that darn cat

Well, sweetie, we're glad you're finally at peace.

She spent the last week of her life alternating between two things: Lurking by a door (I guess hoping to sneak off somewhere outside, like where she was born) and hiding. She got into the basement and we couldn't find her for a day-and-a-half. Finally we moved a bunch of stuff and there she was, behind some boxes on a shelf. Hubby and I knew this wasn't a good sign. As I said the other day, she fought urinary tract infections her whole life. The vet said her kidneys probably also suffered from congenital disease and now they had shut down. There was nothing we could do.

So saying good-bye took the sha-zizzle out of being snowed in this weekend. The kids are doing their best to understand, but it's hard for anyone to understand why life is finite or why certain among us are just made not to last for very long. We tell them life's not in the dying, but in the living.

"I wish she could be with us longer," my daughter said sobbing. She went on to tell me about all of their secret meetings in her room. "You see?" I said. "She was so happy every day, sharing love with all of us ... especially you and Daddy. Remember when you were in first grade and Schultzy died? It hurt so much. (She shook her head, wiped her nose.) Now it hurts less, doesn't it? (Another shake.) And when you think of him you think of the fun stuff and playing in the snow and how cute he was, don't you? (A snuffle/wipe/shake.) Take your time and it will be that way with Dusty, too."

Today is laundry day, which makes me miss Meow-Meow Kitty. She used to hate my being in "her room" all day and would sqwauk at me now and then.

Some will say: "It's just a cat." To that I say: "Feel the love."

Maybe it is just you and your cat. Maybe you're part of a Central-Perk-style family like we used to see on Friends. Maybe it's a more conventional picture. Feel it. Share it. Sit down in the middle of it and celebrate it.

Funny what "just a cat" can get you thinking about.