Heard again from the MARC folks, and it looks like the close to final tally for animal rescue in Tunch’s name is around $15,200, but I know it will increase slightly because my mother and others I know mailed in checks that will take a while to show up and clear. They are just ecstatic at your generosity:
John, We had a great meeting and everyone is so happy and enthused about MARC now being able to help more animals!!!!
We are busy planning our next TNR in one of the towns. This has been made possible through a small grant from ASPCA. The town, South Pittsburg is overrun w/ feral cats. We have already altered 62 cats! There are several other towns who need the same help and hopefully we can do the same there.
We also have a Tractor Supply Pet Days event coming up in Aug. This event is usually more about humane education as most of the people in the area who come to TSC are already overwhelmed w/ animals who have been dumped or were strays they took in. This gets MARC out in the public eye and more people learn we are here to help.
Today April drove 60 miles one way to our next nearest low cost spay/neuter clinic taking 20 animals, 3 cats and 17 dogs. Last week she took 8 cats and 8 dogs. She has to hang out there all day while the surgeries are performed and then transport them all back to their homes. This takes all day. We would love to open a low cost spay neuter clinic in our area so we could get more animals altered. It is the biggest obstacle to getting a handle on the many, many unwanted animals. We have to make it more accessible for the low income families who make up the majority of the population in our Marion County and most of the surrounding counties. The few low cost clinics are always full and are scheduling out two months which is very frustrating when we are trying to prevent litters.
April is our person on the ground who has been rescuing animals for a very long time. She spends her time and energies away from her four young children and husband and uses her own car for all the traveling. We are looking to purchase a good used van, hopefully good on gas mileage, to use for all our transporting. Almost every week we send dogs up north to excellant homes and this also requires us to transport the animals 135 miles one way to meet another transport north. A van will be very helpful and the Tunch donations are making this a reality! Some of the Tunch donations will undoubtedly go towards this van!!!
I will send you another update on the donations later today.
Thank you, Sue
I was hoping they would use some of the money for seed money to hold events to raise more money (pot luck dinners and raffles, get the community involved, etc.), but it looks like these guys have good heads on their shoulders and are going to do wonderful things with all of your donations. I’m just so happy that we are closer to getting MARC to the same level as Charlie’s Angels, Tunch’s and this website’s first animal rescue charity that no longer requires our help, as they are now self-sustaining. What a legacy for a cat who just wanted tuna and belly rubs and to have his presence DULY NOTED every time he entered a room.
I know there are those of you who are sick and tired of hearing about my fucking cat when so much awful is going on in the world, and to you, I say A.) find another website because you are going to hate this post, and B.) If you can’t love the little helpless creatures in life and understand how others can, I don’t want lectures from you on what is important. It’s the little things in life that make it special, not the big events. It’s the little things in life, like our cats and dogs and rabbits and whatever we lavish love on that make us capable of having the heart and fortitude to address the big issues.
I’ve learned so much about myself, and, well, you all, this week. I feel like I have been phoning it in the past year, having lost interest in politics because everything is just so fucking ugly and I feel like there is just a tidal wave of bullshit from the media and the right that none of us can hold back, and it just depressed me to the point that it was hard to have interest in politics anymore. But then, in my moment of crisis, the first thing I did was come here to you all and share my tears and sorrow, and you all responded, with your generosity, by not only making lemons into lemonade but also lemon meringue pies, lemon cookies, and on.
For the first 48 hours I was very, very, on edge and on the precipice. I spent two nights getting totally hammered alone crying and then spent the next day just lying in bed crying with the covers over my head. And spare me the notion that that is not healthy behavior. I’m German, and I didn’t want people trying to comfort me by saying stupid things like “At least he had a good run” while tears are streaming down my face and snot balls six inches long dangle from my nose, all while trying to be the big brother and console my sweet, sweet sister and brother, both of whom blamed themselves and honestly were taking things harder than me, if you can believe it. But you all, and all the positive that was happening because of you and your generosity, well, you helped pull me out of it.
After a couple days, I decided it was time to get busy living again (and yes I love that movie, and yes it’s a cheesy quote, and no I don’t give a fuck what film critics think or thought). So I decided to move forward, went to the shelter two days ago, found someone who needed me as much as I needed him, and brought him home. Maybe I moved faster than some of you would have, but having been me for 43 years, I know what is best for me. I have a lot to give and the idea of mourning for months just seemed stupid and counter-productive.
I was sitting on the back deck a little bit ago while I was cooking a chicken breast in the skillet (which is good, because I have not been eating really the past couple of days- sandwich here, etc.), and I watched Rosie take a shit on Tunch’s grave and just laughed, because the only way anyone could get away with shitting on Tunch is if he was a couple feet underground. I didn’t even yell at her, but started to get sad, and just started wondering why this had to happen. He was such a good sweet cat. I started to cry a little bit, looked over to the setting sun, and saw this:
Why, indeed? Well, this is why:
I noticed earlier that there is a small white patch of pure white on Boss’s chest. The rest of his body is colored the way you’ve seen in the pictures, but there is this little one inch flash of pure white right over his heart in the middle of his chest. I’m calling it his Tunch spot, because I really do think Tunch sent Boss to me.
Again, thank you all. Get busy living or get busy dying.
raven
Drive on Cole, drive on.
cathyx
We’re always going to experience the death of a pet because their lives are so short.
Trentrunner
For the record, The Shawshank Redemption is the highest rated user movie at IMDB.
For damn good reason.
Quarks
Go cat posts!
Tata
Rock on, you mad thing, you.
schrodinger's cat
Lovely post! I love Boss’s fuzzy paws, squee. My boss cat has a diamond shaped patch of white on his throat, no white anywhere else. He is cat from Maine, but not a Maine Coon.
Luthe
John, the unofficial motto of this blog has always been “come for the politics, stay for the pets.” If any fuckers have a problem with that, they can GTFO because they knew what they were getting when they showed up.
David Koch
Tunch would want you to go on and continue living
khead
@Luthe:
Yup. Another nice post.
Mr Stagger Lee
@Luthe: That is what I say, memo to those who bitch,DO YOU EVEN HAVE A LIFE???? Five minutes to Sharknado on the West Coast!
RSR
Good for you. Good for the animals.
I read earlier today about a Bishop in the Pittsburgh area who died, and the story of his pet (and it’s a good one). Sometimes the kids outlive the ‘rents. I was going to tweet this at John (and still may) but it’s a good story.
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/westmoreland/late-greensburg-bishops-beloved-dog-settles-in-with-new-family-695840/
Late Greensburg bishop’s beloved dog settles in with new family
Ted & Hellen
YAY. I concur.
ChrisNYC
Not a cat person so much but that’s a cute kitty.
TheOtherWA
Grieving is a very personal thing. Some people would need months and months to look for a new pet after one dies, and that’s ok. You were ready after a few days, and that’s ok.
I’m so glad you and Boss found each other and am looking forward to many funny, endearing posts of his antics with you & the dogs.
Citizen_X
That’s an ocelot, right?
Linda
No. Entirely ass backward. With so much awful in the world, we want to hear more about cat love.
Just Some Fuckhead
John, glad to hear you have made it out of the bedroom and onto the porch. With this new outlook on life, it shouldn’t be long before you are walking around out in the back yard. Good luck on your new journey!
beltane
@RSR: I think the bishop left this earth in the best possible way imaginable.
Mike in NC
Well said.
SIA
Love this post. Ecstatic for MARC. Thanks Tunch, you big old sweetie pie.
catperson
Very happy that you and Boss have found each other.
Anne Laurie
Well said, Mr. Cole. I’m glad you and Boss found each other, and hope you share many many happy years (& BJ posts) together!
donovong
Atta boy, JC. Keep on keepin’ on…
Corner Stone
It’s days like this that make me wonder how some lucky man hasn’t just snapped you right up already.
Genine
Lovely post.
rikyrah
Boss’ eyes are so beautiful
Odie Hugh Manatee
“I know there are those of you who are sick and tired of hearing about my fucking cat when so much awful is going on in the world, …”
Never. Will. Tire. Of. Hearing. About. Your. Fucking. Cat. ,. Even. Your. New. One.
Bright spots in a bleary day, good memories, funny shit and all that stuff.
Carry on. :)
lawnorder
Boss looks just like my Hider!
I buried my 15 year old cat Woody in my garden’s catnip patch, where he spent many a happy summer day munching on the herbs. I imagine he munches on them still, in his reams and mine.
You did good getting a new kitty and we have been lucky enough to be tamed by an animal understand you completely. Ignore the haters.
MikeJ
Even the liberal Trap Neuter Release thinks this is a good idea.
Botsplainer
@Corner Stone:
Be nice…
aimai
I’m incredibly proud of your courage, John, in picking up and doing what is right for yourself and the dogs and your new Boss. Sometimes you just have to roll to your feet after a major loss and do the next thing–just the next thing. And suddenly, you are living again. We love you and we appreciate your sharing your pain and your joy with us.
ArchTeryx
“Get busy livin’, or get busy dyin’.”
It’s a cheesy quote in isolation, but spoke by Morgan Freeman, it had gravitas that it wouldn’t have with any other actor.
I’m very, very glad you got Boss and that you are recovering nicely. He’s a very sweet, affectionate cat, from what I’ve seen in your photos and video. Very good pick.
becca
@Corner Stone: always with the negative waves, Moriarty, always with the negative waves.
TaMara (BHF)
Well fuck it. I’m just going to buy stock in the Puffs and Kleenex corporations and be done with it.
Great post. Thanks for being willing to share all of this with us. Go Boss man.
hilzoy
You know what? I don’t think many of your readers are at all tired of cat posts. And if they are, screw them. You know what else? I bet most of us weren’t planning to lecture you on the unhealthiness of your behavior, which actually doesn’t seem unhealthy at all, under the circumstances, and even if it did, most of us would probably cut you some slack, because Tunch.
Your misanthropy, on the other hand …
Vegas Broad
I’m glad you got Boss so quickly. When my golden died, I waited a couple of months because I felt so guilty for putting him down. He was very sick – see, I still feel guilty. Then I got a cute little dog named Joe and wouldn’t you know it, I was taking him and his sister for a walk, and a neighbor said, “You sure didn’t waste any time to get a new dog.” I told her when we went to the local shelter to find Joe, there were over 250 dogs that needed homes and I don’t even know how many cats. These little angels need homes and if we’re so inclined to want them, we shouldn’t waste a minute.
magurakurin
facts not in evidence. I really don’t see anyone who fits this. Everyone felt bad for your loss and I’m pretty sure everyone is very happy to see you feeling better and enjoying you new furry friend. I’m not a pet person, but I get that people love their pets deeply. It’s not a bad thing. Carry on with your cat posts, there is more than enough coverage of the awful things in the world being done by the other frontpagers and commenters.
A Ghost To Most
Yay John, yay MARC, yay Boss. And you inspired at least one adoption out here in the west (I’m sure there are more).
Yay Balloon Juice.
asiangrrlMN
Love this post so hard. Maybe we can send enough money so April can have a spa day!
Cole, don’t let anyone give you shit about getting Boss or how much you post about him. Your life, your blog – fuck the haters.
The second-to-last paragraph made me tear up, in a good way. I am so happy for you, Cole.
Corner Stone
@becca: There’s nothing negative about love, in any of its gracious forms.
Suzanne
I, for one, have not yet heard enough about your cat. More cat. Cat all the time, any time.
I have always brought a new little monster home quite quickly after losing one. Not only does losing them hurt so much because I miss them, I also miss the acts of loving them. The petting and cuddling and goofy routines you find with each one. I find bringing someone home helps lessen that particular part of the loss. Not to mention, I am always sad when I see an animal I need that I can’t help because I have a full household and work and kids, etc. So it seems cruel when I have an open spot on my pillow or at my feet to have someone spending another night in a jail cell instead.
LT
You’ve been having too many “posts of the year” lately, Cole. Settle down already!
Sarah in Brooklyn
Being a part of this, even just as an observer, has been so rejuvenating for me. Sharing our love of animals, knowing that we understand each other’s pain, it’s made me feel better and more connected than I have in a long time. I tell everyone that John Cole is my favorite blogger, and it’s not for the political posts. Happy days, Mr. Cole and Boss.
trollhattan
All I can say is when I saw the “R.I.P. Tunch” post I at first wasn’t able to process the very thought and then realized it was not only real but full of horrifying details then finally, felt as though I’d been stabbed in the kidney with a broken bottle wrapped in habanero-dipped barbed wire.
And I’m not a cat person. As it turns out I’m a Tunch person (wasn’t that a movie with a naked Nastassja Kinski?).
Enough about my tiny journey–what I hope has come through loud and clear is WE HAVE YOUR BACK. You type your guts out and this joint is the result of a decade of that, have a cadre of folks who want to do exactly that. I’m drawing the line at feeding drunk college boys after midnight. I have a daughter.
stinger
Dammit, would you quit making me cry?
The Other Bob
It is because of all the horrible things in the world that I want to hear about your fucking cat.
Jennifer
<3
Mr Stagger Lee
@ArchTeryx: Speaking of the Shawshank Redemption, how about this quote from Boggs, the head of the sisters.
hamletta
That’s great, Mr. Cole. And everybody’s right: We’d never complain moar kitty pix & news!
I had a good dream about my mom this morning: Her hair was back to its proper color (bottle-red), and her eyes were more cornflower blue than ever. She was opening the door, as if to say, “Get in here, you! The party’s already started!”
Life goes on, y’know?
Jill
This is the most gorgeous thing you have ever written. I get it, get it, get it. We lost our Jenny just two weeks ago and her ashes arrived home today. I never know when I’m going to just collapse into a little puddle. But the other night, after having seen two cats at the local shelter, neither of which was entirely suitable for various reasons having to do with Maggie the Simultaneous Infant Diva, something told me to check Craigslist. And I found this guy. Mr. Brilliant is going to go see him as soon as he feels well enough after his last round of chemo, and I think he is our new kitty. I think his name is going to be “Benjen” after the head of the Knights Watch in Game of Thrones, because he looks like a “Benny”, and because “ben” is Hebrew for “son”, and “Benjen” would mean “Son of Jenny.” Because I think she is sending him to us.
So yeah, I get it. And yeah, I like “Shawshank” too.
S. Holland
Love you Cole!
Corner Stone
@trollhattan:
I…uh…Hmmm.
gogol's wife
So beautiful.
gogol's wife
@Corner Stone:
He means Cat People. (Not the original with Simone Simon.)
AliceBlue
This post just made my throat tighten up a little–remembering all the Tunch stories and my beautiful boy Buster, who I lost six months ago. I hope you and Boss (and Lily and Rosie of course) have many long, loving years ahead.
becca
@Corner Stone: oh, barf. Turning tables, are we? I scoff at you. Bet you have a gooey center, too.
chopper
every time I see his name I pronounce it “bows”. yeah, I’m the bows.
Jebediah
True and well said.
Vail Fletcher
John – I cannot tell you how much I love you right now. Lots and lots of love in my heart for you. It has been really touching to be on the journey with you this week. Vail
SatanicPanic
I’m not an animal person, but you’re making me realize I would be a better person if I were.
A Ghost To Most
@hilzoy:
Is another thing we come for. Epic rants can be very cathartic.
Doug Milhous J
Even the liberal TNR?
BettyPageisaBlonde
Fuck the haters.
You do a lot to restore my faith in humanity with posts like these. I’m glad you’ve got Boss and he’s got you.
Aji
They might get a [very] little more, too. I’ve FB’d their fundraising link twice now, and I imagine some folks needed to wait for tomorrow to get paid. I did also ask people who decided to give to note that it was in Tunch’s name, FWIW.
MazeDancer
There is no such thing as too many cat posts. And this was an especially beautiful one.
Corner Stone
@becca: Actually, I am a believer in the Beatitudes, in a non-Christian type way. I’m confused by your stance here, but that’s ok.
Jane2
@Jill: He’s a handsome boy!!
Redshirt
@Corner Stone: Oh, such cute trolling. :)
Jane2
Came for he politics a long time ago, stayed for the pets and the sheer humanity of this blog. I can’t do a damn thing about Stephen Harper’s enemies list, or Brit tax breaks for frackers, or Meet the Press’s love affair with John McCain, but I can love my pets and tend my plants and be nice to folks.
Corner Stone
@Redshirt: ?
Redshirt
@Corner Stone: I know you can’t understand. Just keep trying! :)
Punchy
@Corner Stone: John’s into young ones? Aversion to chest hair maybe?
Cassidy
@becca: Shit can be gooey.
Corner Stone
@Punchy: I read Zachary Quinto is now single. Could it get any cooler than hanging with Sylar/Spock?
I don’t think so.
Corner Stone
@Redshirt: You keep paddling your douchecanoe upstream. Let us know how that goes mate!
Just Some Fuckhead
Punchy, some of us are going to publish an Open Letter To John Cole If You Are Still In There in the New York Times. Are you in?
Redshirt
@Corner Stone: Oh, you used a topical reference! How cute! Keep going. :)
Corner Stone
@Cassidy: When will society ever find a functional niche for someone of your latent talents? When, oh when?
Oh, wait a second. You don’t actually have any. Just killing people on a battlefield, according to you. I’m sure that’s useful…somewhere.
notorious JRT
Right.On.
The saga of Lily kept me coming back until reading BJ was my first Internet read.
I’ve always considered this blog my Tunch Spot.
Punchy
I’m concerned….didnt Sir Mix-A-Lot warn us NOT to be sprung on the cat?
Corner Stone
@Redshirt: Thanks for the emoticon! Otherwise I’m not sure how I would ever figure out what you meant! >;-)
Paddy
Love while you can.
Last night I had the post open about Boss, and when DH got home he looked at it and said, “TONEY”, our wonderful 6 y/o that got bladder cancer a few years back. Putting him down was one of the worst days of our lives, just a total capitulation to f*cking cancer.
You had no alternatives, you took what was handed you and made it something wonderful That’s the ticket.
Redshirt
@Corner Stone: :) I know, it must be confusing for you. But I admire your effort. You try, and that’s the best any of us can strive for, really.
Mr Stagger Lee
O/t, watching Sharknado, and they are talking about a sequel? Maybe SharknadoII: Slaughter in Seattle!
O/t(part 2)Could you imagine Clint Eastwood or Harrison Ford as Red in Shawshank? They were considered first, as well as Paul Newman or Robert Redford
forked tongue
I love the thought of Boss’s Tunch Spot.
Our most recent adoption is a tortoise-shell cat (Frick) with a spot over her left eye that’s pure ginger-tabby like our dear departed Louie. I always call it her Louie Patch.
Just Some Fuckhead
Punchy? Are you with us? Can you live with it if John injures himself with a breast milk pump while trying to feed the animals?
policomic
Bless you, Cole; bless Boss, and bless Tunch.
Punchy
@Just Some Fuckhead: I’d rather he feed his pets with that bodily secretion than with the other possibilities…
Luna Sea
I love love love this kitty. Pictures and updates every day, please, including when he and the girls start to hang out together.
A few years back when I lost my little beauty Oona, I went to the shelter for a new little girl the next week despite some concern from friends, came back with two new little babies that have become my heart and soul. They’ve actually kept me alive through some rough times. So yeah, only you know what’s right for you.
And BTW, MARC will probably get another flurry of donations tomorrow. I had to wait for payday, and I wasn’t the only one.
Mary G
The internets are full of people who can write about how stupid the Republican party is being and they are doing it. I’d much rather have another uniquely John Cole pets/life post that no one else could write.
And of course he is comfortable in your house. Tunch has given him all the scoop.-+
joel hanes
@hilzoy:
Your misanthropy, on the other hand …
… is a mask, a defensive pose, born of disillusionment and the need to disguise the tender inner idealist who has been so frequently disappointed by the real world. The real John Cole listened to his commenters, saw the truth, and spit up the toxic Reaganism he imbibed as a youth — deep down he’s a bleeding-heart liberal. The fake “fuck all of you” John Cole is the kind of personna one constructs to survive in an agressive macho culture like the Army — or almost any blog comment section.
Pay no attention to the fuck-you on display; the man worth knowing is behind the curtain.
Richard Fox
Reading your posts on your animals have been helpful for me in so many ways. I lost my job this week, am about to be 53 in a week..well I feel like a fool at the thought of competing in a marketplace that goes for folks half my age. But seeing that little guy take to you so quickly, well it’s a joy. The naming contest of Boss gave equal squeals of pleasure and frankly– I’d rather concentrate on that that anything else. Please write long and often on any canine or feline that wanders into your field of vision. There are people like me who weary of endless pitched battles, fools, and overly earnest screeds on politics, and this is like downing ice cold water on a hot day. Anyway, thanks.
Corner Stone
@joel hanes: It’s more likely just because he is overweight. And insecure about that.
Karen in GA (who really needs a better name)
Ah, fuck, something in my eye again.
Gex
You, your animals, and well, the rest of this community are making something nice. It heartens me.
Just Some Fuckhead
Poor Walt is prolly at a people shelter looking for a new friend.
eemom
@joel hanes:
Jeez, let’s not go overboard here. Ya gotta have the fuck-you Cole sometimes.
taylormattd
Amen John.
erlking
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Very few of us get to know whether we did good or ill with our time. You’ve done a lot–for pets and people.
hitchhiker
This message is for Boss.
Well done, you. Don’t let that guy get away with anything. Also, the dogs are comic relief, so cut them a lot of slack.
Cole . . . whatever. Thx for the website that lets us all feel human.
Lokahi
Awesome post. I don’t know whether to be totally despondent over the bullshit state of politics, or acutely hopeful when someone like State Sen. Wendy Davis shows courage in action…but so far haven’t regretted retreating into the realm of animal welfare work.
There’s something so refreshingly honest and transparent about these rescue cats, after all those years trying to change human hearts and minds.
And a bit OT, but there’s a huge shelter cat crisis here in Austin that hopefully will generate some media coverage and action this weekend. The three major rescues/shelters have almost 2,000 cats and kittens–about double what we can handle. This is a no-kill city, so we gotta adopt out hundreds of felines in the next couple of days…anyone here wanna cat or five?
Violet
Amazing post, John. You have so much heart. It’s why I love this blog. Thank you.
ranchandsyrup
Opinions vary on whether this is a “real” community or not. Of course it may be that every commenter is DougJ as well but I digress. I say that this place does a lot of good and that speaks for itself. Lurkers, commenters and FP’ers (with notable exceptions) all get something from this place. A chuckle, a smile, a burden temporarily lifted, a like-minded view, an opposing view, etc. That is really something. And the donations as well! It’s nice to take a moment to appreciate it and say thanks to John and everyone.
Man that sounds corny. Oh well.
Gemina13
Came for the politics, stayed for the pets . . . and the people . . . and the politics again. As Tip O’Neill wisely said, all politics is personal. Who we are and what we believe, and all dat kinda jazz.
As for The Shawshank Redemption, I love that movie. I was never so happy as when it was nominated for the 1994 Best Picture Oscar. Even though it lost, that nomination was a huge “fuck you” to all the critics who sniped at it. The ending still makes me cry.
Kinda like seeing Boss. What a sweet, gorgeous cat he is.
My sister-outlaw contacted her best friend last month after Lucky died; said bestie had taken in a pregnant stray who gave birth to a litter of 7. Originally, sis-outlaw had intended to take a kitten nicknamed Pants (for her habit of hiding in the laundry hamper), but Pants took an instant dislike to everybody but one guy. We were introduced Sunday to the runt of the litter, a female nicknamed Smalls because . . . well, she’s tiny.
She’s coming home in a week and a half. And yes, we’re changing her name, because dammit, I am NOT yelling, “You’re killing me, Smalls!” whenever she misses the litter box or tramples over me at 3 a.m.
karen marie
Bravo, John Cole.
joel hanes
@ranchandsyrup:
it may be that every commenter is DougJ
If so, Doug J is amazingly generous with is $15k in contributions to MARC.
Mnemosyne
Keaton is sitting on the ottoman in front of me, patiently waiting for his nightly wet food treat. He knows it happens at 9:30, but lives in eternal hope that tonight is one of the nights he gets it early.
(Yes, Keaton can tell time, and he knows when it’s 9:30. He is a frighteningly smart cat, a Gummitch.)
johnny's mom
More cat posts. More dog posts. More. More. More.
More pictures. More videos.
I love them. There is nothing in life I enjoy more than reading about animals or talking about my own.
katienorth
just reiterating what many others have said…
You’re awesome John Cole!
karen marie
@Jill: He’s beautiful!
opie_jeanne
@Corner Stone: Hey now, be nice.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@becca: “Bet you have a gooey center, too. “
I bet it involves burning crosses at night.
melissaD
I love John’s posst about his furry family or his cooking or the road trips or family events or his other life stories so much more than the political posts even though I,pretty much absolutely as to politics, agree with him. There is life and love and thoughtful kindness in those posts about the beings who matter to him and the tales about the (allegedly) irascible Tunch and the acceptance of Lilly and Rosie. I see the new guy, Boss, falling into place as a welcome focus of daily relief against the bad we all see and live through. Boss has Tunchitude and, John, I am so happy that you can welcome it home
Corner Stone
@Odie Hugh Manatee: How’s the ponytail coming along amigo?
Odie Hugh Manatee
@Corner Stone:
It’s still detecting assholes. Thanks for asking, asshole. :)
Cassidy
@Corner Stone: I have never killed anyone or claimed to. I was a healer and did plenty of that. I see your lashing out again. Don’t you have some real people to talk to when you’ve had too much to drink?
Cassidy
@Odie Hugh Manatee: but I’m sure Corner Stone has a black or Mexican friend so it’s all good.
Corner Stone
@Odie Hugh Manatee: Glad to hear it! Would hate for you to somehow lose something so distinctive.
Corner Stone
@Cassidy: That’s great! So…what else exactly are you qualified to do in the workforce?
Cassidy
@Corner Stone: Stop being so needy dude. It’s a little weird. Seriously, go find some real people to be a shit to when you’re drunk. Good night and take some aspirin before you go to bed with a big glass of water. It won’t make your life change when you wake up in the morning and you’re still you, but maybe you can avoid the headache.
ranchandsyrup
@joel hanes: You gotta commit if you’re gonna master troll.
jnfr
Made my donation tonight. Bless you all.
nineone
We love that fucking cat, John Cole. And we will continue to love that fucking cat. And any other fucking cat you may find. We’re here, we love cats, get used to it.
The Great Tunch Spot. That’s like the size of three Earths, right?
CaseyL
I realized over the past few days just how long I’ve been coming here: at least 8 years. 8 years! Some of the other BJ readers have been here even longer!
We are a community; maybe a family – an odd, scattered, mostly-virtual family (I love our local meetups; wish we had more of them). We couldn’t be that without you and your merry band of Front Pagers.
I’m glad we were able to give back when you needed it. Seems the least we could do.
Keep shining on, big guy.
And keep those animal stories coming.
moderateindy
A note on the Lemons into lemonade thing
When life gives you lemons be grateful it didn’t give you herpes, because life doesn’t come with protection and it screws a lot of people
Mystical Chick
When someone shows you their heart, hold it gently in your hands. We all did that (and continue to do that, John) and I’m glad that you can feel the love and support.
I feel that things truly do happen for reasons we often cannot grasp (my opinion born out through my experience so it’s my truth. YMMV, of course.) And when you can see the invisible web (Tunch spot), that helps make it a little bit more bearable. There is no way to change things so you have to keep walking forward. We all do. Together.
I will take your cat blogging over 10,000 discussions of Wyoming politics any damn day.
Rock on.
satby
@Jane2: Word.
We all love you John… and your animals and your rants. Especially your rants.
Jason
John,
I know a family that has had multiple cats for many, many years. When one of them dies, they head to the pound to rescue another cat the very same day. It was really good for their kids, to see that death isn’t the end of life.
I totally intend to do that with my four cats.
Glad you got found.
Ramalama
We had the good, torturous luck to have a bit of time to say goodbye to our beloved dog. On the day we had to put him down, he had indicated that he was done with all the pain bullshit, we told him to give us a sign that he was ok … when he left us. We are the resident queers in our small mountain town, and the fact that we were ‘making him promise’ to give us a sign at the vet’s, well, we knew we looked like total fools. We were so bereft that we were grasping at any voodoo that might help US feel better.
But two days after his death, we both dreamed of him sleeping with us in bed. I woke up feeling guilty, because we’d never allowed him on any of the furniture and there he was in bed…. and my partner woke up saying he was sleeping between us.
So, there’s that, for what it’s worth. I stopped walking around the neighborhood for maybe 1-2 months. I stopped being the American with the gorgeous “monstre” to being just the American. I lost my identity.
It’s taking a long fecking time. It makes me feel better to believe that he’s ok whereever he is.
I’m pretty sure that Tunch is also off to some place good too.
Trinity
Thank you John. I am bookmarking this post. It was exactly what I needed to read today. :)
Bex
@Richard Fox: So sorry about your job loss. Why not let everyone here know what you do and see if anyone can help?
Bulworth
Just donated to MARC!!
lojasmo
@Botsplainer:
It lacks that ability.
Ms. D. Ranged in AZ
Damn you, damn you to hell Cole. You made me cry again. Good thing is, they’re happy tears.
Tomolitics
Turbo drunk grief always works for me too. After 9-11 polished off about 2-3 bottles of single malt and many, many beers in the first few days following while watching TV nonstop. After that, you cut it out (hopefully) and get back up again and try to do something positive. I think it is a guy thing, turning the pain inward and then trying to anesthetize it. Too many Bogart movies maybe?
Good for you for getting back on the cat owner train–it ain’t easy to start again but when the time is right, which can be short or long, it sure feels good to have another loving kitteh back in your life. Hurray for Boss! And I have to say it has been remarkable to watch the arc of grief and recovery on this blog since that awful day. Astounding might actually be a better word.
Deidre
When my heart dog Tindra died, I fell apart and knew that Ollie was out there waiting for us. It was evening, and we rushed an hour and a half to a pet store, and there she was. She was out among the customers and other dogs, but there was no question that she was the girl I was led to take home.
We grew even closer to her over the years, and I’m so glad we adopted her so quickly. I was still grieving, but Ollie gave me her fluffy comfort so willingly that she helped me heal.
I’m very glad your new fur person is bringing you comfort. They are magic that way.
p
your recent experience brought up a lot of memories, love, grief and tears re pets i’ve had — the beautiful long haired white cat i had who used to come into the bathroom and speak to me in his “trill” whose neck was snapped by a neighbor’s husky when he was 2 1/2, the 4 dogs & 3 cats i was with when they passed, the numerous hit and runs i scraped off roads and tried to make more comfortable in their last moments, the cats that vanished i’ll never know what happened to…
if my comments sounded like i was trying to offer you a bandaid for your grief, or diminish it in any way, i truly apologize.
it was a projection. i am what is apparently a “lurker” here, but i was in tears.
a year after my father died, i was in florida after my mother broke a leg. one night, in her garage smoking a cigarette, an orange cat was “delivered” at the end of her drive-way. it took me a week to coax him inside. he’s been with her in the 8 years since.
i’m still not sure if my father sent him or if he is my father.
so, i apologize as well if, while i’m not religious, there are times there does seem to be something supernatural going on that opens my heart and leaves me in awe.
i never ever meant to offend you.
CaliMatt
long-time lurker de-lurking just to say i finally had a chance to get a donation to MARC today. was broke as a joke all week and just got paid…you should definitely get at least one more update from them after this weekend since i am sure many of us live the “rich for a day, poor for thirteen” lifestyle around here…
Tercali
Another long time lurker here. I come to the blog for the pet blogging just as much as everything else, maybe more. I was found by my kitty Max and we had a long 14 years together until he passed last September. He’s now at peace at a sunny spot under his favorite catnip bush. Your Tunch stories have reminded me a lot of him, in that he was a feisty cat that commanded respect. One thing I really miss is when he made biscuits before settling down on the comforter for the night…Enjoy Boss, he sounds like he is fitting in just great…
Darkrose
I’m thrilled that you have Boss. It makes me remember Joxur and smile. I’m firmly convinced that he helped us find Alistair, so I don’t doubt Tunch had his big paws all over this. He knew you’d need a cat to take care of you.
Terri Lea
John, Anyone who has loved a pet, TRULY loved a pet, knows they are more than mere pets! They are family and we mourn them each in our own way! I know you love your babies and I love how eloquently you can put your thoughts down. Tunch has touched a lot of lives and will continue to do so! What a legacy for any cat! Congratulations you and Boss finding each other!!
Ed
Like you, I’ll take living.
Jacquie
HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME CRY. For real, though, no need to apologize for sharing this with us all. Boss is a cutie and I wish you both much joy together.
Roza
Wonderful!