Sunday, July 2, 2017

My Baby Bobo: It is 10 Years Today

Some of you might remember this post from the last few years. It is now a tradition, that I post this on the anniversary of my beloved Bobo's passing. The only change I made was that Bobo is now gone 10 years and I deleted a photo and added a new one.  Sorry about the quality of the photos, they are quite old, they were taken when blogs didn't exist! I also chose to publish this at 6:30pm EST which is the approximate time that Bobo left to go to the Rainbow Bridge. 


Bobo is who this blog is dedicated to.
 There would be no blog if I hadn't shared my life with Bobo.



 My Baby Bobo, I miss you today, I'll miss you tomorrow,
 I will miss you until the day we meet again.
It is 10 years ago today that I lost my beloved Bobo, or my "Baby Bobo" as I often called him.

Bobo passed the day after his 18th birthday.


He was  my  "Soul Kitty".

 What is a "Soul Kitty?"

 A "Soul Kitty" is a  once-in-a- lifetime pet.



A "Soul Kitty" is  the yin to our yang.

A "Soul Kitty" is  a  pet tied more deeply to us than many people in our lives have been, or could ever hope to be.  Our fur babies are ALL special but I believe if you think really hard there is one who stands out from the others.

  A "Soul Kitty" is the  one whose fur would be dampened by our tears as he  snuggled peacefully by our side, just to offer us comfort.

A "Soul Kitty" is the one who makes us laugh til our sides ache, watching  his kitty craziness.

I was upset with Bobo's behavior one day
and packed his kitty toys
in a bandana


A "Soul Kitty" is the one who you swore that " there was no other cat out there quite like him" (isn't it funny how we ALL say that about our cats?).


The passing of Bobo was the most horrible thing that has happened in my life (next to my Father's passing).  So many of you can relate to the devastating heartbreak that one just doesn't have the words for. The pain was crippling. I lived for him as much as he lived for me. A part of me died with him. In order to cope, I chose to make some collages and hang them in our condo (where they still hang today). I needed to see him in every room, the thought of his face not greeting me each day was too much to bear.




The above photo, (in the same frame), was prominently displayed on my desk at every job I had. When I travel, I will NOT travel without it. Bobo has joined me on every airplane trip since he passed. I keep that photo in a special mesh bag, I hold it when the plane takes off and kiss it. My Angel Bobo is MY Guardian Angel.





For many years Bobo and I lived on our own. I had no other pets, Bobo WAS the only pet, and my baby. I wasn't married for many of the years we were together and I would customarily leave for work at 7am and not return home until after 6pm. I had a lovely window at my old apartment that was on the first floor. Bobo used to enjoy passing many hours watching deer, birds, and even our maintenance people (who knew him as a fixture in the window and knew him by name), while he waited for me to return home. It never mattered what time I returned, when I would pull into my parking spot, there would be Bobo, waiting for his Mama's return.

 For those of you who believe that cats (and humans and other pets), communicate with us from beyond, an eerie thing happened. Soon after Bobo's passing, my  husband and my sister-in-law had gone to an Art fair and I stayed home. My husband surprised me with a portrait he had bought that bore not only a striking resemblance to my Bobo, but it was as if whomever created the portrait had seen my window at my old apartment. I burst into tears when I saw it. It is probably the most beautiful and cherished gift I have ever received. I would like to share that with you:


I am convinced that Bobo found a window in heaven
where he is waiting for me.
The portrait still hangs in my living room.

When Bobo was still a young cat, very much alive and vital, I often played music in the apartment that we shared.  There was one song, "Tears In Heaven" by Eric Clapton,  that for some reason Bobo particularly liked.  Whenever it would come on he would come walking into whatever room I was in. He would rub his head and face against my hand or my leg. He did this so often that I began to call it "Bobo's Love Song" or  "The Kitty Love Song" . I used to become sad thinking that one day, even if it WAS many years down the road, my Bobo would no longer be with me.  Even with Bobo being so young the thought would bring me to tears.  I couldn't imagine not having  my "Baby Bobo" in my life.  It has  been ten years since my Baby Bobo passed and:

I still can't


34 comments:

  1. RIP Angel Bobo. Hugs and purrs to you, Caren.

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  2. Awwww....my heart goes out to you, Caren. And I love this song by Eric Clapton.

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  3. That song always makes the day weepy too. Hugs and love Caren, we know how special your Bobo was to you, and still is, and always will be.

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  4. Pawsome tribute to a sweet cat :)
    We never forget them.

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  5. To say I understand is an understatement, but the loss you feel is one shared by so many of us who have had our 'soul' kitty. I don't think our souls rest until we will be reunited and like you summed up I can't believe it's been 4 years (on Aug 12th) that my beloved Abby left me. She would have been 18 July 1st and this year was very hard I guess because it's been a hard year for me so far. But, I am sitting here with tears running down my face for you and for myself as I think of our beloved Angels.

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    1. I know you DEFINITELY understand. I had forgotten that Angel Abby was born the same day as Bobo. No wonder she was so special. I know how sensitive she had to have been and how tied to you. Bobo was the same. Those July 1st kitties are truly something, aren't they? Sending you love and (((hugs))))

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  6. That song breaks my heart every time I hear it, and the portrait is so beautiful too. Thinking of you today as you remember your precious boy. This coming Friday is my day from hell (twofold) and I've been dreading it for weeks. It never gets any easier, does it?

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    1. thank you so much Melissa and I am soooo soooo sorry. I can't imagine how unbearable it would be to be "twofold" I am so deeply, deeply sorry (((hugs)))

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  7. A beautiful tribute to your Angel Bobo. Purrs as you remember him today...and everyday.

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  8. Purrs to you today as you remember. That is a really amazing portrait your husband brought home from the art fair - wow.

    You are actually quite fortunate, with all the photos you have of Bobo, old as they are. My human only has a small handful of photos of her soul cat, Harlot.

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    1. Thank you so much! Yes, I nearly died when he brought that home and I was deeply, deeply touched. It looks so much like Bobo and my old window that it is eerie. I guess I am lucky, I have TONS AND TONS of photos of Bobo...I am lucky for sure. I am so sorry you only have a few of Harlot. ((((hugs)))))

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  9. I lost my 'soul kitty' last December, so totally feel your pain.
    A beautiful tribute to your Baby Bobo. Sending you hugs. xx

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    1. Sending you my deepest sympathy and love and (((hugs))) I am so deeply, deeply sorry xoxo

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  10. This is a beautiful tribute to Bobo. I know only too well that we never stop missing the one we loved so much. The pain never goes, just dulls.
    Every night I look through all of our photos of Eric and Flynn together, and although I am glad they are together again it breaks my heart to not be able to touch them. Your post has brought the tears again for you and Bobo, and also for our boys.
    Big hugs for you. ♥♥♥

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    1. Thank you so much Jackie. Oh how I KNOW you KNOW!! And having it doubled...I can't imagine. You said it perfectly, "the pain never goes, just dulls." I am so sorry to have made you cry. If I allow myself, I can cry for Bobo just has hard and as much as the day he left. Big hugs BACK for you too and love xoxoxo

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  11. Oh Caren.....you know that I know.....it's something that will be with us until the day we join them - pure love. FOREVER.

    Hugs and love, Pam

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    1. Yep Pam I soooooooooooooo know that you know!!! Sending you love and (((hugs)))) always xoxo

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  12. It's true, we never get over the loss of our beloved companions and soulmates, we only adjust to their absence. Thinking of you and sending purrs and hugs.

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  13. I feel the same way about our beloved Little Bit. She's waiting for us too.

    I linked Baby Bobo to Awww Mondays.

    Have a purrfect day, Cody and give your mom extra love today. ♥♥♥

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  14. We feel the same about Bhu, who was our soul kitty. Hugs to you! xoxo

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  15. the words are a day late but the sentiment is forever;

    I send hugs and love ~~~~~

    and I hope you know Caren, were Bobo to speak "human" he would say, I love you too mom, I always have, and I always will ~~~ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

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    1. Muah, Muah, Muah ((((hugs))))) and love back to you!! You are right, he would have. He was soooooooooo in tune with me, he most definitely would have. Thank you!! xoxoxo

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  16. I am so sad for you, reading your heartfelt story and listening to that song. For me, my sorrow is always balanced by gratitude for having the gift of my dear soul cat Tommie in my life.
    xxoo

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  17. Beautiful tribute post for your sweet Bobo. XO

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  18. Oh, how my own heart feels more empty than evfur, reading about your dearly beloved Bobo.
    You loved him so much, and the more one loves the more it truly hurts.

    A moving and loving tribute...and I too think there is a window in Kitty Heaven where our beloved kitties can peer down upon us and send their angelic messages.
    Today I saw a kitty-cloud, I was at the air show here, and wanted to take a picture, but just as I got my camera out a jet went by leaving billows of smoke in its wake...and obscuring it. When it was clear again, the kitty was not there anymore...but sigh...I did see it, I know it!


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    1. I have NO DOUBT that you saw it, you most DEFINITELY did!!!! Sending you love and (((hugs)))) read your comment for our give-away......if you entered, wishing you good luck!! xoxo

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  19. What a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to your beloved Bobo, Caren. We are in tears as we know the pain you are going through. It's doesn't matter how long they are gone, it's never easy :'( Soft Pawkisses to comfort you <3 <3 <3

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  20. Oh dear. 10 years is a long time for not being with someone you love. :(

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  21. Sending you purrs and prayers and much love, Caren. What a beautiful tribute to your beloved Bobo, who is always in your heart.

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