Tuffy

Don't apologize. That is what we are all here for. It takes a long time to get over it. Tuffy will never be replaced in your heart but I'm sure you would be a great Dad to Timmy if it's meant to be

That is what this place is for. To honor and remember those felines who were as special as Tuffy. And to help you cope with the grief.

Oh Tom! I just came here after not being in here awhile with the recent loss of my Sasha to liver cancer and I saw Tuffy's name, I couldn't believe it. My heart just sank as I had followed your ordeal and brave fight every day when you had posted. I am so so so so so very sorry. He must have really been needed as a leader and fighter up in heaven, because that's what he was called up for, I'm sure. I'm just so sure of it.

You are a deeply caring man and you did everything you could - it was just his time to be in a better place with no pain and no medicines and be able to be your angel instead. You WILL see him again, and you will know it when you do. He will be there, he will. Peace and Love,
ELizabeth

I wish I had only half the inner strength Tuffy did. Maybe I could have done more with my life and be a better person also.

Tom,

You have truely been an inspiration to this board with the love and support you gave to Tuffy ..... you went out of your way, you dug deep into your pocket, you gave Tuffy EVERYTHING and none of that could have been done without the strength of character you have as a man. For you as a person to have accomplished that strong character that you have, you have already surpassed so many on this earth. This is a very hard time for you, but one thing in your grief that you cannot say is that you are not a good person because deep down inside of your soul, you have to know that only the greatest of people could have done what you did for precious Tuffy.

Pamela

Originally Posted by Pami

Tom,

You have truely been an inspiration to this board with the love and support you gave to Tuffy ..... you went out of your way, you dug deep into your pocket, you gave Tuffy EVERYTHING and none of that could have been done without the strength of character you have as a man. For you as a person to have accomplished that strong character that you have, you have already surpassed so many on this earth. This is a very hard time for you, but one thing in your grief that you cannot say is that you are not a good person because deep down inside of your soul, you have to know that only the greatest of people could have done what you did for precious Tuffy.

Pamela

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Pamela is right, Tom, she said it perfectly, so poignantly. It's because you ARE a good person and have done much in your life that Tuffy was cared for the way he was to the end. You were chosen to care for him, you realize that don't you? I hope in retrospect, as time is gentle and kind to you, you will understand that you were chosen for Tuffy because of the goodness in you.
~E.

i totally agree with Pamela, you truly are a wonderful person Tom, you gave Tuffy so much when others would have given up.

Hi Tom,

I'm downloading some of your pictures here and can get started on the illustration today. They give me a pretty good idea of the shape of his face and coloration; is there any special thing you would want me to put in an illustration?

Originally Posted by gizmocat

Hi Tom,

I'm downloading some of your pictures here and can get started on the illustration today. They give me a pretty good idea of the shape of his face and coloration; is there any special thing you would want me to put in an illustration?

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I don't really know? Maybe "RIP little Tuffy" ??

I kind of like - Tuffy, my little best friend.

Oh Tom. Never feel bad for talking in here about Tuffy. We understand, and we are all here for you. Tuffy was your special little man and you went through a lot with him. Just take your time over Timmy. Don't do anything you're not ready to. You'll know when the time is right.
Also I agree with Jana, I think 'Tuffy, my little best friend' says it all. I had tears in my eyes the first time I saw it in your signature.
You are a wonderful man, you did so much for your brave Tuffy.

I agree, that would be perfect to put on his picture. Tuffy, my little best friend. Or maybe, RIP Tuffy, my little best friend.

Tom, I don't get in to the Bridge as often as I should, because...well, we all know it's sad in here...

Anyway, I've just seen your thread, and want to say how sorry I am that you've lost your buddy Tuffy. You did your best for him, right down to letting him go, when that was what he needed. He's at the Rainbow Bridge, watching over you, now.

As for Timmy, there's no right or wrong time to wait before bringing a new little purrson into your life. When it's time, it will happen, you will know. If Timmy is the right kitten, you will know.

However all that plays out, though, be gentle with yourself. You were just the pal that Tuffy needed. Peace.

Tuffy has been gone for 2 weeks and almost 4 days now and I still don't think it has totaly set in yet he is really gone. Missy will sometimes climb on me in the night and I still think its Tuffy when I am half asleep.

I think I miss the most was him "talking" to me when he was upset with me or wanting attention. Camping is not the same without the camper kitty in the motor home wanting to play at 3 in the morning or watching the sunrise with him from the camper window. I cried the other day when I cleaned the motor home and found all his toys he had in there to play with.

I took his tag I had made for his collar off the collar and put it on the key ring for the tractor that will have his name and picture on it after it gets painted up this winter.

I don't have the money to buy all new parts to build up a engine for the class I want to pull in so I have to find used stuff, I am finding used parts so easy that its like it is meant to be that I build this tractor, maybe Tuffy is helping from up above with putting the tractor together. I already have 3/4 of the parts for building the motor, and I am bidding on some more parts on Ebay that I still need. My neighbor works at a ethynal plant just out of town and can get me straight ethynal {alcohol} for fuel for free. So like I said it is all coming together so nice its like it is meant to be. Also getting a second place labor day weekend with so little effort into the tractor and just going for the fun of it also makes it feel right. But the class I want to run in is much tougher to be competative in than the totaly stock class I took second in on the 4th of this month.

Almost every piece of the tractor and engine is changed or modified. A engine that made 16 horse power stock as it came in my tractor will make about 50 to 55 horse power on straight alcohol fuel. Every piece of the engine is replaced or modified to make so much power and stay together at the RPM they have to run to make that much power.

I am trying to not get to technical about all this because I realise that most of you probably don't know anything about garden tractor pulling, but I am trying to say how much work I will have into this tractor when it is all done.

Before I had to go on disability I was a ASE certified engine machinest and assembly specialist on car engines, so I am able to do most any machine work and assemble auto engines if I have the machines and tools to use. So I am able to do allot of my own work on the tractor to save tons of money over having to have all the work done by other shops.

Sorry to get way off track here, I am going to find out if I can go see Timmy this week, and see how it goes, I think I should be able to tell if its right or not to get Timmy after spending some time with him.

Its just to bad that out of the 4 cats we still have that none of them are even close to what Tuffy was to me. I like all of them but they are just pets where Tuffy was almost like a little person who I really loved. I hope that didn't sound to sappy or stupid but that is how I felt about Tuffy.

I found another cute picture of Tuffy and his buddy Panther sleeping.

What a lovely picture, Tom. I know that Tuffy's spirit will watch over you as you rebuild that tractor motor and give it some extra oomph.

I am so glad I got Yvonne a good digital camera for Christmas last year. If I didn't have this camera I probably wouldn't have any pictures of Tuffy to remember him with.


Here is a short video clip of me driving TUFFY on labor day weekend. If I did this right that is. I think just click on the thumbnail to make it play.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v313/TomW/?action=view&current=Mov00666.flv

Tom,

That's a great picture of Tuffy and Panther together. They are so gorgeous and I'm so very sorry for your loss.

Originally Posted by TomW

Tuffy has been gone for 2 weeks and almost 4 days now and I still don't think it has totaly set in yet he is really gone. Missy will sometimes climb on me in the night and I still think its Tuffy when I am half asleep.

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I know how hard it is. I lost one of my cats in June and it seems like it was just yesterday that I was holding her in my arms. A couple of days after she passed I could have sworn that I felt her jump up onto the bed and that I could hear her meow. I had tremendous feelings of guilt and wondered if I would ever feel happy or smile again. I received a large amount of support from various sources which made it somewhat easier but there is a large void in my life and a broken heart that will never truly heal. As the days, weeks and even months go by it becomes easier to cope with. I still cry and I think about her all of the time and will never forget her. Midnight, like your Tuffy will always be with you. You carry him in your heart and in your memories where he will always be.

Best wishes,
Bryan

Tom, it's been a busy week with school starting, but I found a place that will make the decal. The artwork will be done probably on Saturday and I will contact you offlist to see if you want me to send it to you or post it online.
There are some great pictures of your boy here and I also saved the tractor, so I can work with the shape of the thing when designing the decal.
It should be a nice picture, I hope.

Hi Gizmocat, Do you know about how big the decal will be? I am planning on putting the decal on the side panels. So I will need 2 decals at least, maybe 3 in case I mess up installing one of them. That is unless the decals are going to be expencive to make more than one. If its going to be allot of money to make more than one decal let me know and I will pay for them.

You can post a picture of the decal on here if you like, I am sure others will like to see it also. I will PM you with my address and Email so you can get ahold of me.

This is so great of you to do all this for me.

Tuffy has been gone 3 weeks now today.