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Sunday, January 9, 2011

Sunday Salon- End of an Era


My husband and I had to put our beloved cat, Sasha, to sleep yesterday morning. He'd been sick since before Christmas, with what turned out to be some kind of sepsis. He had diabetes, liver problems and cancer and had been doing well on medication but this infection was too much for him and in the past couple of weeks he'd stopped eating almost entirely and lost more than 2 pounds. We took him in for blood tests yesterday, got the bad news and decided to let him go. He had a good life and he went peacefully. He was my little friend for 10 years and three homes, and he will be missed.


I don't know what today holds as far as reading or anything else. I'm reading Hotel du Lac, the Booker Prize-winner by Anita Brookner, and just heard yesterday that another Booker winner, Michael Ondaatje of The English Patient, has a new book due this summer. You can bet I'll get a hold of that one as soon as possible. I just got a first edition of The English Patient for my Booker collection; it's one of my all-time favorite books. I also want to read one of my graphic novels today, maybe Julia Wertz's new one, Drinking at the Movies.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families of victims of yesterday's shooting in Arizona.

What are you up to today? More Sunday Salon here.
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52 comments:

  1. Alexia561January 9, 2011 at 12:23 AM

    I'm so very, very sorry for your loss. The decision to have my cat put to sleep was one of the hardest things I've ever done, so I'm sure you must be heartbroken. Time and sharing good memories of Sasha will help. My deepest condolences. *hugs*

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  2. Literary FelineJanuary 9, 2011 at 12:30 AM

    I'm so sorry for your loss, Marie. It's so hard saying goodbye to a pet. My thoughts are with you.

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  3. bookmagicJanuary 9, 2011 at 12:46 AM

    Again, so sorry about your kitty :( It is such a tough decision and I know I debated a lot for my Max, but we love them too much to let them suffer. I bet she was very happy with you guys

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  4. AnonymousJanuary 9, 2011 at 1:30 AM

    Marie - I'm so very sorry for your loss. (Hugs)

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  5. mrs peelJanuary 9, 2011 at 2:44 AM

    I am so sorry to read such sad news. I never had to make such a decision myself, but my mother had to (for her dog) and know how hard it can be. You made the right choice anyway, avoiding your cat a lot of unnecessary pain. All my thoughts are with you !

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  6. jlshallJanuary 9, 2011 at 3:17 AM

    Such sad news. I'm so sorry to hear about Sasha, but it sounds like you made the right (however tough) decision.

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  7. LauraJanuary 9, 2011 at 6:24 AM

    I'm so sorry to hear about Sasha, Marie. We've had to make that decision before, too. It's so hard, but I'd like to think Sasha is in a better place, waiting to be reunited with you.

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  8. TeresaJanuary 9, 2011 at 7:11 AM

    I'm so sorry about your loss. I've been there and know how difficult it is.

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  9. AnonymousJanuary 9, 2011 at 7:12 AM

    So sorry to hear about the death of a family member. You must be so sad. One of my co workers had to do that recently with her 15 year old dog. Not fun. :(

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  10. Marie CloutierJanuary 9, 2011 at 8:22 AM

    thanks everyone. it was the right thing to do but i definitely left a little of myself behind.

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  11. AnonymousJanuary 9, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    So sorry for your loss. Give yourself the time you need to go through the grieving process. Sending out thoughts and hugs.

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  12. MichelleJanuary 9, 2011 at 8:29 AM

    Marie, I'm so sorry. When I made this decision for my dog Bear serveral years back it was the right choice but so so difficult. I'm thinking of you!

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  13. TashaJanuary 9, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    I'm sorry to hear about Sasha, Marie. I remember seeing him in one of your recent vlog posts. He started out on a cushion behind you and gradually crept closer throughout the video. He made me laugh.

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  14. BooksnycJanuary 9, 2011 at 8:51 AM

    I am so sorry to hear about your cat - our pets are such a part of lives that I know it must leave a hole behind. Sending good thoughts your way!

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  15. MysticaJanuary 9, 2011 at 8:55 AM

    Am so sorry over your loss. You have wonderful memories so that is the good part. My thoughts are with you.

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  16. rhapsodyinbooksJanuary 9, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    How sad! I'm so sorry! Much sympathy for you and your husband!

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  17. Laurel-Rain SnowJanuary 9, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    So sorry about Sasha! I love that name...my last kitty was named Sasha.

    She had to go to a new home when the condo I moved to wouldn't allow pets...and then, about a year later, they started taking pets! Annoying dogs showed up everywhere!!

    I don't hate dogs, mind you, but cats are so much more suitable for small-space living.

    Hope you enjoy your new books. I'm curious about Drinking at the Movies.

    Here's my salon:

    http://accidentalmoments.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/the-sunday-salon-jan-9/

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  18. UnknownJanuary 9, 2011 at 10:18 AM

    My thoughts go out to you today. I'm glad you got to share 10 years with Sasha. Pets are wonderful companions.

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  19. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzJanuary 9, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    This is very sad. I am sorry for your loss.

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  20. JoAnnJanuary 9, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    I'm so sorry, Marie! It's hard to say goodbye to our pets...

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  21. PamJanuary 9, 2011 at 12:09 PM

    So sorry for the loss of your beloved Sasha. It's never easy saying goodbye to our dear pets. Hugs to you.

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  22. MelissaJanuary 9, 2011 at 12:42 PM

    My deepest condolences to you on the loss of your Sasha.

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  23. AnonymousJanuary 9, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    I'm with everyone else in that I'm sad for your loss. As someone who has lost several pets over the years, I empathize with you. I'm just trying to enjoy the time I have with our cat, Seamus, that we have now (he's five).

    Re: The English Patient: For some reason, I've shied away from both the book and the movie. I don't know why. Maybe now since you recommended, I'll reconsider. Maybe. :)

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  24. DarleneJanuary 9, 2011 at 12:55 PM

    Marie, I'm so sorry for your loss of Sasha. I know how hard it is to say goodbye to a loved pet even if it is the right thing to do. Hugs to you.

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  25. MeghanJanuary 9, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    I'm sorry to hear this. =( You made the right choice, but letting a pet go is never easy.

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  26. WendyJanuary 9, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    I am sorry to hear about the loss of your beautiful kitty...sounds like you did the right thing (although it is always so hard to say good-bye, isn't it?) *hugs*

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  27. joemmamaJanuary 9, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Making that decision is one of the hardest we can make. Bless you!

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  28. VasillyJanuary 9, 2011 at 2:39 PM

    I'm so sorry about Sasha, Marie. His poor body was going through so much. *hugs*

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  29. Suzanne YesterJanuary 9, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    I am so sorry for your loss, Marie. My thoughts are with you because I know how hard this is. Our hearts are filled with such joy with our furry babies, and saying goodbye, especially making that decision is heartbreaking. But because of that love, we don't want them to suffer and that's the ultimate show of love. Big Hug your way.

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  30. FrancesJanuary 9, 2011 at 3:30 PM

    My cat Bennie was with me for almost ten years when I found myself where you are now. My heart goes out to you!

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  31. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaJanuary 9, 2011 at 3:36 PM

    Marie, I am so sorry for the loss of you beloved cat. It is so hard to lose a pet who has been with you through good times and bad...HUGS to you.

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  32. AlyceJanuary 9, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    I'm so sad to hear that your kitty died. It's hard to lose a pet, even when they've had a long and happy life.

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  33. Steph WritesJanuary 9, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    I'm so sorry about your kitty. He was beautiful.

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  34. KittenJanuary 9, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    So sorry to hear about your Sasha. Pets are such a part of the family.

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  35. Bellezza January 9, 2011 at 8:12 PM

    So sorry about your sweet kitty...I know how terribly attached we are to our beloved furry felines.

    I loved the film The English Patient, but haven'tn read his novels yet. (That's unusual for me! Usually it's the other way around when it comes to novels and film.)

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  36. ZibileeJanuary 9, 2011 at 8:13 PM

    Marie, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your cat. I know it was a hard and painful decision that you had to make, and my prayers and thoughts are with you.

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  37. D.M. SOLISJanuary 9, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    What a time you've had, Dear Marie. I've loved reading about your adventures and challenges with Sasha. What a lucky one he was, that among all your gifts to him through the years, you were able to let him go like this when the time came. Thanks for sharing his mini-stories with us here. Peace,

    Diane

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  38. KathleenJanuary 9, 2011 at 11:38 PM

    I'm so sorry to hear about your beloved kitty.

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  39. ImageNationsJanuary 10, 2011 at 7:09 AM

    Sorry to have lost a friend and a companion.

    I am yet to read the English Patient. So many books to read, so little time.

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  40. AnonymousJanuary 10, 2011 at 9:12 AM

    So, so sorry to hear about Sasha. ((HUGS))

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  41. JeanneJanuary 10, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    More sympathy for the loss of Sasha. She was beautiful.

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  42. JeanneJanuary 10, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    HE was beautiful. Sorry, it's a good Russian name.

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  43. Melissa WardJanuary 10, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    So sorry to hear about Sasha :( Such a hard decision. *hugs*

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  44. Amy M.January 10, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    So sorry for you loss! It is hard to lose such a loyal and important friend.

    -Amy
    Life by Candlelight

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  45. ValerieJanuary 10, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    I'm so sorry for you loss. It's obvious that Sasha was a good cat.

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  46. AnonymousJanuary 11, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    So sorry to read about Sasha. Pets are all about love and it's hard to let them go once they've entered your life. A big hug from Ohio.

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  47. ErinJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:48 PM

    Aww, Marie, I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. It sounds like he had a good long life with you and your husband. It's always sad to let a pet go.

    I have The English Patient, unread, on my shelf. I'm glad to hear it's one of your favorites :-)

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  48. Natalie~Coffee and a Book ChickJanuary 11, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    My heart goes out to you, Marie - I applaud you and your husband doing everything that you could, and then also recognizing that sometimes there's nothing more that can be done. I lost a wonderful dog once - a mix German Shepherd and I spent my Thanksgiving week a little over three years ago crying, so I wish I could send you a hug now.

    I recently read Hotel du Lac and found it to be a quiet read - I hope you enjoy it.

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  49. bermudaonionJanuary 11, 2011 at 9:35 PM

    I'm so sorry to hear about Sasha - I know how a pet becomes part of the family.

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  50. CLMJanuary 12, 2011 at 7:04 PM

    Sorry about your kitty!

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  51. LesleyJanuary 13, 2011 at 3:54 PM

    Oh, so sorry to hear about Sasha - my heart goes out to you and your husband. We had to have two of our cats euthanized last year (one a sudden illness, one brought on by long-term illnesses and old age, much like Sasha) and it really breaks your heart. I still get lonely for them.

    She looks like a very happy and well loved kitty. Again, so sorry for your loss.

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  52. Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooksJanuary 15, 2011 at 3:48 PM

    Oh, Marie! What a sweet picture of Sasha (one I don't think I'd seen in your FB postings).

    Such a hard choice to make, even when you know it's the right one.

    Thinking of you ...

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