Three Kings Day and Losing Our Precious Cat Named Jack

Today, I had planned to write a post in Spanish about Three Kings Day, January 6th, celebrated by many Latinos.  It is also the Day of the Epiphany.  My nuclear family- my dad, mom, sisters and I haven't really made that part of our family traditions, though.  I was going to write about talking to my mom about this.  How I asked her why we didn't make a big deal of it when her family did celebrate this special day in Colombia when she was younger.  So, I was going to write about that, but now mostly my thoughts are about Jack.  I'm crying now thinking about him.  We started treating him for diabetes in the last few weeks.  I'm wishing we knew that his heart was failing and that today it would just stop.  He was only about 9 years old.  I'm heartbroken.

Our Beautiful Monster, Jack

Jack and I had a special relationship.  I was thinking about that and remembered I had written a Squidoo post about two years ago about him.  I haven't been on Squidoo for almost two years!  Anyway, we called Jack our monster because he was really big and kind of ferocious at times- not dangerous (okay mostly not dangerous).  My sisters and my mom were his primary caretakers, my dad was his buddy, and I would love him from a safe distance.  Also, I had allergies so needless to say I wasn't hugging and squeezing him like my younger sister and mom would.  

I know Jack felt how much we loved him and I am happy to have had a tender moment with him yesterday when he wasn't feeling well at all and curled up in the bathroom .  I sat on the tub and rubbed his head speaking to him and sharing how much I did love him.  

Rest In Peace Jack.  We love you.

With kindness, kisses, peace, and love,

~Vicky

My Squidoo Post:

How to Tame a Monster Cat

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Meet Jack!

Jack is a gray monster cat. He is loving and kind, yet hostile and reactive when you don't give him what he wants!

Jack and I

It's Love/Hate

My family got Jack when he was a little itty bitty kitty. He was so sweet. I don't know what happened?! Now, we have a love hate thing, because he is either caressing my feet happily or angry hissing or stretching his claw out at me if I won't give him a piece of ham. He's part of the family, so you have to love him!

Why Jack??!

hmmmm

Interestingly enough we had a former cat in our lives who went by the name PACHO, a very Latino sounding name. He was also called MISHU, because we believed that cats have their secret name and that was his. I don't quite remember how Jack was named Jack or why it turned out to be a very American western type name, unless of course we were naming him Joaquin and calling him "Jack" for short.

Taming Jack

You Can't

Just like there is no taming a free spirit, Jack will stay wild! He grew up wild, an indoor and outdoor cat with no discipline and he has remained the cute monster you see here!!

Photos of Jack

Jack was in a terrible fight because he felt strongly, as many New Yorkers do, that he was the one "running the streets."

Jack was in a terrible fight because he felt strongly, as many New Yorkers do, that he was the one "running the streets".

Sure, just take a nap anywhere!

Favorite things to do with Jack?

Not Very Much I'm Afraid

-Watch him run from one end of hall to the other.
-Watch him prepare to pounce.
-Have him sleep at my feet.