This was our Gucci.
Gucci came into my life (Alana) when I was just 19 working at a radio station in Albuquerque, NM. She would greet all the morning shows at the back door each day. I sat outside with her daily and fed her Doritos and beef jerky, a diet she loved. All the while hoping no one came by looking for a lost cat, it was a week later that I brought her home with me. From that day forward she was an indoor cat but often in the summer I would take her outside so she could get her tan on. That first night she cuddled with me and didn’t stop snuggling until she took her last breath.
They always say it’s how you live your life. I can honestly say that Gucci had a pretty fantastic life. She lived in Albuquerque, NM, Portland, OR, Boise, ID, Loveland, CO and New York City, NY, when we had to commute to NYC she only flew first-class and I’m sure we broke some kind of aviation law when she slept in my lap on the flights.
During our move to Portland, OR from Albuquerque, NM we discovered in Yuma that Gucci LOVED Burger King chicken fries, we learned sneaking a cat into a hotel room is not as easy as you may think, and we received the very valuable lesson of keeping a spare key in your pocket as you switch drivers because your very curious cat stepped on the automatic lock, locking you out of your running car in Yreka, CA.
Gucci had a personality that wouldn’t quit. Her name embodied who she was, she loved to snuggle but she was not afraid to put any other animal in place. Gucci was also very discriminating when it came to who I dated as she would poop in potential partner’s shoes, I finally knew I had a keeper in Kourtney when shoes were sans poop. She was definitely the matriarch of our family teaching her little brother Hugo Boss how to properly cat (sleep, snuggle and eat….a lot), she kept Lucy the Wonder Dog in check and the minute the 100lb Lab/Great Pyrenees would start running around the house she’d get a Gucci right-hook and that same method was applied to teach the Beagles boundaries.
Gucci was diagnosed with mammary tumors in July of 2014 but it was a stomach tumor that proved too much. For the last two weeks of her life we sat and slept with her on the couch, fed her filet mignon, shrimp, lobster and whatever else she wanted. I held her for as many hours in the day as she would allow. When people say “You will know when it’s time.” I never really understood it, until I knew that it was time.
On December 7, 2015 Gucci went to Heaven and did so while snuggled up in my arms at home surrounded in love by our other animals. It was the most peaceful feeling, I could actually feel her spirit go to Heaven and into my heart. I felt so blessed and comforted that we were able to give Gucci such a tranquil gift. I struggle daily with missing her but I always know she’s with me, snuggled up in my heart.
Cheers Gucci!