Sunday Selfies: Week #500
Hi Friends,
I am here as your host today for a special post. The reason being is that it is Saint Patrick’s Day, and my name is Cooper Murphy. One cannot get more Irish than that.
It is also a special Sunday as this is the 500th Sunday Selfies blog hop.
But mainly I am here as this a tribute post to our dear friend, Jean Neilson, and I have a special connection to her. Her kitty, Tyebe, is my girl friend.
I do apologize for my eyes being closed. I was, of course, dreaming about Tyebe.
Jean Neilson – 1950 to 2024
Bill, Jean’s amazing husband of more than 50 years, telephoned my mom last Sunday to tell her Jean had passed away. He also sent Tyebe’s selfie and asked Mom to add it to our Sunday Selfies hop. He also asked Mom not to share the information of Jean’s passing, as he was not ready to do that. Unfortunately, as Bill put it, someone “let the cat of the bag,” when the information appeared on the Cat Blogosphere. Trust me, it was not my mom!
In the past week, Bill and my mom have been communicating regularly. He shared an article written about he and Jean on their 50th wedding anniversary and said she could share it here. The article has the most precious photo of the two of them. This is the link: Jean & Bill – 50th Anniversary.
Bill also sent this photo to use here. It is the same one he selected for Jean’s obituary, which you can find here.
Our History
My mom first got to know Jean in 2014 before I became a Kitties Blue. That’s when her kitties, Kali and Shoko, began joining our Sunday Selfies blog hop. Then Shoko joined Cat Scouts and got to know my brother, Mau. In 2017, my sisfur, Lily Olivia, joined the Crotchety Cougars Club, a group Kali started for lady kitties who were 15 years old and older.
I followed Mau into Cat Scouts, and then Shoko’s new kitten sisfur, Tyebe, joined Cat Scouts. And it was love at first sight for me. Jean let us attend the 2019 Super Bowl party and Valentine’s Day party at Cat Scouts as friends, and eventually allowed me to ask Tyebe to become my girl friend.
During this time, Jean and my mom were becoming friends. They both liked the Beach Boys and were disappointed when they each saw Bob Dylan in concert. Jean came to my mom with computer- and linking-related issues and my mom went to Jean with questions regarding Sawyer’s seizures.
My mom is one who saves special e-mails, and there are so many regarding dates between Tyebe and me and Tyebe’s wardrobe.
When Jean had her stroke in May, 2022, and developed aphasia, we (as well as so many of you reading this) lost a good friend, whose wit, sense of humor and friendship were so treasured.
Jean’s last blog post was on April 14, 2023. Bill posted a brief message the following month letting everyone know that Jean would not be blogging but that the blog would remain available. You can still find it at The Canadian Cats. Rereading some of the posts is a delightful way to reconnect with Jean, Shoko, Tyebe and Angels Kali and Bud. But be prepared to shed some tears for the loss of a very special lady!
Bill will be having one or more Celebrations of Life to remember Jean later in the spring.
A Final Share
I think it would be okay with Tyebe and her dad if I share this with you. It’s from a Sunday Selfies post on February 26, 2022, especially with this being our 500th Selfie post.
Gee, Coop and his family have had Selfie Sunday for a very long time. It’s practically an institution. We must thank the whole family for being such sports and hosting the Sunday Selfies.
This is my selfie. The button to the camera is in the bag. I just felt around for it and voila! So I pressed my paw on it as hard as I could. How do you like it?
Personally, I love it! Isn’t Tyebe gorgeous? I think you can see why I fell in love with her!
Thank you for joining us today.
Purrs and paw-pats, Cooper Murphy (with special whisker kisses for Tyebe)
Hopping Time
Cooper Murphy, the other Kitties Blue and I really hope you will join us today for the 500th week of our hop. It is a pretty monumental accomplishment, and you do not want to miss out. If you get the opportunity, ask a few of your friends to hop along with us. As always, the hop remains open through Thursday.
Enjoy an easy Sunday!