Seventeen years ago to the day, a one-year-old Siamese cat and his sister arrived at my door. They weren’t called Merlin and Coco then but they knew they’d found their forever home. It’s been a long and wondrous journey since then. Coco had a rendez-vous at the Bridge two years ago
and a grieving Merlin sought solace with new cat friends. Merlin taught me that life goes on, spring arrives without fail and that the value of life is in every breath. My day-to-day life in recent months with Merlin remains private and precious. Eventually the magic of our transformational relationship it will find itself onto the printed page.
To be frank, a few months ago I wouldn’t have bet on Merlin making it to this milestone, but fate had other plans. Despite numerous medical conditions, Merlin shows an astounding resilience and will to live. Instead of the usual fluffy, birthday balloons and cute sentiments, Merlin’s song today is the old Alice Cooper song and anthem about the power of life: “I’m 18″. He will not go gently into the night. He will rock and roll until the day he dies.
“I’m 18″
I’m a boy and I’m a man
I’m eighteen and I like it
Yes I like it
Oh, I like it
Love it, like it, love it
Eighteen, Eighteen, Eighteen
I’m eighteen and I like it.
This is his official birthday portrait taken last week. He doesn’t like being photographed as in the past but indulged me with a few frames. He’s blind but in this rare moment his eyes unclouded and I felt him gaze straight down to my soul. He’s Merlin the magician, the magnificent and for the moment, the birthday boy!
We honor those fighting cancer with Livestrong today and in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we will being “Thinking Pink” with fab pink giveaways every Friday during October. Knowledge is power. Arm yourself with this excellent selection of videos on the subject for women. For cats, the best we can do is prevention and early detection. The incidence of mammary tumors is reduced by 91 percent when spayed prior to six months of age, and by 86 percent in cats spayed before their first birthdays. For cats that love receiving belly rubs, we can share in a bonding experience while checking for any abnormal growths or lumps around the teats. This October, let’s race, educate, donate, shop, hope, pray and meow for the cure.
[url=http://usepheromones.webs.com/]pheromonoes[/url] [url=http://getminecraftaccountfree.com/]free minecraft account txt[/url] roojmutelsxt, payday loan in ga [url=http://canada-paydayloans.ca/]payday loan qualifications[/url] payday loan providers
Happy birthday, Merlin! (a little late!) So sorry about Coco.
Colleen Stadnick recently posted…PIANO STUDENT WINS 1ST PLACE IN 2012 HOUSTON FORUM YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION
Happy belated purrthday, Merlin! You look magnificent on this picture!
Lots of purrs
Texas, a cat in New York recently posted…Dayak needs some purrs
Looks like my birthday wish with music links is stuck in moderation, so just plain happy birthday Odin!
Happy birthday Merlin.
merlin, best fishes N hapee bee lated wishes for a total lee awesum pawsum day; herez ta 18 mor…we hope yur day wuz grate N we wood like ta send this yur way;
hope ewe getted sum cake, donuts, pie, pizza, sghetti, perch, whitefsih, sea bass, flounder, burgers, catgrass, trout, tunie samiches, nip, sum toys, a new cat tree with a full lee stocked kitshun attached, sum mackeral, toast, pork roast, a few pork chops N most oh all: de blessings oh st francis
peace out N rock on, de trouterz; a day late N a sack oh friez short..
Happy Birthday! I hope your Birthday is as magical as you are!
That’s a cool looking Cat. Merlin! Cool name for a cat or a magician. Happy Birthday.
Ed@Close Up Magician recently posted…Wedding Magician, Birmingham
Merlin, I did not know that you had a birthday dear one. Happy Birthday. I have tried to visit here many times to find no way to get into the blog. I wondered if it is private and only opene on occasion? Sometimes I take a chance to see if I can get in and as with today, I can. Be well, Merlin.
Happy Birthday Merlin
You are an amazing and handsome fellow.
We wish you all the best!
Hugs, purrs and kitty kisses
Velcro, Inky, Toots and their faithful guardian
Happy Birthday Merlin. We dream of a day when the world is cancer free.
Truffle and Brulee
Happy birthday dear Merlin! We hope you had a wonderful day, and keep proving your mom wrong. Although we would love a cancer free world, we would settle for less invasive treatments with far fewer side effects.
Oui Oui recently posted…WORDLESS WEDNESDAY
Happy birthday, Merlin! We wish you many, many more years of resiliency, dear boy.
meowmeowmans recently posted…LiveStrong 2012
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MERLIN!! *does a happy dance, shakes her booty, pumps her paw in the air*
Eighteen fabulous years mewz family has had with mew- mew are my inspiration. I, too, have had many illnesses and have beat the odds more than once to make it to what my Mom and doctor find amazing to be twelve years of age. Mom hopes everyday that I will be like mew and be with her to celebrate my 18th birthday. I hope today was a peaceful, relaxing, fun day for mew and mewz family- no one deserves it more than mew dear sir. Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Happy Happy Birthday Merlin! You’re quite the man. Ched and Mao say HIIIII MEEOOWW
Kathryn recently posted…Table of Contents
Merlin today we give you our gift….it is the gift of love. We give it to you with all our hearts and wish you again peace and ease in your days and nights. We wish you and mom Layla and your other brothers comfort and solace. The journey is a gift unto itself and we journey with you all every day.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! to our wise and gentle magic mancat.The world is a better place because of your presence in it. Wishing you the happiest and bestest days ever.With all the love the three of us have in our hearts…Skeeter,Izzy and Mom (Kat) >^..^<
Thank-you for the best gift of all!
Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101.com) recently posted…Merlin The Cat Turns 18! + Cats & Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Beautiful, magical birthday boy Merlin…wishing you a fabulous day!
Merlin
All of your nine lives have served you well.
You definitely livestrong and lovestrong.
We are so happy to be able to celebrate your life day with you today and we wish you many more happy ones to come. Each day is precious, every breath, so be well Merlin.
purrs
>^,,^<
✿•*¨`*•. ♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥✿•*¨`*•.
Abby recently posted…Live Strong
Happy birthday handsome Merlin.
Eric and Flynn recently posted…Livestrong.
Happy Birthday sweet boy!
Happy Birthday, Merlin.
Happy Birthday to Merlin! Best Wishes, Love and Purrs from Heather and her feline Ellie Mae O’Cat
What a sweet post! Happy Birthday Merlin!
Happy Birthday, Fabulous Merlin! You’re an inspiration to kitties and humans alike. We love you!
Katnip Lounge recently posted…Happy Anniversary!
Happy Happy Birthday, dear Merlin
Happy Birthday, Merlin!
Deb n Cats recently posted…Perfect Start to Fall Foods
Happy Birthday Merlin…..you are an inspiration. I hope you have a wonderful, peaceful day with your family who adore you just like WE all do who know you.
Kitty Hugs, Sammy
A very happy birthday, Merlin. We, too, are so happy you’ve made it to this grand old age!
Purrs to you and to All Beings in need at this time.
I really love this post!
mbavaresco recently posted…ÓRGÃO DE JACOBSON OU ÓRGÃO VOMERONASAL
What a wonderful post! Me is so happy that Merlin is so very resilient and we too are purraying for all those touched by cancer.
Kisses
Nellie
Penelope recently posted…Live Strong!
Happy Birthday Merlin!!!
Merlin we are so glad you are here for this milestone. May a human always be at your beck and call and the camera always pointed at other cats…
Cheysuli recently posted…Live Strong 2012
Happiest of birthdays, Merlin – you are such a handsome boy! My sweet boy, Dickens, is flying through the heavens, but he tells me the stars are dancing in joyous celebration of your special day!
Chris Davis recently posted…Hello world!
18! That’s fantastic. And you don’t look a day over 18 months. Happy Birthday!!!
this post was just beautiful and left me teary-eyed. Happy 18th Birthday precious boy…I love the song you chose to celebrate it. Full of cat-i-tude!
Wishing you a beautiful and peaceful day.
FYI we tried to tweet from this post but it wouldn’t work
Love, Caren and Cody
Lovely and sentimental post. Happy Birthday dear, wise, patient, resiliant, and strong Merlin. May your private moments with Layla be peaceful and plentiful.
Have a beautiful day and blessings to all as we continue to fight and spread awareness about cancer this month.
xoxo – Deb and the Zee/Zoey gang
Happy Birthday Merlin!!! Maestro just turned 18 and mom is sometimes just as amazed by him as your mom is with you. Purrs to a wonderful day and many many more…..
Random Felines recently posted…LiveStrong
Lovely and sentimental post. Happy Birthday dear, wise, patient, resiliant, and strong Merlin. May your private moments with Layla be peaceful and plentiful.
Have a beautiful day and blessings to all as we continue to fight and spread awareness about cancer this month.
xoxo – Deb and the Zee/Zoey gang
Zee and Zoey – Deb Barnes recently posted…Birthdays, Cats, and the Passing of Time
Happy Birthday sweet Merlin! xx
Milo and Alfie recently posted…LiveStrong 2012
Happy Birthday sweet man cat andd many more may there be.. Hugs GJ xx
Ginger Jasper recently posted…LiveStrong……
Happy Birthday Merlin boy! It’s been wonderful following your adventures, and we will have a lot more to follow.
Happy, happy birthday, Merlin! Hope this one will be the best yet and followed by many more. You’re such a handsome boy!
)
Happy Birthday dear Merlin! I am thrilled to celebrate your special day with you.
Happy 18th birthday, Merlin!! It is a great milestone and you make your mom very happy
I love your song and your portrait. You are such a handsome boy. Wishing you the best birthday!!
Tamago recently posted…Goro’s 3rd Anniversary
Happy Birthday, Merlin! What a gift you are to your mom.
As a rock and roll lover and KISS fan, I feel obligated to correct your mom: “I’m 18″ is an Alice Cooper song.
Rock on, Merlin!
Ingrid King recently posted…How to prevent your indoor cat from running out the door
Thanks, Ingrid. Alice Cooper wrote the song but Merlin is channeling it’s the Spirit of KISS performing it.
Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101.com) recently posted…Merlin The Cat Turns 18! + Cats & Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Rock on Merlin! It’s great to have such a wise friend like you and we are purring for many more “official birthday portraits” like ‘em or not!
Harry,Dexter and Tipp
Cherry City Kitties recently posted…Black Cats Rule!
A very Happy Birthday to you Merlin. Hope you have a wonderful day and many more of them. Take care and have some fun.
Marg recently posted…Mancat Monday
“Rage rage against the dying of the light” Merlin! Happy birthday old chap! You do rock! xox
CATachresis recently posted…High Dive!
Happy birthday, Merlin! You are an amazing kitty – and you have so much more to teach your human! That IS why you are so resilient, of course! Every day with a kitty is a gift, no matter our age or physical condition.
Sparkle recently posted…Livestrong on Tortie Tuesday
Merlin, we love old kitties! We’ve only known old ladies, but old guys are probably about the same. We’re glad you have a few younger ones there to send you energy. Your mom loves you very much. Moms are like that. Happy Birthday!
Bermadette recently posted…Daily Sketch: Two in the Sun
Happy 18th Birthday Merlin! You’re a wise old soul, it’s a Great picture you gave your Mom Layla. So glad you pulled thru and made it to this milestone. Good for You! Love your taste in music too. You’ll always be special to me,as your blog is the very first one I followed. You and your family have a wonderful day celebrating your birtbday. Xoxo
Connie Marie, many thanks and purrs! I think Merlin is going to have a wonderful day!
Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101.com) recently posted…Merlin The Cat Turns 18! + Cats & Breast Cancer Awareness Month