"Our Precious Parsley"
by Nalini Manikkam (Whangarei, NZ)
You came into our lives in 2000 when I worked as a vet nurse in Glenfield, on the North Shore in Auckland. We wanted to adopt a cat and you needed a home because you became too territorial at your previous home. We believe our meeting was destined as you were born in 1997, the year we emigrated from South Africa to begin a new life in New Zealand.You were a three year old, female seal tortie Burmese. I helped at your desexing operation and did not realize what joy you were going to bring me over the next 7 years of my life. We did not change your name. Parsley suited you so much. Almost immediately you walked into our home and behaved as if you always belonged there and expected all the privileges of a family member!You slept on the bed from day one complete with your head on the pillow and your soft silky body stretched under the blanket.It was comforting to you to always touch us with any part of your body. Soon Chris and I were unable to sleep until we knew you were snuggled up next to us.You enjoyed sitting at the dining table too. Some mornings I would generously throw bread for the birds out of the window, however my generous act soon changed to a sinister one because you chose to hide in the long grass under the bushes and pounce on the poor unsuspecting birds! Well, it was a proud and funny moment when we caught sight of you chasing a Labrador with his tail between his legs. How dare he come into your territory!
When we were blessed to move into our own beautiful apartment in nearby Birkdale, we were amazed at how well the apartment decor blended with your unusual colours. It was as if the apartment was made to order for you Parsley! The two horses who grazed in the meadow behind the apartment tolerated you stalking them. I will never forget the sight of tiny you hiding in the long grass as the horses ate nearby. Who knows what you were planning ? One night you did not come home. We were sick with worry and unable to sleep. Then you walked in the next morning as if nothing had happened! We suspect you were accidentally locked in someone's garage in the apartment complex. Unfortunately, you were prone to allergies. Your nose would block up as the mucus hardened. You were so tolerant as the vets injected you with steroid shots every 2 months. Once when we left you in the care of neighbours, we returned to find them frantic - you would not come out from under the bed! When I got you out I found you scared and in a shocked state - both your nostrils were blocked. I unblocked them and cradled you in my arms until you relaxed.The next morning I took you to the vet before I went to work.
As the years went by, you continued to amuse and amaze us. You sat in the cupboard, where the onions were kept, and found the washing machine and dryer interesting. You enjoyed a game of sitting in the dryer with a look on your face that said I-own -the-dryer- now- dare -to-put-your -hand -in! I had an unusual way of de-stressing at the end of a tiring work day. You and I would play hide and seek which was fun in the 3 level apartment . I would run upstairs, stamping my feet loudly and disappear into a cupboard, then you would come after me, meowing loudly. How you enjoyed it when I suddenly leapt out! A few times you managed to hide as well. You always thought we should watch you instead of the television. even when we bought a flash new narrow tv with no place for you to sit. Another favourite place for you to sit was the computer monitor where you effectively blocked the ventilation system as you enjoyed trapping the heat in your soft, tiny body.
Then in 2006, my daughter Cheralee announced that she is having a baby. While she was pregnant , you excitedly and proudly presented her with a rat which you placed on the balcony. She gingerly removed the dead rat. At least that rat was dead. I was startled one night when there was a big noise in my bedroom. You were meowing loudly. Upon waking up, I fortunately placed my feet next to a live rat - or almost alive. After letting out an ear piercing scream, I realized I was alone in the house! My husband Chris was away on business. I took about 3 minutes to calm down ,and to plot what to do, while keeping my eye on the poor wriggling rat. You did the same! Eventually I used a long- handled broom and a short - handled dustpan to toss the rat out of the window. It took a while for me to fall off to sleep again.The next morning I found the dead rat under the window.
When baby Crispin was born, you decided to be an integral part of his life. You 'tested' out all his baby gear before he could use it - his baby gym, stroller, travel cot and pram.You were not impressed when we 'tested' one of Crispin's tiny singlets on you! You slept either next to the baby or by his legs and still claimed your place on Cheralee's lap. In fact, you insisted everyone cuddles you even more. When my son Clyden came to visit, he had to carry you and baby Crispin. You happily sat on his shoulders too! You had this beautiful quality of kissing us on our lips when we asked you for a kiss. You also ' talked' to us with long and short pitched meows.
Then in 2007,Chris and I moved to the scenic area of Whangarei Heads.What a trip that was with you tranquillised in your cage during the 3 hour trip. Then as you recovered from the drug , you slapped Chris and I on our cheeks in the middle of the night as we slept exhausted! You even bit our cheeks.The next morning you were fine. We forgave you and let you explore the new house. After a week , we let you outdoors. You enjoyed the wide open space and the overgrown garden. You stared quizzically at the cows in the meadow across the road. In our first week here, you caused us some stress by happily swallowing Chris's heart and blood pressure tablets! Chris just left them on the kitchen counter and turned to pick up his mug of coffee, when he turned back, he found you licking your lips and the tablets gone ! Luckily you recovered at the vets without any long term damage , except to our pockets. On winter nights you clamed your place in front of the fireplace and continually hassled Chris as he completed a 1000 piece puzzle.
By 2007 , you needed to go the vets more often and the use of steroids kept increasing. Still, you always recovered and continued to be a big part of our lives. In February 2007 , Cheralee and Crispin came to live with us. Unfortunately by this time you were mostly sick. You began losing weight , vomiting and was unable to eat.We took you to the vet yet again. They put you on a drip. This went on for 4 days, before we faced the fact that you are not 'living' and being Parsley anymore. What a sad night it was for me when we brought you home one last time. I held you close and would not let you go. We walked around outside the house in the dusk together - me cradling you in my arms showing you your favourite places one last time.That night you lay between Chris and myself on the bed - one last time. Nobody on that bed could sleep. You - because you were sick, us- because we were sad. I cried till there were no tears left.
The next morning Chris, Cheralee, Crispin, you and myself were at the vets for that final goodbye. I looked into your eyes, but 'you Parsley' was not there. It was as if you were already gone and now we just had to be brave enough to go through the mechanics of letting you go. We all kissed you and touched you as the vet injected you and your life ebbed away. I felt sad and bitter at the same time.At that time I was unable to feel thankful for the time we had with you. You were gone. I could not wait to get out of that room.Then started the long battle of living our lives without you in it. Now I feel thankful and privileged to have been part of your wonderful life Parsley. I love you. Rest in peace.
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