Saying Goodbye to Nana's Grand Kitty Mitzi

On Saturday morning, February 24th, 2018, we said goodbye to our sweet kitty Mitzi. She provided us over 16 years of daily joy. Letting go of our beloved Mitzi was one of the hardest things we've ever done. 

The next hardest thing was telling Nana that Mitzi was gone. Nana and Mitzi had a special bond. It started when Nana visited us when we lived in Ruckersville, Virginia. Mitzi joined our household in January 2002 and Nana visited several times a year until we moved to Pittsburgh in 2006.

Mitzi was never a cuddly kitty. She liked her space, as does Nana. Mitzi could tell from the start that Nana wasn't going to mess with her. They had an unspoken understanding between them. Their bond was especially evident in the red wing-back chair. Mitzi loved to sleep in that chair and Nana loved to sit in the chair. The picture below shows how they compromised.

Nana with Mitzi, Ruckersville VA

Although Nana didn't visit Mitzi in person after Virginia, she still kept in touch. During our daily calls, I often put Nana on speaker phone so she could say "hi" to Mitzi while Mitzi rubbed the phone in approval. 

Nana treated Mitzi like all her grandchildren - sending her cards on her birthday and Christmas. As Mitzi and Nana both got older, Nana joked about how they were both 'Seniors.'

During my monthly trips to Pennsylvania, Nana and I talked about how Mitzi knew when I was leaving to see Nana. She pouted when she saw my suitcase. When I got home, she gave me the cold shoulder for a while to punish me for going away. Nana understood Mitzi's reaction - Nana doesn't like when I leave her at the end of my visits. 

Mitzi may be gone from our physical world, but she'll stay in our hearts forever. Goodbye sweet Mitzi, until Jan and I and Nana meet you again in heaven.