Sterling Says Goodbye
An Open Casket Rememberance and Tribute to the Best Rattie That Ever Lived!
His coffee cup, which was an old Coke top lid was placed in his casket with him, because I'm sure he'll want to share a cup of coffee with me while he's at the Rainbow Bridge.
We shared a morning cup of decaffinated coffee with sugar free vanilla creamer for almost three years. He was my morning coffee buddy. I actually think he might have lived longer than most because his arteries were kept flushed out by the coffee, just a theory though.
Sterling gets coved by the special fleece blanket I made for his casket.
Sterling's casket is closed as he rests peacefully inside it.
These last two pictures were taken on the couch in the livingroom, the place where we always shared our morning coffee and talks with "Grandma" on the phone. We'd watch TV here and he got chunks of "nanners" which he adored.
Below is the last video I took of my sweet friend. This was taken last summer (July of 2009), after his second birthday at our popup camper, at our seasonal camp site on our property. He loved to camp with me and this final video shows the fun we had and how affectionate of a rattie friend he truly was. A wonderful tribute to him and hopefully it will show the world how good of companions ratties can be if allowed to become part of the family like other pets are allowed to. I am so glad I took the time to take this video as I will always have it to remember him by. Each time I watch it, it makes me smile.
Loving Messages From Caring Rat Lovers Regarding Sterling's Passing
Hey Sis,
I am so sorry to hear about Sterling.
I remember the day he was born.
I remember when you two first met.
I remember when he came back for a visit...he was huge for only being 6 months old.
I am honored to be the one from whom you adopted him.
I am attaching a pic of him when he was just a mere 4 weeks old.
My thoughts are with you!
Your Bro...
Tony aka Raffin
RaffinHouse Rattery
www.raffinhouse.com
(Celebrating 11 Years of Rattieness!)
I am so sorry to hear about Sterling.
I remember the day he was born.
I remember when you two first met.
I remember when he came back for a visit...he was huge for only being 6 months old.
I am honored to be the one from whom you adopted him.
I am attaching a pic of him when he was just a mere 4 weeks old.
My thoughts are with you!
Your Bro...
Tony aka Raffin
RaffinHouse Rattery
www.raffinhouse.com
(Celebrating 11 Years of Rattieness!)
Oh, Kat ... my deepest, most loving sympathy goes out to you, my friend. I can honestly say I know the kind of pain you are in - though each little Light has its own place and unique print on our hearts.
Know that I have you in my soul's arms, and though I never got to meet Sterling, what he means to you is all I need to know to love him.
My love always,
Kathy (and Tootsie)
Dear Friend Kat,
I am so very sorry about your "baby." I hate how much we love our pets. I cried my makeup off at work cause I get my emails on my blackberry. Maybe I should have waited to read your news at home but none the less.
Thank you for sharing this news with me. I have had many pets over the yrs (never a rat though) The loss IS HUGE. Our Cairne terrior is one that still breaks me to my knees.
I am sorry for your loss, the words of encouragement that I can say to you Kat, if you can hear, are from my heart, though they won't lessen your sadness. I know that this little fellow could not have had a more wonderful life or have been loved any more than what he recieved from you. For his whole time here. He was blessed to have lived and he loved you (AND your mom.)
I KNOW HE KNEW IT TOO...that's why he stayed as long as he did, it wasn't the coffee (sorry for being sassy about that one).
He held onto you as long as he could. You need to "Shed a tear for the one you love", he his worthy of that. Also worthy of your precious remembrances of what he was to you in your life. He will have coffee with you again.
sincerely,
Nancy
"Oh Darling, I am so sorry you have lost your old man. He is in my mind, always there. Such a gentle loving boy. My little men, the dwarfs, are doing fine ( Ashton and Barnabas ), as are the two dumbos ( Tobias and Kimba ) You are an amazing lady with such a huge heart. I would recommend anyone to get a baby from you. Your love shows through in the sweetness of your little rats. God Bless, and again I am so very sorry about your Sterling."
Debbie Y.
Hi, Kat. I am so sorry that Sterling died. As you know, my daughter Kyra has been following your rats and paying a lot of attention to the ones that have died. Just from your descriptions and her frequent viewings, she has become attached to your ratties and has felt sad over those who have passed.
This is our first year having rats - and I cannot imagine how hard it's going to be to lose them. They are such wonderful little pets - full of love and personality. So I know you're really feeling the loss. We are sorry with you.
Sincerely,
Lynn (and Kyra)
Oh Kat Im so so so sorry :,(. Please remember that he lived along healthy life with you, that he loved you very much, and that you will see him again someday. If it makes you feel better I felt the same when Sophie passed in May. Im so sorry...I dont know what else to say.
Dina
PS, Be Strong and remember that im there for you any time you would like to talk.
Oh, Kat, I'm so sorry! I know that you lose ratties all the time due to the large number you own and their short lifespan, but it is always hard to lose an especially close pet. You want to know something very weird? I have had the song "You are My Sunshine" stuck in my head all week, for no particular reason. I was very surprised to read about the meaning this song had for you and Sterling. May he rest in peace, and may God comfort you in this time of loss.
-Sarah M.
I just read Sterling's story... My birthday is the same as his! I am honored to be able to have Yuki and Kiku, decendents of his.
-Sarah M.
My mom just told me your favorite rat died and I knew it was sterling. I ran up here to check my email and I was right. I'm so sorry he died I know he meant the world to you. If my rats died I would be just as sad as you are. I will definitely check sterling's page. I loved the video you had at the bottom of his page. My rats are licky like that too. I read some sad stories about other rats that had died but compared to this one they're not very bad. I'm so sorry your favorite rat had to die and I hope you have fun with his family.
sincerely,
Kyra
Oh Kat, I am so so sorry to hear your sad news.
I know that hurt all too well. These little creatures steal your heart! I actually gave a rescue rat to my Mom and she adores him! He has been on antibiotics for about 4 weeks because there is blood in his urine. Today we took him to a specialist for a sonogram. Hopefully we can help him.
Please, just realize that you gave Sterling such a wonderful life - and that the last thing he would want to do is make you - or see you --unhappy. He was with the person he loved most in the world, comforting him when he went to rainbow bridge. He lived to an old age for a rattie too. What a beautiful casket, he looks so peaceful. He must have been very relaxed in your arms.
You are truly a special person, and although I live far from you, I hope to meet you one day.
Sincerely,
Heidi N. from NY
Hi Kat,
I just wanted to offer my condolences on the lost of your favorite little guy. I obviously didn't get a chance to know him, but it sounds like he was a very special boy.
Take care,
Tracie (13MR)
Hi Kat
So sorry to hear of your loss!!! That is one thing about ratties that saddens me is they are with us for such a short time.
I hope you have some of his children that can try to lessen your sadness Lori W.
Hi Kat
so sorry to hear about Sterling me and my 20 furry friends send their regards
Lisa
Hi Kat,
So sorry to hear of your loss. I know how special Sterling was to you. I had read his page several times before and could tell how much he meant to you. Even though we all love all of our ratties, there are those few that leave their paw prints on our hearts.
I hope your heart heals soon.
I totally understand. I also know that empty, sad, pit in your stomach feeling all too well. So your in my thoughts.
Right now, Shino is my boy.I tend to favor the females more but this boy was touched me a lot. I adore him. Which is why I paired him with my best girl and the babies have turned out exactly as I hoped. I couldn't be happier with them. Thanks so much for letting us adopt him.
I did get the pouch and it is great. I didn't get to use it as much for our current litter but the next litter will be getting daily use of it. I think it will work perfectly with babies that are used to it early on.
Take care,
Debbie (of JM)
Oh Kat, no, no, no! I feel terrible for you, because you loved Sterling beyond words, and I wish I was with you to give you a big hug and grieve with you. That is so sad, as he was a wonderful rat. I remember you showing him to me when I came to get Aaron, and I couldn't believe how sweet he was, and all the things you did with him. I thought your coffee drinking together was so neat and special, and his little "hut" was so cute and close to you all the time.
I just want you to know that I am feeling sad for and with you, and whenever I feel sad about not having Aaron, I'll be remembering you too, as Sterling died just a week after Aaron.
Many hugs, love, and sympathy to you, Kat!
B ~Rachel
Live in such a way that those who know you but don't know Christ, will come to know Christ because they know you. --Unknown
Hi Kat,
I am very sorry to hear about your loss!!! It is so hard to lose a good friend. I hope that it helps to think about all the people who are currently enjoying the all of the beautiful children/grandchildren... that he as past his outstanding genes down to. I believe Elliot is one of them and I am soo attached he is so sweet.
I just wanted to take a min and let you know well your little dudes are doing. Ok also how much I'm in love with them! Elliot is such a lazy sweet little lover boy (except when he's kicking Fievels butt!! which he does regularly) and you wouldn't believe how Fievel mink coat has changed colors since he has been home. He is now very silver/grey sooo pretty and always giving kisses. thank you for all the time you spent with them helping them to become my new little buddies
Lindsay
B
Kat:
I just read your email and went to your website.BB I am so sorry for your loss of Sterling.
I used to sing, "You are my Sunshine" to my mom, when I would call her.
Except that I would say "Chunchine" :)
I will sing that song now in memory of mom and Sterling.
I love you, my friend. bb
Oh, dear Kat,
I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Sterling. May the Lord comfort you as you grieve.
These tender, sweet little creatures love us so much and ask for so little back. They never hurt us, just love. I believe in animal heaven very much and believe I will be reunited with my fur kids one day. They are just waiting for me.
Niki is very old and will leave me any day now so my heart breaks for you as I am close to that myself. Please ask your precious Sterling to keep his keen eye out for a big gray dumbo named Niki and to show him around animal heaven when Niki gets there soon. I will tell Niki to watch for Sterling and call out his name when, he, too, crosses the 'rainbow bridge.' God bless and help you.
Please.... wait until you have some time before you send hammocks. The important thing is you and your loved Sterling!
You are in my thoughts, hugs Lynn
Dear Kat...I am sooooo very saddened and sorry for your loss of your beloved Sterling. Sterling was such a very handsome boy! He has the most beautiful face and he is such a beautiful color too. I love those ears!! I know you are hurting inside now and I don't know of any words to help you but I want you to know that I am thinking of you and Sterling with saddness in my heart. Sterling is with my ratties that I've lost playing with them at Rainbow Bridge. Sterling knew he was a very special and very much loved boy. He had a wonderful Mom to take such good care of him, shared her coffee with him and loved him dearly. You have your *special* memories of him that will always be with you in your heart. Sterling looks at peace in his casket with the pretty yellow fabric you had in there for him. I am very sorry.
Big hug for you,
(((((((((((((((((((Kat)))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Your friend,
Deb
Kat,
I’m sorry to hear about the loss of Sterling.
Matthew D.
Hi Kat,
So sorry to hear about your favorite rat! How old was he? Was it illness or just "time"?
Blessings,
Melinda
Kat,
I'm sorry to hear about Sterling's passing. It's always so hard when we lose a beloved rat. The one thing about rats that I dislike the most is their short lifespan. It sucks when they pass away after so short a time. :( Robin (DCR)
Hello Kat,
I am sorry to hear that Sterling has passed. He was a very lovely rat and Sterling will be missed.
I hope all is well.
Shelley (EVWD)
Kat,
I'm sorry to hear about Sterling's passing. At least you know he did live a wonderful life! Obi died a few months ago and I still miss him nearly every day. He was technically Kia's rat, but he was one of my favorites of all time. He went everywhere with us, even swimming in the lake. It does get easier with time. Let me know if I can do anything.
Miriam (LLR)
Dear Kat,
I am so sorry that you have had to say 'later baby' to your dear friend, son, guide, and partner; Sterling.
I was moved by your memorial page and all the wonderful friends that Sterling connected you with during your time together.
He was such a love and such a spirit!
I will send these to you in frames, so that he can be with you for your morning cup of coffee.
I also made you a special "Sterling" rattie footprint teardrop to wear when you really need him close.
Hope to see you very soon.
Love
Toy
Last Updated On: 01/21/10
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