Dear Sabrina,
I’m sitting here in Cape May and it is pouring; the rain
matches the tears streaming down my face. I can’t believe you got so sick this
past week. I don’t understand because you’re so young, four years young. I’m, so
glad we got to spend these past three years with you, my little espresso
Bean. I remember it was Christmas time
when we were volunteering with Lost Dog. Mom, dad and I have such a soft spot
for black cats, we all wanted to hold and cuddle with you.
 |
| Sabrina on her typical shoulder pose - at Lost Dog before we brought her home. |
 |
Trying to get you adopted around Christmas time - we fell in love with you.
 |
| It doesn't matter what was in here, you wanted to taste it. |
|
Dad took you out first and you immediately wrapped your paws
around his shoulders and held on for dear life. And little did I know, he held
back tight on to you, hoping to take you home. But you were up for adoption and
we already had five cats. That was December 17, 2009. I took some pictures of you
in a Christmas collar to put on the rescue website to help get you adopted.
That was the first week we met you. The second week you came back and you were
the first
and only cat dad held – for
the whole adoption event. We talked
jokingly about fostering you, but felt that we couldn’t with five cats because
we would be tempted to keep you.
 |
| I bought a new pink fluffy bed, just for you! |
Week 3 of adoption events, I filled out the foster form and
you came home with us. Dad and I wouldn’t take no for an answer, so mom had to
go along with it! You stayed in my room and I knew that you weren’t going to go
home. And on January 1, 2010, you became Shubin cat #6.
 |
| Your tail over Uncle Henry's tail |
 |
| Sleeping with Uncle Henry |
 |
| My sweet Beanie |
 |
| Your little round face just makes me smile |
 |
| Posing next to a statue, you're so gorgeous. |
 |
| After stealing dad's cookie! |
 |
| Should we send you away to be embroidered? |
You easily earned your Sabrina, Espresso Bean, Beanie nick
names. Especially after we learned how much you loved carbohydrates. Stealing a
cookie off of dad’s plate, sticking your head in bowls and plates, stealing
bread crust off plates and my favorite - taking a piece of string cheese OUT OF
MY MOUTH (and I digress, I let you because it made me laugh). You came at a
time in my life where I needed cats more than ever as I suffered through my
anxiety and depression that was not easy to shake.
Grandpa Lester had died November 20, 2009, and he loved cats
and especially the black ones. Dad felt like it was a sign from grandpa that
you showed up. It almost made it easier to tell grandma that we adopted a sixth
cat, because we thought grandpa sent her to us.
Right off the bat we knew you must have been fed people
food, because you so daintily helped yourself to crust off my plate, a cookie
of dad’s plate and the cheese out of my mouth. We didn’t’ want to stop you
because you loved those carbs so much. We also couldn’t get you to eat the
regular cat food, so for a long time you were the only cat getting fancy feast.
 |
| Your face on a cookie for dad's birthday |
.jpg) |
| Nomming on Passover Matzah |
 |
| My adoption contract indicates you're in default of the breakfast clause. |
I do feel like you had a good life being upstairs, even
though you were afraid to leave the room because of Brooke. But getting to hang
out with your sister Piper must have been nice. And even your uncle Henry and
auntie Pearl liked to visit. It’s sad
that there will only be one black cat dining in the back cat café, but I hope
you’re enjoying kitty heaven with all the fancy feast, an endless supply of
milk top toys (the good real ones, not the crappy reproductions) and treats
galore – say hi to Ashley, Marsh, Parker, May and Abby, Frack, Lewis and
Michele for me. And of course the others too.
 |
| Table for 2 black cats & a calico in the Black Cat Cafe. |
 |
| Noms? |
 |
| Helping me with Homework. |
There are so many things we will miss about you. Your love
for carbohydrates, that swishy tail we never knew if it meant a bite was coming
or you were happy, your broken purr box and the occasional purr; playing with
your milk tops, your Beanie chirping sounds and whistle purr, how you would
swat us so you could be petted, how you lie on mom in the morning and poke her
hand if she didn’t pat you, being a little voyeur in the bathroom while showers
were being take, how I snuck upstairs at Passover to give you Matzah and you
love it, your crazy little face when you heard the mice, how you’re the Katie
Couric of cats because you’re cute, how you bite dad when he pats you but then
grab his hand to rub the side of your face, how you loved to be held over dad’s
shoulders and dug in with your little paws and claws.
I love picking you up and cuddling you, when you make your
Beanie sounds and steal cookies. I will miss wondering whether your tail is
happy swishy or angry swishy.
Goodbyes are always so hard, but this was different since I
wasn’t there. I’m glad I got to Face Time with you while I was in Cape May. I hope you know that I bought a bracelet that
says Sabrina on it, and I’ve been wearing it ever since. I miss you an
incredible amount and am glad that I picked you up and gave you a hug and
squeeze before I left for vacation. So
frolic up in the stairs with all the other angel pets and take good care of
them.
My promise to you, Beanie Sabrina Bean Bot, is that I will
continue to do animal rescue & work ever so hard to get those special black
cats adopted. I will continue to give our cats a lot of love and help your
sister Piper to get some courage to live outside of your room & help get
Henry feeling better and fight his diabetes.
You’ll always hold a special place in our hearts and I hope
you tell grandpa that you were really his fault and that it’s now your time to
be with him, a fellow avid back cat lover.
We were so lucky to spend three of your four short years here <3
Love forever and always,
Rachel
Rest In Peace
Sabrina Alice Shubin 5/11/09 - 6/10/13
Update -- 6/27/13 -- I found a milk top on the beach, I think it was most definitely a sign from sweet little Sabrina! She has milk tops in heaven :)
.png)
.jpg)
