Belaud in 2009
Belaud (2008 – 2019)
I’m about to work again, but life changed drastically today (29 November). I took my cat Belaud to his vet. Cancer was diagnosed. Dr de Vette (that is his real name) thought the only humane thing to do was euthanasia. Belaud was the French chartreux who was my constant and beloved companion since 2008.
He had stopped eating several days ago, drank smaller and smaller amounts of fresh water, and he wouldn’t eat his treats. The last two nights, he didn’t sleep on the bed. This was unusual because he was always as close to me as possible.
I took him to the vet’s knowing what I would be told, yet hoping I was wrong.
—ooo—
Dom Garcie de Navarre and Les Fâcheux have both been considered Précieux plays and both are a discussion on jealousy. Is jealousy a sign of love or is it destructive? The question was discussed in Salons, one of France’s major cultural and social institutions. Salons have now closed. In French seventeenth-century salons, questions d’amour were dissected by men and women. Topics discussed in salons changed from century to century and, to some extent, from salon to salon. In earlier posts, we have seen la carte du Tendre, the map of love. It appeared in Clélie, Histoire romaine, a novel by Madeleine de Scudéry. The Map of Tendre was engraved by François Chauveau. In Dom Garcie de Navarre, jealousy is as we have seen it in Molière’s Amphitryon. The seventeenth-century masterpiece on the subject of jealousy is Madame de La Fayette‘s Princesse de Clèves, published in 1678.
—ooo—
I’m so sorry my little Belaud has left us. He was affectionate, quiet, friendly, and always happy. He had been with me since he was old enough to be adopted and ran my life in a manner that suited us both. Belaud was named after Joachim du Bellay‘s Belaud, also a chartreux.
LOVE TO EVERYONE 💕
Swedish lutenist Jonas Nordberg performs the Prélude and Allemande from the Suite in a minor for theorbo by Robert de Visée.
Joachim du Bellay
© Micheline Walker
29 November 2019
WordPress
Micheline's Blog 
I’m deeply sorry about your loss.
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I thank you Claudio. Without him, I would have been alone. Animals can be very dear friends. I thank you for you kind words.
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I am saddened to hear that you have lost your gentle, loving companion. I know you are inconsolable. He was beautiful! My thoughts are with you.
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He was a loving and friendly cat and he left many happy memories. I’ll always remember his lovely little face. I thank you for writing. 🙂
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Sorry for your loss – our furry friends bring much love into our lives
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They do bring us much love and they all have their own little personality. I can’t imagine life without Belaud. He followed me everywhere. I was never alone. I thank you for writing. That was very kind of you.
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My deepest condolences on the passing of beautiful Belaud! I’ve been through it and I know how it feels, dear friend.
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I thank you for your kind words. Belaud’s death was totally unexpected. He started to deteriorate about ten days ago. It’s strange, but I can hear during the night. Obviously, I’m hearing my heart. Thank you dear friend.
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You are very welcome, dear Micheline.
Love,
D
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Being without a computer was horrible. My friends were no longer with me. Fortunately, I still had Belaud who spent his entire life next to me. We never went to shows. It would have disrupted his routine. He was happy to be a companion. I’ve had difficulty writing since his death. Belaud’s death was a shock, so I am a little confused.
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My thoughts and my prayers are with you, dear friend!
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This is quite a blow. Belaud was a lovely cat and a marvelous companion. To me, he was a person. It is kind of you to write.
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As I said, I’ve been through this and I know the feeling.
Much love,
D
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I am glad nature gives us domestic animals. We grieve when they die, but think of the happy memories they leave behind. You know the feeling. I’m privilege to have shared eleven years of my life with little Belaud. Dr de Vette and I discussed treatment. It would not have cured him and he would have suffered. He had a happy little life as a companion, so we now turn a page.
Much love to you,
M
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Years ago, when we lost our beloved cat Shabbos to the same disease, I cried bitterly for a week, until my husband said, “A house is not a home without a cat,” and within a couple of days I found a rescue organization that had several tiny kittens to be adopted. One of them looked so much like Shabbos that at first I didn’t want to bring her home as it was too painful. However, her brother was so attached to her and so protective of her that I agreed with my husband and we adopted both. They are now 11 years old and are our joy and our delight.
Much love,
D
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Cats are lovely. When I lived in a house, I kept two cats: a barn cat, my most intelligent cat ever, and a chartreux. My chartreux was hit by a car trying to follow Mouchette. Mouchette looked both ways before crossing, but my chartreux was blinded by love. Belaud was also eleven. They live to the age of 15 or more, but Belaud developed cancer. I truly do not know what I will do next. Chartreux are hard to find, but they all have the same basic temperament. They are very quiet, very calm, very affectionate and they enjoy riding in a car, but finding a breeder is very difficult. The SPCA is a five-minute drive and there are cats waiting to be adopted. I might find another Mouchette, an Einstein among cats. In my eyes, Belaud was the last cat, but I expected him to live longer. I’ll wait a little.
Much love,
M
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I wish you the best of luck, whatever you decide, dear Micheline.
Love,
D
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It’s a little too soon to adopt another cat. I will think about it after the holidays. That is my one-thing-at-a-time approach. Replacing Mouchette took a long time. It’s too soon.
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Whatever you do and whenever you do it, let it bring happiness into your life!
Much love,
D
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We have to build our own happiness. Belaud died, but he had been a joy for eleven years. It must continue. He was delightful.
Much love,
Micheline
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I wish you all the happiness you can build, dear Micheline.
Much love,
D
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Yes, it is for me to build my own happiness. I have resources. Concentrating it a little difficult at this point, but that will not last.
Much love,
M
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Be well and stay well, dear friend!
Much love,
D
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I will be fine. It may be a good idea to buy an amaryllis and begin the holidays.
Much love,
M
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It’s an excellent idea, dear Micheline. I wish you joyful holidays!
Love,
D
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We have the holidays and than Carnival time, when Louis XIV enjoyed a divertissement royal.
Lully-Molière would write a comédie-ballet. Retired and other Quebecers go to Florida to spend part or most of the winter months. Yet, there is charm to winter if one does not have to shovel snow. When I had a house, my office was across the street. I didn’t shovel snow. By the time I returned home, it had been removed. I put nail overshoes so I would not fall. These were easy to slip on and easy to remove.
I love the holiday plants.
Muche love,
M
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Yes, we have entire areas where one only hears French during winter months. However, if you feel comfortable and see the charm of winter, I hope you enjoy the season, dear Micheline.
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Thousands of Quebecers leave Quebec for Florida. I have a friends who own an apartment in Sarasota and love it. I have family in the West coast. If I needed to leave for a warmer climate, Vancouver would be my destination. The only problem is that a Quebec health insurance card is not valid outside Quebec, except for a stay in hospital. Quebec did not sign the Constitution (1982). No referendum has authorized Quebec to negotiate separation from Canada.
I have to be near my doctor. The last time I saw him, my blood pressure was under 90 (both numbers). It was a virus but it had not been identified. I’ll know more on December 16. These little accidents keep me in Quebec where I have an excellent doctor. Usually, I feel well. Much love, M
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I fully understand, dear Micheline.
Be well,
D
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I’ll be well. I always have work to do and the holidays have started. We have more plays to do, but very few and easier ones. Dom Garcie is not altogether a play. One has to read it first. It is very analytical and only one character says that jealousy is a sign of love, but the play does not support that view.
Much love,
M
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I am glad to see that your spirits have lifted somewhat, dear Micheline.
Much love,
D
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Belaud’s death was a terrible shock, but living with Belaud was a privilege. This lovely cat was with me for eleven years.
What a gift.
Again, much love,
M
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I share your feelings, dear friend.
Much love,
D
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I received a note from Dr de Vette and his staff. It was very comforting.
Much love,
Micheline
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So very nice to have a caring physician!
Have a wonderful rest of the week, dear Micheline.
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I’m very lucky, but it hurts me to see persons who cannot find a doctor.
Love,
M
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Very true.
Have a nice evening, dear Micheline.
Love,
D
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Thank you dear D. Have a good day. M
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This is what I have to work on. Belaud liked his busy mother. For me, he was always like a child. ❤
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Interesting you should say that. To me, my Barmalei has never been a child, even when he was a baby kitten, but rather a loving, trusted companion. My husband calls him “familiar,” The girls, though, are children, especially the little one who is not so little anymore, but still shows childish behaviours.
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Belaud never grew up. He wanted to be mothered. He was my first child-like cat. Mouchette was born an adult, but Belaud kept me on a short leash. We were excellent companions, but I had to pick him up and cuddle him several times a day. Cats have little personalities and they love a routine. He died in my arms, feeling safe. I didn’t cry until he was dead. He would have known something was wrong.
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Yes, every cat has a different personality, and they are very sensitive to our feelings.
Much love,
D
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Belaud always seemed totally independent, but our pets are not independent. I believe Belaud felt independent because I made sure he had everything he needed. Would that he had lived a little longer. We grow to love pets as we love our children. He was so beautiful and a perfect companion.
Love my dear.
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Cats usually are independent, or at least act that way. Certainly, they are part of the family’ they return our love.
Much love,
D
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I am so sorry to hear about dear Belaud. You will miss his little presence so much. You will also be glad though that you honored your promise to not leave him alone in the world. Hugs to you and to the spirit of dear Belaud.
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Thank you Gallivanta. Belaud was a loving and beautiful little fellow. I was hoping he would die before me, but at a later age. Our little pets grow to be part of us. Belaud and I were very happy together. I hope you are well and I thank you for writing.
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I am well, thank you, but my little dog is struggling with heart problems which cause him to faint frequently. But we are still blessed to be able to enjoy each other’s company.
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I hope your little gets better. Our little animals are so precious to us. I feel disoriented without my faithful Belaud. We were always together. I’m pleased to hear that you are well. We may not feel very important, but those we leave behind grieve. Take good care of yourself. I’m glad my computer has been repaired. My WordPress community has been neglected, but you are my community and I am at work again, although somewhat confused.
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My heart is heavy hearing of your loss.
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Thank you very much. I loved my Belaud. We had a marvelous relationship. Belaud was very loving and we were never apart. He also happened to be a beautiful cat.
Love and my best wishes to you.
Micheline
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Toute ma sympathie Micheline.
Je sais ce que c’est que de perdre un chat bien aimé.
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Merci Clodoweg,
Belaud était un compagnon de tous les instants. Toujours heureux, toujours caressant et très beau. Comme vous avez perdu un chat bien aimé, vous savez ce que je ressens. On s’en remet, mais il y a un vide.
Je vous remercie.
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