KDUNK

Dear Lili,

A quick note to thank you for being such a good girl today. It was a sad and hard day.

Mom and Dad had to bring their kitty Jane to the vet where she died today. She was sixteen-years-old. You’ve never been sixteen but when you are you will most likely hate us and go to parties with people that pick you up in cars blasting loud music and speed off into the night throwing cigarette butts out the window. Jane didn’t do this – but she probably would have if she could.

Jane was our little princess and our baby. We held her in our arms as we now hold you. She didn’t need to be burped like you do but she needed to be fed and her litter box changed. Jane was a funny little cat. She liked to lick photographs (in addition to arm pits). Took such pride in keeping herself soft and clean. She liked to do naughty things like rip up the side of the couch or door frames and sometimes important paper documents. She used to stand on glossy magazines and run in place tearing it to shreds – like she was on a treadmill – which always made me laugh. She liked to cuddle on the couch and often between us in bed or under the sheets. She always drank out of our water glasses left on the table and was a fan of knocking them down. She loved sniffing fresh air. She hated getting her photo taken. She broke a lot of glasses. She loved parties and joining in on the fun. Especially girls night with wine and cheese. She had the loudest purr around and it made you feel later after you had pet her that she felt loved. Very, very loved.

You didn’t know Jane for long. In fact you only knew Jane for exactly 74 days. Many people have sent their condolences and even more have said they were glad that Jane got to meet you. This gives me a little giggle because – no offense my dear girl – but I think Jane was a tad jealous of you. Ok…you basically ruined her life. Not really but she acted so because she was a funny little cat – as I said – our princess – with a funny little personality.

In the lobby of the vet’s office today Dad left us and was brave. He walked through the doors to say goodbye to our Jane. You and I sat in the lobby while I nursed you and was crying and watched Rachel Ray on the Food Network make a pot roast. The lobby was FULL of tissue boxes – an alarming amount. I snickered at the amount of tissue boxes when we arrived but I ended up using most of them or so it seemed.

Recently a friend said it will be really cool to watch when you – the baby – discover the cat. Now you will not have this chance. Perhaps it was best this way. You never seeing Jane…and Jane pretending…never to see you.

xo