Biffy's Tribute Page


Ours from January 1992 until December 31, 1998


Each Tuesday Morning

Each Tuesday morning we'd take that car ride,
You knew it was coming, and you'd sometimes hide.
After a while we knew you could tell,
It was your day for chemo, but you took it so well.

We'd pack up some roast beef, your towel, your chart,
And off to the vet, for your chemo, we'd start.
You never fought us, but we always knew,
You were plotting your exit, oh how we watched you!

You learned it took only a minute or two,
Then you ran into the carrier, when you were through.
We'd set the carrier up high for you in the car,
You liked having a view, that was better by far.

We were home safe and sound in an hour or so,
Then you'd eat more roast beef, then in your box you'd go.
We'll do this with Kelli on next Tuesday, too;
But you won't be with us... oh how we'll miss you....

Diane
1/2/99


Biffy

You tried so hard, with all your might
to try and win that dreadful fight.
As time went on, you could not win,
For you were weak, too frail and thin.

And so we had to let you go
To find the peace you could not know.
A peace we longed to help you find,
With all our hearts and all our mind.

We lost you on this New Year's Eve,
The same day Fluffy had to leave.
Within this house there's an empty space,
For no one else can take your place.

The way you looked, the way you'd sound,
The way it felt when you're around.
The nuzzles missed, the empty bed,
We're left with loneliness instead.

Diane
12/31/98


As I Wander Round This House

As I wander 'round this house,
I can not help but realize
How much your essence filled this house
How much I miss your soft green eyes.

Your presence here is sorely missed,
Your love I long to feel.
I'm filled now with just loneliness
And a heart that will not heal.

Diane
12/31/98


You're Gone...

No words I write seem to convey
The feelings that I long to say
The pain I feel, the hurt so deep
For now my Biffy, you must sleep.

You've gone now to a better place
I long to see your soft sweet face
Looking back here at me.
Oh how I miss my sweet Biffy.

Diane
1/1/99


"Biffy in July 1998"



How Many Tears

Why is it love can never last
Into the future from the past?
Why is it love must always die?
How many tears can one mother cry?

Diane
1/1/99


When...

When can I go to the Rainbow Bridge?
Where so many of my babies play?
Why can't I go along with them?
Why is it I who have to stay?

Diane
1/1/99


Beyond This World

Beyond this world's a better place
or so I've heard them say,
Where kitties go when they're not well
To be happy and play.

The Bridge I've heard is where you are,
It's where I long to be.
If you had to go to the Bridge so soon,
Why couldn't you have taken me?

Diane
1/1/99


To Help You spread Your Wings

They say all things must come to pass
I know it's sad yet true.
For when you left me New Year's Eve,
My heart went with you, too.

You took a piece of my soul,
The part that made me sing.
It left with you at 4:05,
To help you spread your wings.

They say you're at the Rainbow Bridge,
You're well and whole and free.
God, hold him in your gentle hands,
And keep him safe for me.

Diane
1/1/99




Without You

I woke up this morning, the sun didn't shine
The birds didn't sing, the clock didn't chime.
The days seem so lonely, the nights are so long
Without you beside me, everything's wrong.

You fought a tough battle, you did it with grace.
Your spirit and spunk put a smile on my face.
I had hoped for so long, you could stay longer, my friend,
But your roller-coaster ride, had to come to an end.

I miss looking at you, those soft soulful eyes.
I long to hear more of your "I'm hungry" cries.
I wish you had beat this, and you were still here.
I'm grateful at least for that one extra year.

Diane
1/2/99


'Til I see You Again

The pain we tried to spare you from
Is what I feel inside,
For you're no longer here with us,
And part of me has died.

I thought that you could beat the odds,
I wanted you to stay.
But cancer is a nasty foe,
And it took you away.

And so I'm lost within this house,
A prisoner in pain.
I'll stay locked up within myself,
'Til I see you again.

Diane
1/3/99


Another New Year's Eve

Another New Year's slipped right by
While we sat here alone and cried.
Another day to celebrate,
But not for us, for it's too late.

I'll never say "Happy New Year"
To another soul.
The holidays are ruined for us,
Loss has taken it's toll.

Two babies gone on New Year's Eve
Is more than I can bear.
What are the odds of tragedies
Like these on two New Years?

While others laugh and drink champagne,
We cry alone in so much pain.
While others dance and smile and play,
We watched our Biffy slip away...

Diane
1/3/99


The Loss of You

The sorrow that I feel tonight
Is more than I can bear.
The loss of you, sweet Biffy,
Was just so unfair.

You tried so hard to be well,
You took it all in stride.
You were our "little trooper",
That cannot be denied.

You deserved to be the one
to survive and win.
Instead you slowly slipped away;
To me that's such a sin.

I prayed that God would spare you;
I hoped you'd be the one,
To go into remission,
But now my Biffy's gone...

Diane
1/3/99




Where Are You Now...

As the darkness covers me
With a blanket of despair,
I realize that losing you
Is just too hard to bear.

Where are you now, my little boy?
Can you see me from afar?
Are you playing at the Bridge?
Is that where you are?

Are you chasing butterflies,
and eating tuna, too?
Can you look down at us both,
And see how we miss you?

Diane
1/3/99


For Biffy

I saw a cat walk down the street,
He had such soft sweet eyes.
I tried to give him food to eat,
But he ran off to hide.

I watched him walk the streets 'round here
Until he could be mine.
We lived together seven years,
That wasn't enough time.

Three days ago, I watched him,
He slowly slipped away.
We wanted so to keep you here,
God speed, my little stray...

Diane
1/3/99


The Pain...

Writing seems to ease the pain
I feel welled up inside.
I try to dodge it like the rain,
But from it, I can't hide.

And so I write 'til I can sleep,
To try and help me get some peace,
From this hurt, I feel so deep;
'Til I can be released...

Diane
1/3/99


The Day My Babies Leave

The second New Year's in a row
Slipped in while we both cried.
We greeted it with broken hearts,
And very swollen eyes.

Losing Fluffy a year ago,
Was too fresh in our minds.
And now we lost our Biffy too,
And for them both, we pine.

The holidays have turned into
A day where we both grieve.
For New Year's Eve will always be
The day my babies leave.

It's not a day when we'll rejoice,
As we ring in tomorrow.
It will now forever be
A day of grief and sorrow.

Diane
1/4/99


The Ceremony

How I dreaded "The Ceremony",
and saying good-bye to you.
I started feeling so tense inside;
didn't want to see this through.

Releasing you from this house we shared
And not having you at home,
The emptiness wells up deep inside;
I'm feeling so all alone.

I know you'll always be remembered
By all those who hold you dear.
Your love lives past December,
Even if you're not here.

Diane
1/4/99




Our Shining Light

Daddy types, and Mommy writes,
A single thought we share.
For every night, nothing feels right
Without you being there.

We want to somehow honor you
For the love and joy you brought.
To tell all those who did not know,
Just how hard you fought.

To stay alive, to live and strive,
To be with us all here.
You were so loved and cherished
By all who hold you dear.

I think you even liked the vet,
And a tech or two.
You were a tough little guy,
And they respected you.

You had a special room you liked,
they treated you so good.
You were our little shining star,
And we all understood.

That Biffy was so special,
No ordinary cat.
He had to have things just his way,
Or he'd have none of that.

You had to treat him gently,
And Daddy was the one,
Who got to lift and weigh him.
No one could touch his "son".

When it came time for the shots
And blood tests that you'd dread,
We'd place you gently on your side,
And scratch your soft sweet head.

It was over in a minutes' time,
And then you had your way,
The carrier came back in sight,
And in it then you'd stay.

While we spoke of the treatments,
And what was next in store,
Then it was back in the car
For the roast beef you adored.

We'd hurry home and set you free,
You'd eat then go to sleep.
Another Tuesday's chemo done,
Until the following week.

In time though you just got too frail,
And we just couldn't bear
To see you getting very weak;
We didn't think it fair.

And now our baby is at rest,
No battles left to fight.
You gave it all, my little boy,
And were our shining light.

Diane
1/5/99


We were sent so many beautiful things for Biffy. We wanted to include some of them on this page.



This was written for us by Pat for Biffy, and Mr.Fluffy too

I hunted through the tender words
Of poets great and small
I haunted them in search of words
That, to you, would deeply call
I wanted them to speak to you
And comfort you this night
I'm sorry, sorry - dear, dear friend
No words contain such might
If you, perchance, can maybe see
Beyond the pain, eternal tears,
Love dances as it always has
And will for endless years
What was, will ever, always be
Within your beating heart
These words, be all there is, from me
There's no meaning to "apart"

P M Charlebois


This was written for us by Linda

Gentle warrior, courageous soul...
how sad to lay down your sword and shield and leave the field.

Rest now, worry no more...your time of battle is done.
Those you leave behind weep, their hearts broken and empty.
The light and music of your being no longer dances in their homes,
but the beauty of your memory lives in their souls.

Gentle warrior, lay down your sword and shield,
and cross the bridge into the golden light and love of God;
feel no more illness, or pain.
Walk among the flowers and green grass and be healthy once again.
There are many there to greet you...you won't be alone.

Those who are grieving will know one day that you're at rest
when they feel the soft brush of your whiskers against their cheek,
the muted whisper of your purr, whenever sunlight dances in a room...
they'll know it's you saying "I'm okay now...I'm waiting for you".


This was written for us by Margy

For Biffy

You lived alone, at large for nine long years,
then Jeff and Di gave you their home and heart.
Sweet face and special ways set you apart
from other cats (though all have pointed ears).
Despite unsteady health and constant fears,
you showed your strength and you were smart --
You always knew, right from the very start,
you found your place -- at home with those two dears.

And when your health was in its long decline,
both Jeff and Di were always by your side;
they loved you well and never did resign
from treatments, vet trips; chicken was supplied
whenever you did not much care to dine.
You took your chemo; you were very brave.
You stole the hearts that they so freely gave.


This was from Tally

I have had a hard time finding the words to talk about Biffy. I have been unable to bring myself to read the pages until this morning, and then I had to take some time to recover.

I felt as though Biffy were a part of our family. I shared every update with Alan. I told the boys each night as we lit the candles that we lit them for a very special little guy at the other end of the country. I still have Biffy's picture out. It has taken me some time to deal with losing him, and yet I still find it hard to believe that he is gone. His spirit is so strong, it lingers still, here in my heart.

Jeff's tribute to Biffy was stunning. I can't remember when I last read such loving thoughts, and such beautiful memories so cherished. And Di, your poetry, as always, ripped several large holes in my heart. I thought I was done crying for my loss, but I'm not.

I had to think about these words, and now I can only feel that they are inadequate to express how deeply I loved Biffy, how much I miss him, how deeply your words have touched me.

Biffy was a fighter, as was Tardy. I somehow feel that they are soulmates, bound together by our love for each other, and by their love for life, be it the old one they shared with us, or the new one they share now together.

I thank God for knowing Biffy through your eyes. For being a small part of his life, even though it was only for a year. He was, and is, a very, very special soul.

*****tears*****


This was sent by Rich

Where You Used To Be

Where you used to be,
there is a hole in the world.
which I find myself walking around
in the daytime,
and falling in at night.

I miss you.


by: Edna St. Vincent Millay


This was sent by Noofies

But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,
All losses are restor'd and sorrows end.


Shakespeare Sonnet 30


You were our little trooper, we will miss you forever.

Thank you Lisa-too for the making Biffy's background, and Rev Di for making the framed image for us.


kitty chasing butterflies


The music on this page is "My Heart Will Go On"

Biffy's Story

"My Cat Biffy" by Jeff

Biffy's Diary

Return to Jeff and Diane's Cat House

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