I was in Boy Scouts during my younger years. At some point we changed scoutmasters and our new scoutmaster named us the Mule Patrol. There was even a flag with a *ahem* jackass on it. Shortly thereafter as our troop expanded and I became leader of the Mule Patrol our group decided we didn't want to be called the Jackass Patrol. So we changed our name to the Arrowhead Patrol, made a cool wooden arrowhead flag, and in a show of pomp and circumstance, we burned the old flag in one of our camp fires. Good riddance to that damned Mule, and all. My scoutmaster asked what we were doing and we explained that it was the birth of a new era. He then proceeded to scold us and let us (me) know that his wife had worked very hard painting that flag and that what we had done was disrespectful. I still feel bad about it to this day.

I have several cats, but the most special one to me over the past 15 years was named Nelly. I raised her from a kitten. She had a sassy side, but was one of the most affectionate cats I'd ever known, so sweet. Also so silly. I don't think I've ever met a sillier cat. We think she might have had some kind of neurological issue that made her so silly, because she was the least coordinated cat you ever met. We joked that her body naturally produced alcohol in her blood, making her permanently drunk. She would crash headlong into walls, would jump up the stairs like a crazed rabbit, fall off of things, it was adorable. She was a beautiful all black cat, though she'd begun to get a few gray hairs as she aged, I didn't know cat hair did that. She could be so talkative, with a sweet little voice that never got annoying. I loved her so much.

She died today, and I really don't know how to process it. She fell asleep under my mom's tire, and my mom didn't see her, just felt a bump. I had to go to work, so I couldn't ever take a moment to process what was happening. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye, she's already been buried while I'm at work. I just wish I could hold her again, she was such a good girl. I love you Nelly.

I am so sorry.  :( My cat, Squirrel,  just turned 15 this year and if something happened to her like that I would be devastated.  Thanks for sharing her memory with us.

Thank you. I wanted to share the memory somewhere, don't have a lot of friends in real life to reach out to so I'm glad you guys were here to listen. I wish Squirrel a long, happy life with you, and that when her time comes it's peaceful and on you and your family's terms and not the cruel whims of the universe.

If you have any pictures you'd like to share, feel free to use this space for that.  Nelly sounds like she was a joy to be around.  Animals take up a large part of our hearts.  And they fill them up, especially when we are lonely or don't have people in our lives.  I truly wish the best for you and your family as it must be a difficult time.  I hope you can forgive your mother.  I'm sure she feels terrible and wishes she could take it all back.  :(

My mother loves animals and Nelly especially and this is her absolute worst nightmare. I was distraught, but she was distraught too, and I really didn't have time to be mad at her. I needed a shoulder to cry on and she did too. I know she didn't mean it and I made sure she knew I forgave her. Unfortunately, I don't have a ton of photos of her, just one on my phone. After a lot of compressing, I got it under the size limit.

                                                                     R.I.P Nelly

                                                  April 2004-September 2019

I've taken care of many stray cats but only had one pet. I never named any of them because I consider them my friends instead of pets or babies, and who names their friends? I'm not talking about nicknames, I gave them that

I also was close to many terrorist attacks but never saw one live and never saw anyone getting shot or blown up thankfully. I live near a hospital so I've seen the aftereffects of these attacks many a times.