Everyone has a bad day from time to time. Maybe not “attacked-by-a-bear-then-left-to-die-in-the-woods” bad, but everyday bad. Even those we see as being particularly blessed will have a shocker now and again. Bill Gates will get his wang caught in his fly. Dave Grohl (“nicest man in rock”) will accidentally drop a “c-bomb” in front of his mum at a family dinner. David Beckham will get completely ignored in public, while his son gets spotted and subjected to trial by selfie. Donald Trump will accidentally put the hamster on his head, while his wig is being cleaned…
Yeah, I’m keeping this build-up light. Last Thursday was a shocker for me. And that saying about things coming in threes? Yep, that too.
Thursday morning, out of the blue, I got told at work I’m going to be made redundant. In the afternoon, a serious health scare for someone very close to me, that will need surgery.
These are both major shocks to the system, but it was the one that happened in between that made me break down and cry like a baby.
I saw my cat die.
While getting changed out of my work clothes, brain whizzing about with what I’m going to do next, how we’re going to pay the mortgage/ feed the kids/ get through this one, I watched my cat die on the bed, right next to me.
With no warning, she lay her head on its side, and just curled up like a leaf closing, pulling in on herself. The air slowly leaving her body. A balloon silently deflating.
I patted her and stroked her, saying her name over and over, but there was no reaction. I patted her a bit more urgently. Nothing.
Her heart wasn’t beating.
Her lungs weren’t working.
Nothing.
I started blubbing like a baby, sobbing her name.
Maybe ten seconds later, she lifted her head up and let out a couple of angry mews (pain?).
I went to stroke her, but she ran off and hid downstairs. She was a bit skittish for the rest of the day, but otherwise acted the same as normal. A bit mental, a bit stand-offish, very demanding about food. You know, like a normal cat.
I know my cat, and I know how she reacts to things. I am absolutely certain that she died. And yet here she is now, nuzzling around my feet, acting within her normal parameters of strangeness.
Maybe her throat closed or something. I don’t know. Do cats suffer from anaphylactic shock?
So with those big three things happening on the same day, the one that made me really cry, and is making me well up recalling it, was my cat dying. For a bit.
Go figure.
Oh my god. Sorry. I hope things get better. I’m so glad your cat wasn’t dead, but that’s weird… Maybe she has sleep apnea… You might want to take her to the vet.
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Thanks Tosha. We’ve been keeping a close eye on her since, and the second anything else weird happens, we’re heading straight for the vets!
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Hope she’ll be OK and it was just a fluke. xx
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Part of me wonders if it was an elaborate plot to get off the diet that we’d put her on… 🙂
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Ha-ha. Faking her death to get out of a diet. Yep, that sounds about right for a feline mastermind. Ours is on a diet too. He’s none to happy about it.
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You’d better not let him read this blog then… Don’t want him to get any ideas!
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No kidding. I’ll be monitoring his internet time from here on out.
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Absolutely… and all that weird stuff in my browser history? That was my cat too…
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Ha-ha. Same here. My cat is a freak.
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🙂
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Ha! I gave up on the diet bit for the cat. I think he found the perfect ploy: he goes and begs the neighbours. I’m not even sure which neighbours, so I can’t do much about it
A clever cat, that is!
But not as clever as yours if this is what she came up with to get out of a diet!
Must have been really scary!
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Horrifying… our cat doesn’t like to leave the house, so the neighbours are not an option. She knows just how to play me though!
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Good thing there’s only one more woman in the house if you’re so easily played 😉
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Lol! Ain’t that the truth!
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😀
I’m sure she enjoys every minute of it too! 😉
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Bloody hell mate! I’ve been made redundant I think three times and my dad had a heart attack a few years back but we just get up and carry on. When my childhood moggie died when I was 17 I was pretty choked and I’m dreading the time my current furry mate shuffles off his mortal coil – he’s about 12 already but he still acts like a stupid kitten (honestly, you wouldn’t believe the pestering for playing I get when I work from home).
The cat is definitely the one that would upset me the most so I feel for you. But at least she’s fine now – and that’s probably the best thing to take from last week: you appreciate the joy of still having your cat.
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We’ve had this cat for about ten years or so… you do form a bond with them, for all of their quirks and natural behaviours. Jobs and health scares come and go… I’m not worried so much about the leaving of my current job than the finding of another one, with all those soul-sapping visits to the DWP to suffer
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With your skills, talent and ability to charm all an sundry with your CV, you’ll be fine 🙂
If I see owt I’ll let you know.
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Cheers matey
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Goodness me, what a day you’ve had. >
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I’ve had better!
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I’ll hope that things improve for you!
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Thanks Misky x
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Ah! So British! The understatement of the year! 🙂
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🙂
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Sorry to hear of all these things, Al – can’t really ‘like’ this post – glad your feline friend is still functioning. Take care and best wishes for positive outcomes from me and mine *man hug*?
G
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Thanks Graeme… man hug gladly accepted 🙂
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Al. I cried as I read about kitty dying! Then my heart did a happy dance as your pet claimed one of her 7 lives! It was probably your tears and calling it back that did the trick. Best of luck and prayers as you look for work!
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Thank you Meredith x
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Sorry to hear about the job scene…I’m sure something even better is heading your way!
The surgery should help heal whatever it was your relative was suffering from – Thank goodness they found it on time to get the surgery done and stop it from becoming anything worse!
And your beloved Cat fought death to come back to you – that’s an amazing feat!
All in all, I did say that was not bad at all….you managed well, my friend! *Hugs*
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That’s a very positive way of looking at it… I hope to agree with you, once I’ve find another job!
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That settles it, ALL of you are moving in with me! We’ll manage somehow. Oh, and bring the magic cat, we have 3 here, she’ll be right at home! 🙂
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Thanks Annette… it may come to that!
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How delightful!
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🙂
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Oh, Al, I’m so sorry…but I’m glad that your cat is at least still alive. I hope that the surgery for your relative will turn out well and that you’ll find another job soon. Hugs!
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Thanks Teresa x
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Oh how dreadful! It’s odd how things happen in threes. Are there ever three “good” things that happen that way? Or do we not notice them as readily? I certainly hope your cat is ok and it was just a passing thing, and that your relative’s surgery is successful and the recovery quick. Lastly, I hope that a new and better job opportunity presents itself right away! Hugs!
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Thanks Meg… good question about the three “good” things… will keep that in mind 🙂
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Pets, they have a special place in our hearts. I’m glad she came back.
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Thanks Wendy
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Oh, that’s very strange. hope your cat is okay now. Sorry to hear about the redundancy and your friend’s health issue. All the best for finding a new job and wishing a speedy recovery for your friend.
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Thanks Marje x
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Sending big hugs your way and hoping things get better soon. They do say cats have nine lives so she’s probably got a few left, right?
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Thank you… luckily she has a few more lives to spare!
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Oy. So much sadness, thank God about your cat first of all. That is crazy, but felines are known for their insanity. I am sure your heart couldn’t take much more that day!
I hope you at least have a bit of time to seek another position, that has happened to me as well, though it was more of a ‘all of a sudden we’re changing your job completely so you’ll be begging to leave’ type of thing. Right before Christmas. If I wasn’t so far away I would have been tempted to go have a giant yarn bonfire in the parking lot…hopefully it won’t come to that for you.
Sending hugs, and hope for better days – sooner than later. Pet that kitty for me, and I’ll stop calling mine a brat. For today at least. Xx
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That kitty is right in my face. Literally. She has a sociable 20 minutes a day, and isn’t subtle about what she wants… But if you could start stockpiling yarn… You know, just in case… 🙂
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I mean, not much more passive-aggressive then burning yarn of all things, but for me it would have been torching the supply.
My kitty is one of those who will be happy, purring away, then will turn and bite you a minute later. Basically, cats are like women on a perpetual period. Yeah, I said it. 😉
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Ha ha! My cat is more the lone wolf type, going through an accelerated character arc and realising that she needs others at the end of each day… before getting total amnesia overnight and starting it all off again. It’s like Memento meets Lone Wolf McQuade… 🙂
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Ha! What a great description. I can totally see that. I feel a bit like that myself certain days….
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I think I’m like that most of the time… I think that’s why the cat chose me. Kindred spirits 🙂
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Probably. Give & take. Sounds about right. Maybe some day I’ll figure out what my silly cat is trying to teach me. She’s actually a sweetheart, most of the time. Just like me. 🙂
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“Most of the time.” 🙂
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What a tough surreal day. Sorry about the job and the illness, and I’m glad the cat is up and around. My guess is a seizure, but then what do I know – nothing. Blubbering about a cat, Al – just shows that you have a heart – got me all teary too. 🙂 Hope your week improves tenfold.
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The best thing about a bad day, is knowing the next day doesn’t have to try hard to be an improvement 🙂
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Oh Al, I really feel for you. It must have been a tough day! All that after almost having surgery last week… did it happen this week?
I hope the job thing works out soon. Maybe it’s because your next book will be selling so well, you’ll get into all the best reviews and will live off royalties rather than have to do something else for a living? That would really be a nice turn around for you, wouldn’t it?
Sending lots of positive thoughts your way.
And I’m impressed by how positive you still manage to make it all sound. You are a good man Al. I’m lucky to know you, even if only through words on a screen.
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My surgery’s next Friday… love the positivity around being an overnight writing success! Thank you Dawn x
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Well, if anyone deserves the overnight success, it’s you! 🙂
XO
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Aw thank you! ❤
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Nothing I don’t feel deep down. 🙂
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Oh, and I’ll be thinking of you on Friday then…
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Fri 18th… Don’t want any premature thoughts 😉
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Ok! That day is going to be pretty intense for me too (though nothing as scary as surgery can be, no matter how routine or low-key), but I’ll be sure to send positive thoughts your way 🙂
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What a day! I am sad to hear that you are going through so much and hoping things improve dramatically for you and your family.
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Thanks Raphaela x
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Oh no, what a day! Was the redundancy out of the blue? Have you got anything else lined up? The job market is so unstable out there and this has happened to so many of my friends. A nightmare. I hope your friend’s surgery goes well and the health scare sorted. A worrying time. As for your cat – how odd but great she’s okay now. Fingers crossed it was a one off. Take care.
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It was a little out of the blue – I thought I’d be safe ’til Dec (although not beyond). Nothing else lined up… Thanks for the best wishes x
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Sorry to read about your really bad day, Al. I wish you lots of luck with finding a new job and will keep my fingers crossed for you. I hope you go on to bigger and better things in your career.
As for the cat, well I know how you must have felt. They become a huge part of our lives. I remember so well when I discovered the Goldfish I’d had for 16 years was with us no more. “It’s only a goldfish” I was told, but any pet means so much more to us than those words.
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Thanks Hugh x
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I am reading this in Friday and hoping your cat is still OK. I hope the surgery goes well and that you are able to find another job soon. If it rains it pours sometimes.
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Doesn’t it just… have to have a tooth removed yesterday as an emergency case… am looking forward to the sunshine after the rain!
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Wow! Perhaps that was your number three–you know how they say things come in threes.
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That was number four. Maybe five. Not on a good run! 🙂
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Ouch! Sorry to hear that. Hang in there.
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Everywhere’s up from the bottom, right? 🙂
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One way to go! Onwards and up. 🙂
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You definitely win the bad day award–but just for the one day. It will get better! Several years ago, just as we were about to close on our first house, my husband got fired. We thought the world ended, but once things stopped spinning, we could see it was the best thing that could have happened. Have patience that things will somehow work themselves out–for the better! It’s so hard to see that close up.
And as for the cat, I’m glad the story ended with a return to life! It’s that whole “cats have nine lives” thing, right? One down–eight more to go! Take care!
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Thanks Amy. I know things will get better… can’t pretend I’m not impatient for things to hurry up and get there though! 🙂
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Totally understand! I’m very impatient myself, but I’m learning!
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Life is the lesson, sometimes 🙂
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