Charlie, 1996-2009
As many of you know, Charlie was recently diagnosed as diabetic and we have been giving him insulin shots (twice daily) to help manage his blood sugar.
Early Sunday morning, Charlie had a seizure which caused his blood pressure and pulse to drop dramatically and his brain to swell, sending him into shock almost immediately. I got him to a Vet Emergency Room soon after, where they managed to calm the following minor seizures and stabilize him enough that his pulse and blood pressure numbers were returning to normal.
After 24 hours of treatment, his condition plateaued reveling the permanent symptoms of severe brain damage. We put him to rest this afternoon.
Born on a small farm in Pella, then moving from Chariton to a balcony-apartment in Des Moines, Des Moines to a gallery in Milwaukee, and finally retiring to a condo in Brooklyn - Charlie has been an irreplaceable part of my life for 13 years. Grace, Doug and I will miss him dearly.
*top right: video of Doug giving Charlie a shoulder rub while he slept
**below: photo collage of Charlie (some with Doug) over the last two years
Many of us have "Charlie" stories. Remember when he would race around and over the furniture during the night when I had him, and you said " he has to do his laps". Also, the day he proudly presented me with a bat he killed on the balcony , like a victorious battle trophy. No one could keep his fur as silky smooth as you did . I'm not sure about cats having nine lives, but he sure had one good one in your care.
Shannon and I also have fond memories of Charlie.
The first time Shannon came to the Chariton house for a visit I failed to inform (warn) her that this was not really 'my' house - it was Charlie's house. The house seemed safe enough but when you least expected it out of seemingly no where a black blur of fur would pounce, forever leaving a mark (physical and psychological).
Even when Charlie mellowed a bit later in life he still had a "look at me again and it will be the last time you look at anything" twinkle in his eye.
I'll miss Charlie as well - he was one bad ass awesome cat.
I have a similar visions of charlie that Brian has. In Milwaukee is seem the cat knew right when you were not on guard and then and only then in the corner of your eye would you see a black cat leaping for a bite of your arm. Then came the fun part of squirting him with a little water from the water pistol as revenge, but for some reason this only made him want revenge too, so it was kinda a cycle. I also remember when he would be sweet and want attention while we were late up watching king of queens or sienfield and would pur laying close.
What a life well lived. He was lucky to have you - and you him. We're sorry for your loss of such a good companion.
Dear Craig and Grace,
I'm sorry that you lost Charlie. I sure like the pictures of him having a good time.
-Riley