it?

I wish I could apologize for the struggles the universe gave you, for the losses you experienced, and for the trials and tribulations of being immunocompromised from birth, all of it… but I know you’d just kiss me until my face hurts anyway. I’m grateful for that forgiveness and what it taught me.

You taught me patience. You taught me kindness. You never let me truly feel like the world didn’t have beautiful things in it.

It never mattered that you were different, you always found your way around. You always got what you wanted, which was love, adoration, and pureed wet cat food that you would somehow sling all over God’s creation.

You were so special – I mean, how many cats do things like pose for pictures and obsess over the color pink? How many have a meow that sounded like someone saying “hey”? The list is endless. It makes me wish that I could tell the whole world about you.

Thank you for sticking by me for almost ten years. Thank you for growing with me, for loving me unconditionally even when I feel like I didn’t deserve it, and for waiting until you knew I was safe to finally go. Wherever you are, I know the pain is gone. I know your babies are happy to have mom home, and your siblings are right there with you. You always loved them so much, too.

I miss you so much every day, but there is a funky kind of comfort in knowing I’ll see you again. We never really were ever apart, it was just temporary. This is temporary, too.

Forever my little pawprint-shaped puzzle piece.