What is a monkeybox?

When I was a little girl, we had a pet monkey named Amanda. My Dad worked in the produce business, so each night he brought home that days culls in a big box - spotty cucumbers, pithy apples, limp celery, moldy oranges and the like. We called it a monkeybox. It was really just trash, but my Mom would take each piece of fruit and trim it, pare it and cut it up to make a beautiful fruit platter for Amanda. Even though it was deemed trash by one, it still had life left in it and was good for the purpose we needed it. That's how I live my life - thrifting, yard saling, looking for another's trash to be my treasure.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Tiger

This morning we said good bye to our cat, Tiger.  He came to us with that name ten years ago.  Such an un-clever name for a big yellow cat.  But since he weighed almost 20 pounds, it seemed fitting. Plus, he was eleven years old, so that name was his.  We called him Mr. Big Boy, Yellow and Tiger Boy among other things.  The people that lived next door moved and said they weren't taking him with them.  I had a sneaking suspicion that they would dump him somewhere, so I brought him in our house one night before they moved.  They never even asked if we had seen him.  


He was The Bean's best friend growing up.  He still was his boy.  Always his companion on the couch and in bed at night. He begged from his plate at meal times.  The Bean is taking this hard - he was only nine when he came into our lives.  

Tiger, you were the best.  We laughed when you would RUN out of the litter box, trying to escape your own stink as fast as possible.  You would come running down the hall and then 1, 2, 3, the smell would blast us.  We laughed and thought it was funny.  Pets and babies making a stink is funny.  I don't know why.  You would take a bath and contort yourself into the funniest positions and then just stop and look at us like, "Whut?"  


You loved your food.  Even as you dwindled in weight over the years and especially in these last few days.  Yesterday you ate the better part of a can of tuna, some cheese and some turkey along with your meals.  The garage door opening after I took out the trash was your cue to come into the kitchen and demand a treat out of the jar.  And, you always got it.  (I found this photo on my phone one day - he has stepped on the button and took a selfie.) 


I can't believe you are gone, Mr. Big Boy.  You have just always been.  And now you are not.  Today was hard.  I had a hard hard day making hard decisions for you.  But, this one very hard day pales in comparison to all the joy and laughter you brought us these years.

Always in our hearts - we love you,Yellow.



25 comments:

  1. Thank you for giving him such a loving home - I am sorry for y'all's loss today. :-( It really hurts to lose someone you love that much - the price we have to pay eventually with our beloved pets. He was such a cutie!

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  2. Anonymous11:09 PM

    So sorry for your loss. How wonderful of you to rescue Tiger from who knows what fate, and to make him a valued family member. Great photos!

    Laurie S.

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  3. Big hugs to you and The Bean. So, so hard to lose a member of the family.I don't know the circumstances but I know your decision was made out of love.

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  4. So very sorry it is always so hard.
    Cathy

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  5. Oh, Shara. This breaks my heart. I don't think any of us realize that when we bring these sweet pets into our lives, that someday they will leave us. Give The Bean a big hug from me and let him know I'm thinking about him.

    ~Erica

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  6. this made me laugh and cry. Wonder if most cats run from their own stink, mine does. I am sad for you and Bean, I know how much your fur babies mean to you.

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  7. Anonymous8:27 AM

    All kitties should be so lucky to have been loved by a family as much as you loved Tiger!

    Heidi

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  8. I too am sorry for the loss of your beloved Tiger. What a lucky kitty that he found his forever home with you and your family!

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  9. I'm so sorry. That sounds like it was really hard. That kitty lived in love and took that feeling with him. The selfie is really adorable
    Chanelle

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  10. Shara, I just laughed and then cried. Such joy our kitties give us. What a beautiful boy he was. My fist cat was named Tiger and she was all black (go figure). I loved her so much, she was the cat of my youth and growing up. Give the Bean a hug for me, I know this is hard. My Charlie is getting thinner all the time and I know his age is catching up to him. I dread the day I have to make 'the decision' but you do it out of love and that's what you did. Hugs to all of you.
    Linda

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  11. Oh Shara! I am heartbroken for you all! They never last as long as our love for them does. You did a wonderful thing for him when you took him in and gave him a wonderful long life that he would not have had. Chiquito sends hugs to you and the Bean. Me too.

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  12. Oh, no. I am so sorry about Tiger :( Sending hugs out to you all!

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  13. So sorry for the loss of a beloved family member. Tiger sounds like he was a fun guy--and better at selfies than I am. One thing I love about your blog besides your great taste in junk and your wonderful sense of humor is the love you show for your cats and family. It's never easy to let go but it sounds like you have wonderful memories. Bless you and the Bean!

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  14. I am so sorry for your loss. Making THE decision is so hard and yet such a proof of love and respect.
    Thank you for bringing this beautiful soul in your home. He is now frolicking in cat heaven with Billy Bob, Peanut and the rest of my dearly departed pets.
    Take care and give a hug to The Bean.

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  15. I am sorry for your loss. I still cry when I think about my departed pets.

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  16. A beautiful tribute. So sorry for you, the bean and the breadman. I know how this feels. :(

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  17. So very sorry about Tiger. It's heartbreaking to loose a furry friend that's been there day in and day out for so many years providing love and laughter. You obviously gave him a very good life.

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  18. I am so, so sorry, Shara, Bean, and the Breadman. I know how heartbreaking this because, eight weeks ago, I had to make the same decision for my beautiful boxer boy, Ace. It is the right decision, but it devastating. All you really want is Tiger back with you. Hugs to all of you.

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  19. Wendy2:57 PM

    Awwww....so sorry for your loss of your furry family member...Hugs!!

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  20. So very sorry, Shara. It's such a hard loss. Take solice from the fact that you gave him a wonderful home.

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  21. I'm so sorry for your loss. Pets are such an important part of the family. The time will be coming soon for my English Springer Spaniel, Parker, also know as "the best dog in the world." But as hard as the loss is, they enrich our lives so much. Thank you for sharing with us.

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  22. So sorry about Tiger. He was lucky to have you (and escape the neighbors) it's so hard to say goodbye to a family member. Hugs to you and especially the Bean.

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  23. Anonymous11:54 AM

    I am so sorry for the loss of your very loved Cat. Sending hugs and love for your family.

    Judy

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  24. Anonymous2:49 PM

    OMG....are you me?
    I also took the neighbours cat in before they moved.......20lbs big orange stripes.
    Stanfield passed this summer @ 15.
    Freckles just like your Tiger.
    I am glad you have happy Tiger memories!
    barb

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  25. I know I'm late on this, but I am so sorry you had to go through this and lose your Tiger. We had to let our coyote dog, Frasier, go in April 2015 and it was the hardest decision to make. But it's part of loving our animals, please be assured that you did the right thing and he knew it. I'm glad that you have so many fun memories of him.

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