Vaya Con Dios Blue 42

Blue’s full name was Blue 42 McCaffrey, as she was found in Mark’s first precinct with the NYPD, during a snowstorm, and came home to live at the McCaffrey Compound in Riverdale. She along with all of the rest of our fur family, made the trip out West to Casa Claire in 2017.

You also know that just over a week ago, Blue was suddenly struck with an undiagnosable malady, that knocked the shit out of her.

Her vets made a valiant effort but ultimately were not able to provide that Silver Bullet.

But Blue hung in there. She never gave up. As late as Friday, she dragged herself up the stairs from her bed in the basement, so she could see the grans, whom she loved so much.

Indeed, during the party yesterday, she dragged herself around the side of the house so she could get a look at the children she must have heard through the basement door. I found her there during a moment I went to check on her. She felt all 82 pounds when I carried her down the Giant’s Causeway and back to her bed in the basement. But she never whimpered. Blue was a stoic. I sat with her a while until she fell back to sleep.

Lisa has been a champ sleeping on the couch each night beside Blue for over a week. She knew Blue would never make it up the two flights to our bedroom each night. I offered to switch off but Lisa wouldn’t hear of it.

When I came down yesterday morning, both Blue and Lisa were synchronized snoring. Same when I came back in from feeding Claire and Honey.

When I finished my blog yesterday morning, Lisa called out to me from the living room.

“I think she’s passing.” This wasn’t Lisa’s first rodeo. Her three decades as a nurse had given her many such experiences.

I leaned down and still felt some warmth in Blue’s haunches. I could also feel a slight flutter in her chest. I asked Lisa if she was sure. She confirmed she was. I leaned forward to whisper that it was okay for Blue to cross the veil, that Jeter and Cairo and Maeve and Phoebe and Lucky and Mr. Rogers were all waiting for her. And then I heard that haunting sound of a last breath passing her lips.

Release.

I jumped up to my feet and instinctively pulled out my phone, and snapped two photos of Blue within nanoseconds of each other. When I went back later to look over the photos, I almost fainted. I actually caught a photo of Blue’s soul leaving her body.

That was Blue’s final gift to me. Proof of everlasting life.

Lisa went up to tell Luke and Georgie. Georgie had been an angel caring for Blue. She would come down and clear Blue’s blood crusted nostrils to let her breathe easier at night. Luke was always suggesting alternative treatments that had worked on Maeve and Cairo. Lisa wanted to give them the heads up so the grans wouldn’t come down and find Blue there.

I went out to start and dig Blue’s grave on Boot Hill, where all of the other fur family that traveled with us from NYC were buried. The earth was like cement and it took me awhile just to get the outline done.

Luckily, Luke joined me in the effort, selecting from my shed the pick axe he had left behind when he went to Oz.

This is why God gives you strong sons. So the heart of the strong father does not give out.

Finally Blue’s grave was finished.

So Luke went back into the house with me to carry Blue out. Lisa had prepared a death shroud from Blue’s favorite blanket, a gift from the grans. Minions. Poopaye!

Luke placed Blue gently with her head towards Jeter and Maeve, and then decided she needed another cover.

I fetched another one of Blue’s favorite blankets.

Then, after a moment of silence, we both went to work covering her.

But what was truly amazing was how Claire came up from below and watched it all.

And after it was done, Claire came over to the grave.

So don’t anyone ever tell me that these and all other sentient creatures do not mourn. Claire misses her lady in waiting.

But Claire knew I was feeling it as well, and later, while I was prepping some food in their barn, I turned and found Claire standing behind me, just silently watching me. And I knew that she was just making sure I was okay.

Even if I never wrote one word of The Claire Saga, I have been forever blessed by having my fur family in my life. And I really believe that Casa Claire is a special place where my connection to each of these creatures has reached a level rarely experienced by anyone other than a very lucky few. And I have been blessed by that experience.

I’m quite certain Blue was met at the end of the rainbow bridge by her Casa Claire fur family Mr. Rogers, Maeve, Cairo, Jeter, Phoebe and Lucky, and also her blood cousins Floki and Hitchens, and finally her literary cousin, Fergus. Pete Sheridan assures me St. Francis watches over them all.

When I came up to the house later, Lisa showed me that Georgie and her had taken the paw and nose prints of Blue, and a snippet of her fur. I had found a feather when I finished burying Blue, and another in the spot where she had passed. So I included them in the baggie, along with some of mine and Lisa’s tears.

We’ll keep that all and probably mount it.

Of course, we lit a Blue candle for Blue.

To find some closure. And to guide her during her passage across the veil.

Well Monday is upon us so we all need to get moving.

First some kitties to cuddle and my rounds.

You fine, five readers better get a move on as well. But Friday awaits.

And no matter what we get up to, let us make today a great one.

Goodbye Blue 42. We love you. Forever.