Gatsby (Feb. 14, 1998 – Aug. 1, 2008)
02. Aug, 2008 
4 Comments
I totalled my car coming home from work yesterday. When I finally walked in the door, Gatsby greeted me and then had a seizure. He somewhat recovered from the first seizure, and then had a second. He just laid there afterward completely unconscious and not breathing, and then after a minute he started breathing again and I thought he was going to be ok, and then all of a sudden he turned his neck to look up to heaven out the window and then his head fell and he was gone.
I got Gatsby on Mother’s Day down in Georgia the first year I was married back in 1998. Gatsby has slept with me all those years, and has given me a shoulder to cry on and a warm body to hug through my divorce, an abusive relationship, break up’s, a broken engagement and more break up’s. Gatsby has also given me support and strength – to go on. He gave me the confidence to walk down the runway and to do other things I hadn’t done before. He encouraged me to be persistent in the face of adversity. He always greeted me excitedly at the door when I came home from a bad day at work.
And Gatsby and I certainly had our fun. He flew with me on trips. He went boating and swimming and loved being in the company of all my friends. Being my baby, he hung out with babies who attended the bible study I used to host at my house on Monday nights in Glover Park. He allowed the kids to pull his pony tail, and would never snap at them. He attended The Courage Cup and enjoyed being with all the people, and had fun barking at the horses racing by the tents. He allowed me to dress him up in silly clothes, do his hair with bows, and put up with me posing him for pictures. He even helped Tripp Donnelly by playing “Mr. Bojangles” in a video made for Jeff and Jessica Kimbell’s wedding. Everyone loved Gatsby.
Gatsby graciously welcomed “Lucky”, a stray kitten I found behind the Giant in Glover Park into our home and our lives. He put up with her hyper kitten ways, and never snapped at her. Now that I have lost Gatsby, I feel blessed to still have “Lucky” with me. She has known Gatsby since she was 4 weeks old, and isn’t used to life without him, either.
I want to thank all my friends for their calls, emails, and text messages. I especially want to thank Joseph Allen, Cheryl Romero and my sister for accompanying me to take Gatsby’s body to the vet last night. It was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. Life is full of loss. We lose everything eventually in life - our youth, our beauty, our dreams, our health, our friends, our jobs, our family, our money and eventually our own lives. It’s part of life. Nothing remains the same. Those who are there for you in a time of loss are the ones you should cherish and support. Life is shorter than we would like. Please give your pets some extra love and attention today, and hold those you love a little closer.
- Miss A
Andrea,
I am so sorry to hear about Gatsby. He was one classy and well dressed dog. I loved walking him and taking him to the divot stomp with us at this year’s Courage Cup. He did love posing, especially with that little boy on the polo grounds. He will definitely be missed.Do not hesitate to call me if you need anything.
Makeda
Oh sweetie! My heart is breaking for you! I am so sorry for your loss. I am glad you have Lucky to comfort you at least. I am so afraid for that day with my beloved cat Romeo. I still have him but its so scary. I am glad you had some friends with you when you had to take him to the vet. My thoughts are with you-hang in there.
Andrea:
I was so sorry to hear about Gatsby. Am thinking of you!
Leah
I’m so sorry about Gatsby, I can see you two were so close .
It’s a great loss and I know the feeling.
I’ve been through that too, but life must go on.
keep your head up to welcome your tomorrows.