Mr Flapper Duck

Simon went to the vet today. He has been rashy for over 5-years, but right now it’s really bad. He is doing just fine, and has new medication. He also has a new grain-free food. But as you can see from the video, Simon is not fond of going to the vet’s office.

I swear this was worse on me than it was on him. Poor baby.

NOTE: He was supposed to lose weight but he managed to gain almost a pound. He weighs 19.7lbs now. He should weigh 16lbs.

Simon is kind of twitchy when he sleeps.

Simon from tifotter on Vimeo.

I think he was dreaming about catching bugs in the aviary. Run run run run JUMP and CATCH!

Hey Simon?

Oh Siiiiimon.

“Yes? I was sleeping, you know.”

I know, but some people asked how you were doing.

“Oh really? My fans?”

Ha ha, I guess so Simon. Yes.

“Do they want to see my paws?”

I bet they do, yes.

“I better clean them up then. First I lick them.”

“Then I bite them. Would you like me to clean your paws, too?”

No, not… Well okay I guess.

“First I lick them.”

“Then I bite them!”

Ouch!

You better stop biting, Simon. I am pointing at you menacingly!

“Okay let’s play!”
Good idea, Simon.

Simon is doing pretty well since Meelee passed away.

She was sick for so long that they didn’t really play or even hang out together much anymore.

Plus, Simon has always been in his own world.

Right, Simon?

“Huh?”

“. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .”

Simon is a little bit rashy because he was eating Meelee’s food while she was really sick. Now that she is gone he is back to his allergy-free food and should be feeling less itchy in a few weeks. Other than that he is doing well. He comes out to the aviary every evening with me to visit the ducks and he enjoys that a lot.

Overall he seems very content, and that is good.

Miss Amelia Dingo (Meelee) came into my life in 1996 when I lived in NYC.

She was my first pet as an adult living on my own, and I adopted her from the ASPCA in Manhattan.

Her birthday was estimated as May 1995, but it’s hard to say for sure because she was a rescue.

Unlike Hodjee my mischievous, nutty kid or Simon my lovable, high-maintenance guy, Meelee was never, ever any trouble. She was a shy, quintessential cat who was a little afraid of people.

Meelee was never one to cause a fuss or steal the scene, but she was always as sweet as can be.

She was originally from New York.

And lived in two different apartments there with me.

Then she came West with me to San Francisco, along with Hodjee and Simon, before we all moved North to Seattle.

You can tell which one she here, because there’s only one well-behaved cat in the photo.

Meelee did have a few quirks. She always liked to stand inside the dry cleaning bags and hide from me. She really believed she was invisible when she was inside the clear dry cleaning bags. I didn’t have the heart to tell her any differently.

Also, she would always flip over to show she was happy when I was talking to her. Talk sweet to her and she’d flop over every time.

Again.

And again.

And even again this past weekend.

She loved to chase fuzzy mice and balls…

…as long as no one else disturbed her play time.

And something you may not know about her… she always protected ducklings we raised in the house. From our own Flapper, O’Malley and Chewy to rescues like Juno and Eddie. She kept a mothering eye on us all.

Unfortunately in her last few months she spent far too much time at the vet.

And was on many medications.

It bought her some extra months in the sunshine, and it bought me more time with her.

She also got extra play time in the aviary… something she really loved.

I spent over 13-years of my life with Meelee, in three cities on two coasts. Through a handful of boyfriends, four jobs, four apartments and a house, from 1996 to tonight, August 24, 2009.

Every day with Meelee was a good one.

And even if I had another 13-years with her, it still would never be enough.

I guess that’s why it was so hard to say goodbye to this sweet girl.

I’ve known for awhile now that her time with me was short. But on August 16th when she got really sick again, I made a deal with her.

I told her if she could rebound just one more time, I would use that time to say goodbye, and then I would let her go when she told me it was time. I told her I wouldn’t make her suffer through pain and nausea yet again if she felt as bad as she did in mid-August.

Surprisingly, she rebounded for a few days and we spent a really nice weekend together.

She got to play in the yard and just hang out around the house with me. She was extra affectionate and sweet and I told her over and over what a wonderful time I had with her over the years. It was such a nice weekend with her and I’ll always treasure it.

Unfortunately this morning she didn’t feel well yet again, and tonight it was time to say goodbye. It really was time this time, and she was very peaceful tonight. She was quiet and sweet and loving, as she always was.

Meelee was such a delicate, quiet, sweet soul in a house full of loud mouths (including myself).

I’m going to honor her quiet, sweet nature with a few quiet days myself.

Rest in peace, Meelee Bear. I’m going to miss you my funny bunny.

XOXOX

Love,

Mom

Meelee is disappointed by my dirty socks lying on the floor behind her.

This morning she joined me for a car ride to the coffee shop. She snuck outside when I opened the house door, so I made her join me for drive-thru coffee. It was not her favorite moment, but she did great and it was quick. She looks and feels good today. We’ll give her some fluids to make sure she’s getting enough until her appetite picks up again (hopefully).

She prefers to be called “streamlined” rather than “terribly skinny.”

Meelee is doing okay tonight. Sunny is doing okay too.It’s always a surprise to see what I’ll find when I open the door.

Will I find a happy cat or vomiting mess?

Will I find a mobile duck or a toadstool?

I have dubbed Meelee and Sunny “The Rollercoaster Kids.”

Thank you for sticking with us through the rollercoaster ride. It isn’t very fun.

We want to send love and well-wishes to our friend Peter, who is mourning the tragic loss of his beloved duck Sjaantje. Losing a pet is never easy, but it’s especially tough when it’s unexpected and traumatic. We wish him, and the rest of his flock, all the best as they adjust to life without Sjaantje.

Meelee is hanging out on a pile of clothes with me tonight while I’m on the computer.

She just ate a bit, too! Hopefully she can keep it down.

Oop… she just told me to stop staring at her.

Tonight I picked up more medications for her from the vet before coming home. I was a little worried that she wouldn’t be alive when I got home, as she had holed up in the basement and she was in such pain last night. Tonight she greeted me at the door, so hopefully she can rebound… yet again.