I just joined and I thought that this forum would be of some help...mutual for others and for me.

I've made several comments of support and aired my grief in replies to some others on this forum. Yet only ONE person has responded and commented. I've commented and replied on several others, though, and have yet to receive a comment or be acknowledged.

Thank you Snapdragon for YOUR support and words of comfort. However, even the forum moderator has never commented on ANY of my responses or posts.

Perhaps I need to start a new topic....I don't know and so I don't know where I went wrong here. But, I didnt' want to start a new posting immediately and just wanted to try commenting and replying to others twho had posted and were grieving as I was.

I had such hopes for this forum...and in my grief, the ONLY person who has bothered to respond and comment back has been Snapdragon.

Thank you, Snapdragon for that..but I will likely not be posting any longer. I will share my grief elsewhere....and likely drop off the forum....

OnAMission, please don't leave. The forum moderator does not usually comment on people's posts. Don't take it personal. I am sure it's not meant as a snub. I was looking for your topic, but could not find it. Sometimes it can take a while for people to respond. Most of the people coming here are grieving and simply may not have the energy to respond to everyone else posting. There are a few regulars who post, and moon_beam usually posts to every newcomer here on this board. You would certainly get a post from her. Please reconsider leaving. There are some nice folks here, but it is hard for grieving people to muster up the energy to comfort others as they are in so much need of comfort themselves.

this is the nature of forums, not every post will get many or if any replies. and not everyone is around at the same time and/or day.

a tip i can offer is to not create several threads...people respond best to one that covers your main topic. two if they are very different topics.

I guess since I did not start a NEW TOPIC and just jumped in and started replying to others posts, that is why many never saw mine. I am beside myself right now and feel very unsupported by some friends and family. I had thought some of my replies to others would have elicited further commment, but comments went to others's replies, not mine.

I will maybe just observe from here on out.....

Thanks, DannysMom. My Mission was also a beautiful tuxedo like your Danny...I'm assuming that is his pic in your avatar? I think my problem is that I didn't start a NEW TOPIC and just responded with commentary on others topics.

I really don't have a lot of time to be writing anyway, I thought later. Maybe just reading and observing will be of help....my thoughts and prayers are with you, thanks for taking the time to respond.

Hello OnAMission, yes, my Danny is the picture in my avatar. I would like to see a picture of your Mission but only if you want to post one here. And yes, you're right, the problem is that you didn't start a new topic. That usually does get more responses. I am sure you will get a response from moon_beam before too long. She is sort of the "mother" of us all here. I am so very sorry for your loss. I love all cats, but in my heart the Tuxedo cats hold a special place. I just love their black and white fur, and they are such smart and loving cats. They always look so fine in their little tuxes, so well dressed!

I am sorry that you haven't gotten the support that you need from friends and family. Sometimes they do not understand how special our relationships with our fur kids are, and how much we are hurting when they are gone. It is the worst kind of pain. If you get to know some of the people on this board better you will come to know that they do understand what you are going through. I really hope that you decide to stay. This forum has been sort of a lifeline for me after I lost my Danny and then 4 months later my Tina. I generally takes about 2 to 3 months to really feel better after losing a beloved fur kid. You could also try to call a petloss hotline. They are very caring and supporting people. I can recommend Tufts University hotline. Their volunteer students are trained to listen and they will even send you reading material especially put together for you. They are very nice. I talked to a really nice young lady, and she just let me talk and cry.

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Hello OnAMission.

First, allow me to express my condolences on the loss of your precious Mission. I think the admin may be right about the need to start your own topic. I always look to see who are new members when I log in here and watch for their post(s). I remember seeing you as a new member, but never saw your post.

I hope you will share the story of Mission here with us. There are many sympathetic ears here on LS ready, willing and able to help. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your baby. Take care.

Hi, OnAMission, please permit me to add my sincerest sympathies in the physical loss of your beloved Mission, and please let me try to add my reassurances that each of us here do understand what you are going through, and we are here for you.

It truly is best to begin a topic of your own - - when you are ready. It's perfectly okay to share your grief on other people's topics, but those topics belong to the individual people who are going through their own grief journey, so the responses will be primarily focused for them. And the people who are the author of those topics will be the ones who will reply to the people who post on their forums. When you are ready to begin a topic just for you and your beloved Mission this will be much easier for people to offer you the individual support, encouragement, and comfort you need as you travel your personal grief journey.

While clincial professionals recognize that the grief journey for a beloved companion is the same as for a human family member or friend, our world in general - - and sadly, sometimes the people who are closest to us emotionally and geographically, do not. I assure you, OnAMission, that each of us here DO understand what you are going through, and we are here for you for as long and as often as you need us.

I hope better understanding how the individual topics function helps you, OnAMission. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, OnAMission, and once again - - please know we are here for you.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

moon_beam
Thank you Moonbeam and everyone else here. I greatly appreciate it. I actually shared "my story" ....or the ending of the story with Snapdragon on the topic forum she had. So, I will have to gather my jumbled, grief-striken thoughts and, in good time, write something here about my beloved Mission.....

Oh On a Mission

Please don't leave. I am SO sorry that you got off to a rough start with this site just when you needed it the most. Like someone else posted here, I, too, try to keep and eye out for new posters and for posters who haven't received many replies.

This is actually a very good site. people here really care. please give us another chance. Is there a place here where you have replied to someone else's topic that I can read the story of "The Cat Named Mission." Just the name sounds like an adventure book should be written about Mission.

I haven't posted here for quite a while - first, the browser I use most often has developed a handshake problem with the site, And, second, I am helping my brother-in-law take care of my youngest sister who is in the advanced stage of cancer and is now on home hospice care. Just like after losing my two beautiful labradors: Gretta, the kindest chocolate lab who ever lived, and Rufus, who actually was half black lab and half Newfie, the grief is so great now that sometimes I cannot even open the LS site.

Please tell me about Mission. I'd really love to hear your story.

Just add a reply to this posting - and then the whole group will be able to see it.

Know that my heart is crying for you right now.

Gretta and Rufus's mom

OnAMission, I just wanted to let you know I read your post about Mission in snapdragon's topic. I am so very sorry for your loss. What a sweet little face Mission has. And such a blessing for him to have come into your life when you were going through so much. I can just imagine how much you must miss him. Learning to live without a beloved fur kid is hard. It takes time to process the grief and the pain, and really the best way to get through is to cry when the pain comes and to release those tears. I know I always felt better after I had cried even though it hurt so much. Please make sure to take good care of yourself. Every little comfort helps, a hot cup of tea, getting enough sleep. Your Mission sounds like such a wonderful kitty and you were so blessed to have had him in your life.

OnAMission,

I am soo glad you're going to hang in with us! *hugs!!*

Thanks, Snapdragon....***X back!

Thanks so much Danny's Mom and Gretta's Mom and Tom's Dad. Your words of comfort mean so much. I think I could actually write a small book on Mission and just how special and spiritual his life was in connection to mine. Both the way he entered and exited was just so special ...

When I feel up to it, I will tell his story here. Just not quite ready. So, you are getting just bits and pieces of it right now in my various posts and replies to other's comments.

Let me just say, I appreciate your kind thoughts and comments in support of my grief over the loss of my Mission - and I admire your ability to still be able to share this with others, like me, through your own broken hearts....

My heart goes out to you, as well, for your loved ones lost.. but we know, they will NEVER be forgotten and ALWAYS cherished.....I will always hold onto my loved of Mission until the day I die, as he was the love of my life and my earth angel...

Hugs....