the things you do for love
As we all know, love comes in all shapes and sizes. In addition to loving humans, most of us have found deep love and affection for animals and our pets in particular. I had this kind of love. Well, I take that back- I have such love, and Nisse will always hold a special place in my heart.
She died early yesterday morning in her sleep. I always dread the day I have to take a pet to the veterinarian to put it to sleep. It usually is the most humane thing to do, but it is such a difficult and painful decision to say that final goodbye to something that has brought so much joy to your life. Nisse was the perfect cat, and even in the end, she spared me from making a difficult decision.
She came to us almost fourteen years ago. We thought my folks needed a kitten in their life, but they declined since they spend their summers in Norway, so we were the happy default- well, most of us. We tend to be more of a dog family, but Nisse was a worthy exception!
Nisse adapted to whatever dogs came and went. She came after Amber and before Kira and Teaka, so she had her share of canine friends. She also was indifferent to our chickens, both on Long Island and here in Wilmington. She was the type of cat who didn’t reserve affection for just one. She loved everyone who took the time to love her back.
She also developed many dog qualities like begging for food and loudly proclaiming when she wanted to eat. Apparently, from what I read, Siamese cats tend to be very vocal. But, since the winter months, there have been some health struggles, which leads me to the things we do for love.
This isn't going to be all about Nisse, but how we care for someone we love. If someone said you had to syringe feed and clean up after someone, many would say that is something you could not do. However, when you are in a situation, and someone you love is unable to care for themselves, you do it, and you do it willingly. Maybe it is easier for those of us who are a mother, a nurse, or both. But, getting ‘dirty’ doesn’t even enter my mind when someone is suffering or incapable of caring for themselves. It can even feel like a privilege to usher care to someone dependent on someone else to meet their needs. Sometimes, push comes to shove, but I am pretty certain there never is a doubt that providing care was the right thing to do.
Nisse will be missed, but I am glad that she was a part of our family for all those years. The pain is real, but it doesn’t surpass the benefit of having a pet in your life. Caring for someone or something who is sick may not be for everyone, but when there is deep love, even those who think they are unable to carry out such tasks, most will do so and do so willingly. Because we will do a lot for love.
