Someday in the distant future, archeologists digging thru the ruins

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J - 07 Sep 2006 01:37 GMT

of alt.support.cancer (and many other newsgroups), will see the posts of
Socks the Whitehouse Cat.
The "ruins" are the archives (archived posts) of each newsgroup.

At some points, Socks' newsreader started his replies with this "Someday
in the distant future, archeologists digging thru the ruins of
alt.support.cancer will discover that <poster name> had this to say on
<date>: "

His first post here was Sat, Jul 19 2003. (as best I can discern)

I had my chance to tell him privately (by email) what he meant to me and
part of his reply (regarding alt.support.cancer) was..
"i've enjoyed participating. as health wanes, my posts will wind down, i
choose not to let the minor annoyances concern me."

Socks passed away September 7th, 2005 at 7 p.m.
So on Friday, Sept 7th, please light a candle in memory of Socks.
Light up the sky in memory of his humanity and zest for life.
Gone but not forgotten...

Love to Figgertoes (his widow).
J

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betsyb - 07 Sep 2006 02:03 GMT

> of alt.support.cancer (and many other newsgroups), will see the posts of
> Socks the Whitehouse Cat.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> Love to Figgertoes (his widow).
> J

Gladly.
Betsy

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Alayne - 07 Sep 2006 07:24 GMT

> of alt.support.cancer (and many other newsgroups), will see the posts of
> Socks the Whitehouse Cat.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> Love to Figgertoes (his widow).
> J

I'll certainly raise my glass to both Socks and Fig, both of whom I've been
proud to "know".

Alayne

Fig - go with the flow on the day, memories may make you feel sad but you
also have a lifetime of ones that will make you smile.

Hugs

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Figgertoes - 07 Sep 2006 14:19 GMT

> of alt.support.cancer (and many other newsgroups), will see the posts of
> Socks the Whitehouse Cat.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> Love to Figgertoes (his widow).
> J

What a wonderful thing to wake up to on this sad morning! When I read
the first couple of words, I knew all the rest. So familiar.

I have been having such a tough time with not being with Socks that last
day. His caregivers at hospice had said he was not exhibiting any of the
impending signs of shutting down, approaching death & would likely live 3
days past when they began to manifest. So I went to work that Wednesday
after being with him for many days. That's the evening he was able to
leave. I wonder, always will, what he thought/knew of my absence. His
Aunt Ruth was with him. I know people say he knew of my love & I'm sure
he did. But he became very childlike toward the end & needed me
constantly. Near death, he stopped communicating except for groans. He
did want his ice cream the night before & I fed him some. I asked if he
wanted & his mouth opened in anticipation, so I dished some up & fed. He
obviously enjoyed.

At that point, I had been away from work for a week & a half, staying
home with Socks before he was transferred to the pain control center.
Until the pain became unbearable, we'd had a very good week (excepting an
unfortunate day in nursing home others insisted on). We even went to a
Broncos football game. Socks had a very strong personality. When he
became child-like & dependent, it took me by surprise. He was very sweet
& undemanding for the most part toward the end. We just took our time
with everything - showering him using a shower chair, tucking him in,
getting him up to sit in a chair. He lost his ability to figure anything
out, depended upon me for everything. I wonder if he feared it had been
too much for me & I went away. By the time I got there that nigt, he was
gone,

Tonight we are going to 'share' a Fat Tire microbrew at the gravesite
where his ashes are buried.

Thank you for the wonderful thoughts & for remembering him today. He
enjoyed knowing all of you & mentioned you often.

Love,
Fig

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J - 07 Sep 2006 23:54 GMT

> What a wonderful thing to wake up to on this sad morning! When I read
> the first couple of words, I knew all the rest. So familiar.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> wanted & his mouth opened in anticipation, so I dished some up & fed. He
> obviously enjoyed.

Hello Fig, now I feel guilty for not bringing some ice cream to my Dad.
Point? We can't go back and change a thing and beating ourselves up isn't
helpful.
I'd like to think that Socks died, anticipating you and ice cream.
He had Aunt Ruth there and ice cream, but I'd to think he died thinking of
you and ice cream.

> <snip>
>
> Tonight we are going to 'share' a Fat Tire microbrew at the gravesite
> where his ashes are buried.

[clink clink] maybe we should raise a brew to Socks tonight instead of a
candle.
Or both, whichever is each person's preference.

J - Thinking of you and Socks today.

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Figgertoes - 08 Sep 2006 03:08 GMT

>> What a wonderful thing to wake up to on this sad morning! When I
>> read the first couple of words, I knew all the rest. So familiar.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> He had Aunt Ruth there and ice cream, but I'd to think he died
> thinking of you and ice cream.

J, that is so sweet & thoughtful. I do get over it for a time & then
sometimes it comes roaring back. I am glad he found an earlier exit than
anticipated, just sad if he thought I couldn't take it anymore & left.

Ice cream. I think of him every time I have it, so I think about him a
lot!

>> <snip>
>>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> a candle.
> Or both, whichever is each person's preference.

Brew is good. We enjoyed ours. Now I'll do the candle...

> J - Thinking of you and Socks today.

And I was thinking of him & all the friends that made his last years
good for him. That includes you. I read a few old posts today. Some he
wrote when obviously in pain are especially dear.

Love,
Fig

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