Jackie crossed the Rainbow Bridge today – when I got to the vet office there were big signs all over the door – everybody had Covid! The owner vet and his daughter, vet also, were there but I wore my mask and didn’t touch a thing. I left the carrier there with Jackie and came home and scrubbed my hands. Colton had a “breakthrough” of urine – on my cutting table no less! – and now has resumed eating and drinking. I will take him in next week when they are once again, hopefully, fully staffed.
Like Becky always says about my life – “never a dull moment!”
I’m sorry about Jackie. Covid makes absolutely everything harder, doesn’t it? I suspect not everyone will understand the depth of my congratulations to Colton and huge sigh of relief to you on his production, but I’ve been there. No applause for the choice of location, but so glad the obstruction is resolved. One less worry to be carrying around.
Who is Jackie and what is the rainbow bridge? This note is very upsetting. Did someone die?
The rainbow bridge is where our pets cross over when they die.
Jackie was one of my cats, named for the person named Jackie who brought her to me from a shelter who was going to euthanize here because she was pregnant. I agreed to take her and she had 7 kittens. Connie’s son Joe has two of the kittens. When she had the kittens we installed a screen door at the back room so people could watch them – the kids loved it!
Thank you and I’m sorry for your loss. Being a fairly new reader I don’t always understand your references to pets and people.
Sorry about the loss of your sweet pet. Hope things improve around there. C19 seems to be everywhere.
Had more snow last night. Trees look frosted!
Loisann, (what a pretty name!) you can go to “Archives” on the sidebar of Mary’s blog and read old blogposts month by month, if you are interested and have plenty of time.
Thank you Ruth. I’m in Virginia. Small world.
It is indeed! I moved to Maryland from the Manassas, VA area.
I’m in the Herndon/Chantilly area. We owned a home in Waldorf, MD in the 90’s. My husband is retired Air Force.
So sorry Mary and hope you and Rick are doing well. You don’t need all those dramas in your life every day.
Love
So sorry to read about your day. Hugs to you.
So sorry Mary about Jackie. You know she will greet you at the bridge again one day. I’m sure she had a long and happy life on the farm with you ❤. I’m glad that Colton is on the mend. Bless you for loving all the animals lucky enough to find you! Take care and I pray that you remain healthy.
Oh Mary, it is so sad. I’m very sorry.
Be extremely careful, with Rick scheduled for surgery, neither of you can be sick.
I wish I were closer. I know Becky will do all she can to help.
I’m holding your hand and lending my shoulder.
Jo – I do worry about me getting Covid – who would take care of us!!!
So sorry, Mary. Jackie had a wonderful life at your house, as do all your animals. Take Care, 🥰
I’m so sorry for your loss as I’ll be praying for your husbands surgery. I completely understand the never a dull moment it happens here like that also, big hugs.
Aww, so sorry about Jackie. Hoping Rick’s surgery goes well, keeping you all in my prayers.
So sorry to hear this! You never know from minute to minute “what’s around the corner “! We have been so cautious on where we go as we have lost family members and friends to this awful virus . With the virus and now dental work I need done next week I may be pushing my safety limit, can’t do dental work with a mask on! 😷😳
Mary – so sorry about Jackie and the trauma of the day. I’m happy that sweet Colton is on the mend. Our vet’s office has had the “closed door” policy for the past 3 weeks. Someone meets us outside to take our pet and we wait in our car until they’re finished. I miss the interaction with the vet. Keep warm everyone.
I am so sorry to learn about Jackie…..My kitty, Spooky, crossed the rainbow bridge last week. The house seems so empty now and I find myself expecting her to show up for meal time. It is hard but they all provide love and joy.
I lost 3 pets last summer. I still catch myself expecting to hear the dog. And we miss the kitties. It’s hard. It just really is.
Beth – how is your son, Jeff?
Mary, thanks for asking. He is doing OK considering that because of Covid he can’t get out very often. As matter of fact we went 8 months unable to visit with him last year. Thankfully so far he is maintaining status quo. We got him a cell phone so he calls us every night!!!!
Beth Laverty- a cell phone can connect us all to the world – great news!
Hoping for a better day today, sorry to hear about Jackie. Glad to hear Colton is better. It always is something with your household and all your precious animals and they are so very fortunate to have you! Sending hugs to you today’
Sorry to hear about Jackie. Glad Colton is better. Animals we sure do love them
RIP, Jackie! Always so painful to lose a dear pet!!!
Mary, sorry to hear about Jackie. Colton just couldn’t hold it any longer the the cutting table was there. Never fails they find the place we wish the wouldn’t. But glad Colton is on the mend. Stay safe Mary.
Oh so very sad all the way around…losing Jackie, not feeling safe around people we need in such difficult times. I wish I was closer to help you out. Give Colton so much love as he’s getting up there too.
I was sorry to hear about Jackie, all life is precious and losing such a sweet little one is hard on our hearts. So much love goes into your days with your pets, and you have so many, your losses are more frequent. Good thing you have a big heart Mary, it takes a lot of loss.
Update on my husband’s surgery. Up at 6 am yesterday, in the shower, and the surgeon called. Surgery delayed, don’t leave until I call you, he says, he couldn’t get out his driveway due to the major storm Izzy and all the snow. We get ready, wait for an update. He calls back at 10 and tells us the hospital is severely understaffed due to the storm, surgery is cancelled. So now we wait to be rescheduled.
You see, I was a wreck about the weather for good reason!
Carol E – oh, bummer! That’s too bad cause I know what it is to worry about weather ahead of time. I agreed to take a friend to her same day surgery this Thursday which means a very early start to the day —- and the day is going to begin at ten below. I am concerned about that, too.
Hope your hubby hangs in there till surgery happens!
Thank you! Next Monday at 9 am. is the surgery now. The surgeon had to reschedule a number of surgeries, we’re glad we got a nice early slot. Good luck on your drive. This is really the only thing I don’t like about winter.
Carol Eberhardt – be sure to let us all know how it went!
I’m so sorry your husband’s surgery was delayed but glad you weren’t stuck out in the storm. It’s stressful trying to plan anything with covid but to add in the weather too just puts it over the top.
Thank you, that’s exactly how I felt, Covid fear, snow fears, and then surgery itself. Who needs this cocktail of concerns?
We now are set for next Monday, so fingers crossed we don’t get an ice storm or some other disaster!
I watch for your column each day and when the weather has a bad turn watch to see if you are shoveling. You were a great example when you had your knees replaced. Hope you are doing well during this crazy Covid January.
Ditto to all of the above. Somewhere I saw that God doesn’t give us more than we can handle, but a break now and then would be helpful! I am Hoping all goes better the rest of the week. I know you will miss little Jackie and hope Colton feels better. 5.5 inches of snow Sunday into yesterday! Take care.
I wish all vets did like ours has done during Covid. They put up numbered signs in the parking lot and you park in a numbered slot. The sign has the office number and you call when you arrive. They send someone out masked to pick up your pet once you have been signed in. Less contact and less stress on our dog. They call you to either wait or what time to come back. This has worked beautifully throughout the pandemic and our “Bo” no longer stresses about going. We also feel a lot safer considering we are in one of the highest case areas in the state of Missouri.
Oh Mary – I’m so sorry to hear about sweet Jackie’s passing. My thoughts are with you.
I’m so sorry, Mary. Becky’s certainly right, never a dull moment. I hope and pray for a better day today!
Hugs to you Mary. I know that losing a pet is hard, been there many times over the last 30 years, it never gets any easier. But I wouldn’t trade any of those memories for anything, have loved every one of them. Hope you don’t get any of those delays on Ricks surgery. Our vet office lobby has been closed since the start of the pandemic and it has helped to keep everyone safe.
So sorry about Jackie. It’s always hard when we lose our pets. Take care of yourself. Stay safe and healthy.
So sorry to hear about Jackie.
Jill – I looked you up on Facebook – are you the Jill who lives in the UK?
So sorry to hear of the passing of Jackie, I don’t think COVID is ever going to end. The weather has been very cold here, school delays today. I’ve been doing some cleaning & sorting, would rather be sewing, but it’s time to clean I guess!!
So sorry for your loss Mary. Hugs and stay safe!
Sally from Florida
I am very sorry Mary. We lost our 14 year old Lab on January 17 and my husband and I are incredibly heartbroken. We still have our 17 yr old Chihuahua who doesn’t understand what’s going on. Our home is so empty without him. I hope you and Rick are doing well.
Linette- you mean just yesterday? Oh, I’m so sorry! A dog is like a person in my eyes. Jackie was very old so I wasn’t surprised as she’s been going downhill for awhile now. What about your dog? We love labs and would like another lab in our household – tell me about your dog!
Yes Mary it was yesterday January 17 at 5:00 pm and my husband and I were with him at the vets office until the end. My husband was Vinny’s person and I am hurting seeing him so sad also. I appreciate everyone here who are animal lovers. I know God loves us so much our dearly loved pets will be in heaven waiting for us ready to play. Thanks for listening 😥❤
Linette – I so understand because Rick is Telly’s person and Rick will be devastated when we lose her. You know how we are all feeling as you get thru these sad first days without him – we all feel bad for you both as well as your other dogs who can’t really understand why their buddy didn’t come home with you.
So sorry to hear about Jackie. The loss of an animal even in a group as large as yours is so difficult and saddening. All of us animals lovers have had to go through it many time, but it never gets easy. So glad Colton is on the mend even if his breakthrough was in an inconvenient place.
I’m so sorry, it so hard losing a furr family member. I’m sure Jackie was greeted with a toy and lots of love at the Rainbow Bridge.
Sorry to hear about Jackie’s passing, Mary. It’s never easy to lose a pet. Glad to hear Colton is on the mend after his unusual deposit on your cutting table. Yikes! You just can’t make ’em up better than what happens in real life sometimes. Hope today is less adventurous for you. Take care!
So sorry about your beloved dog, but good to know he was loved for so many years. One of my rescues was relatively young when we found he had a tumor in his throat. It was so hard to watch him change from feisty to quiet as the tumor grew. I had pictured his living a long time and more prepared to lose my poodle who is 18. We never know what will happen, but that was a shock for me. Thinking about you and hoping for strength and good health and good weather and what ever help you need to take care of all your responsibilities. Thank you so much for sharing with us your every day goings on!
Mary, I’m adding my condolences for you on the loss of Jackie. She was such a beauty! And bless you for taking her in and caring for her and her kittens. You changed a lot of lives at that moment!
And congratulations on Colton clearing his blockage. Poor dude! That must have been so painful for him! I understand that cats won’t use the litter box when they’re blocked or have a urinary tract infection because they associate the litter box with the pain they’re experiencing. You still might want to have Colton checked in case he’s got stones developing.
Yes, getting animals seen by a vet these days is difficult due to covid. We have a relatively new vet in my town and they’ve done the curbside pick-up and drop-off, too. I now write up a short summary of what’s going on with each cat to send in with them, along with our contact info, to make it as easy as possible for them and to reduce the chance of errors.
And winter storms make everything harder, too.
Becky’s right – never a dull moment!
I’m sorry about Jackie. Even when it’s time for them to leave us, it’s not easy.
Great news on Colton….he (and you) must be relieved.
Oh gosh, Mary. I’m so sorry. Too many losses. COVID is hitting hard everywhere and makes everything more challenging. You will be warmly greeted by your crew at The Rainbow Bridge when it’s your turn.
I will continue to mask up no matter how tired I may be of COVID, the unvaccinated, and the folks who resist masks wearing. Another friend just came down with it after presenting at a meeting—a rare occasion for her to be maskless. So frustrating.
Diane, Boy the brilliant smarter professionals than I will ever be weren’t kidding when they predicted this variant to be so much more contagious! I hope she will be okay cause this just isn’t fair when we have continually worn masks, vaccinated and stayed away from crowds.
Mary, I’m so sorry to hear about Jackie. She had a good life with you. Just know that we’re thinking of you and are sending warm thoughts your way. Keep warm and safe.
Oh, NO. So sorry for your loss, Mary. Wish you did not have to walk into Covid germs. Take Care of you.
So sorry about your loss, Mary. You gave her a wonderful life. You have a tremendous reservoir of empathy and strength to take care of so many animals . I’m so glad Colton has taken a turn for the better. A little ray of sunshine to counter the sadness of Jackie’s passing. Hopefully, you’ve had your share of challenges for awhile and the rest of the week will go smoothly.
Karen C.
Maryland
So sorry about Jackie and to the other readers that have lost pets. I remember how hard it was losing our 2 girls (Emma Cat to cancer at 15 and Ashley Cat to kidney failure at age 17). We miss them but did not replace them due to allergies.
It is funny how pets will sneak back into your life . I had a friend’s 2 rag doll cats here for a short stay while she had new carpet installed. I am currently pet sitting for Pickles, kitty age 25, and Scruffy, a small dog that must be walked 4 times a day. I know why the owner is so slender with all her dog walks.
I’m so sorry about Jackie. Naughty Colton! Could’ve been worse….my cat peed on me while I was sleeping!!!! The vet offices down here won’t allow anyone inside due to Covid. You park in a numbered spot all and call the office. A tech comes out and gets your furbaby while you wait in the car. Wouldn’t be too bad if I had air conditioning in the car! It died a few weeks ago and sitting in the sun with windows down and no breeze is the pits.
So sorry about Jackie! And hope Colton doesn’t do that again!
I wear a cloth mask with a blue one on top. I like the cloth close to my face. Works for me. My daughter, a teacher, just ordered N95 masks. It would be nice if schools provided protection for the staff!!! People have no idea how much of their own money teachers spend on their kids in their classes!!
Diane – Becky knows all about out-of-pocket expenses! I ordered N95 masks and wearing one for the first time today – I think it’s very comfortable!
Prayers that your “never a dull moments” are more positive in the future.
Glad Rick seems to be doing better.
So sorry for your loss Mary. Glad Colton is on the mend. Stay well yourself. Sounds like you have your hands full enough as it is! Take some time to do something for yourself and maybe sew on a fun project!
I love all of your pictures. Whenever you post farm pictures, it makes me homesick for the small Iowa farm where I grew up.
Amy M – how can one teacher be responsible for 2-3 classrooms!! That’s putting a lot on one poor teacher and the
So sorry that you lost Jackie. Hope she didn’t suffer. What’s up with Colton – do you think he’s trying to tell you something?
I’m so sorry to hear about Jackie. I’ll always remember the photo of her that you posted quite a while back. She was sitting happily on top of a very high post, having managed to get herself up there somehow. I’d love to see that photo again, if you can find it.
So tough to lose pets. This COVID needs to go away. My son is still struggling after 2-1/2 months to be able to do anything physical and still get oxygen….. and he is not old.
Oh Mary, you are in my thoughts. Winter weather and Covid make everything harder. Remembering all the sweet pictures of Jackie. Hope Colton is on the mend ❤️🩹. It’s really nice today but the next few days puts us in the deep freeze. Never needed spring ever this year. Be well, Mary and Rick. Be safe ❤️🐶🐈🙏
I am so sorry for your loss of Jackie.
I’m sorry to hear about Jackie. And glad Colton found some relief (not glad it was on your table). Our vets have opened up their offices to pet parents coming in just this past summer. They’re probably going to go to curbside drop off again with the covid numbers up. I knew our vet when she was in high school and going to vet school. She was tops in her class both in high school and college and got a free ride to vet school.
I’ve been feeling under the weather so went to get tested. Yesterday you couldn’t find a quick test so I scheduled a PCR test. Yesterday there were no appointments and only 4 people in line. Today when I got there I was number 22 and when I left there were 30 cars behind me. My brother and his wife and a niece all have it this past week. All of us live in different parts of Texas.
Susan K – how are you feeling? I hope your test is negative.
I haven’t gotten the test back yet but I feel ok. Not normal but well enough to quilt. I had it back before anyone knew what it was and before lockdown and vaccines. That time I was sick for three weeks. The fatigue was horrible as was the coughing.
This time after three vaccinations, I just don’t feel right. The first day I was headachy and feverish. Now it’s just easily tired but not fatigued and lots of sinus drainage.
My husband has been doing laundry today – he helps most of the time with it but still needs a bit of guidance at times. He’s been good about bringing me food and such.
I can sleep and eat upstairs and my sewing room is upstairs so we’re living on separate floors of the house right now.
Mary, I’m so sorry for your loss of Jackie. You gave her a good life, but it is still so hard to say goodbye.
Hugs for you.
So sorry you lost a dear pet! Will you post a picture of her?
The ‘bug’ is crazy around here! Some have Covid…..some test negative, some positive…all the same symptoms! Uh! Jay & I, our daughter, grandson, granddaughter, our son and his family……on and on. Now my hubby has his UTI back….wasn’t cleared up with the last round of antibiotics! So miserable! Will be looking for a picture of Jackie. Love you! Stay healthy!
So, so sorry for your loss. Such a sweet kitty! Be careful on the road tomorrow, please.
So sad that Jackie is gone. And my heart goes out to Linette who lost her pup recently. It is really hard to lose our babies. Here in MA our numbers are going down! Thank the Lord! And those that have it for the most part it seems to be the Omicron with less severe symptoms than the Delta variant. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this terrible virus is losing steam? I truly hope so. Jan in MA
Mary, I’m so sorry to hear of Jackie passing. We miss our pets so much. We have had a rescue kitty a year now. Sydney was due for his yearly check up the Tuesday after the first of the year. He got a clean bill of health. On Saturday (of course a weekend), he was straining to urinate. So back to the vet on Monday. All tests showed nothing wrong so he was sent home with what I was calling chill pills as they diagnosed stress from going to the vet office. All the pets we have had and he is the first with that diagnosis. But we have no idea what happened to him before he was rescued, maybe taken in the car and left somewhere. Luckily, that must have been it because he recovered fully within a couple of days. We have been going to the same vet office for 49 years. A family practice, first the father and now his son, daughter, and another vet. We found out the daughter has cancer and started chemo, so she is in our prayers.
Marsha – maybe Sydney healed himself like Colton with a successful trip to the litter box – only Colton didn’t make it to the box! When this latest bout started it was Thursday night – when we got up on Friday morning it was snowing and blowing so couldn’t get to vet. Saturday morning we were digging out and they close at noon. Then it was Sunday – like you said it always happens on the weekend or a holiday. I am still planning on taking him in next week.
Oh Mary, we lost our sweet Miss Pickles last week, it’s so hard losing our furry babies. Hugs and prayers for you and hubby.
It is indeed! I moved to Maryland from the Manassas, VA area.
I’m so very sorry to hear about Jackie. Hard to lose any pet that you have spent time with and taken care of.
Truly sorry for your loss! Every time we think of those we love that have gone before us, they’re thinking of us too.
❤️
I have been on a cruise and just saw your email regarding Jackie. I am so sorry she has passed on. She was such a pretty cat and I loved her temperament. 💗 Always loved your Jackie updates.