Achchi putting flowers on the little fellow’s grave.
Our family cat Damian passed away last night. He was an American cat and it was fitting that he passed on the Fourth Of July. Damian was an ornery cat made happy by the love and care of my sister and parents. I brought him home on the day of my high school graduation (a stunningly thoughtless thing, in hindsight) and my sister and mother actually raised him. He then travelled back to Sri Lanka and had a great time till he got old.
He was a good cat. Compared to Sri Lankan cats he was a giant. Despite his ominous name, he was quite tender to the people he knew. He was a good guy to watch TV with. Near the end of his life he was sick on-and-off and he got grumpy but over his last few days he was purring to the touch. Last night he crawled under some furniture and my Amma petted him and went to bed. In the morning he was gone.
We wrapped him in an old sari and buried him in Galkisa. The family pet cemetery is actually our (kind) neighbor’s yard. Holding his body for the last time it really sinks in that our little cousin was alive just like us and now he’s gone. He looked peaceful.
Damian Poosa, June 2000 to 4 July, 2014.
innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioon.