cats

Years ago, we got adopted by a big stray Tabby tomcat that my son befriended, and named Jake. He began using our house as his base of operations, and soon brought home his gorgeous Siamese girlfriend, and her three little kittens. We went from no cats to five cats in a couple of weeks. No humans were consulted in any of these decisions. We were at the mercy of these adorable feline squatters.

Over the last 18 years, we watched that entire cat family grow up, enjoying their interactions and rivalries. Jake was a wild man, and used up all his nine lives, and borrowed a few from timid cats who weren't using them. He was shot twice, drowned once, lost fights with raccoons, won many more against lesser rivals, adopted lost kittens, and more. He was a force of nature. I've never known another cat like him.

The past few years have been heart-breaking as we lost them one by one. Each of our little cat family was beloved in their own unique way, and we miss them desperately. Only one is left, and she's a little old blind lady with arthritis. She mostly just sleeps in her bed on the couch next to my wife, whom she adores. I doubt she'll survive the year, and they'll all be gone.

It will truly be the end of an era for our family.