1:40 Early Friday Afternoon (13 May 2011)

Your atoms, my atoms.

Wednesday night, I went to my parents' house after having delicious lunch with my mom, and getting a hair cut that I'm not entirely sure I don't hate. We watched How to Tame your Dragon, one of my favourite animated films, and Jui cuddled Minnaloushe.

A few hours into the night, we noticed Minnaloushe was walking very unsteadily. He jumped onto the sink, onto the window sill above the sink, and I watched as he worked extra hard to breathe when such a jump normally does not require so much exertion.

I felt my heart sinking as my father scooped him up and looked him over and with a resigned sigh said he would take him to the vet tomorrow. I had hope that maybe he had a flu and the vet could give him the cat version of nyquill but early the next morning I received a text from Dad detailing the Vet's diagnosis that his body had shut down and they put him to sleep to avert any suffering.

I'm not ok.

I know he was old. I'm glad he isn't in pain. I feel peaceful that his body is buried next to Mickey's and that the nutrients they are made of will nourish future life.

That doesn't mean I'm ok.

I love you Minnaloushe.

Remember when you were a kitten, and we would play a form of hide and seek? And when you would find me, you'd jump all hunched up sideways in an attempt to be big and scary?

Even as an old cat you learned how to turn on the new automatic faucet that my parents installed for you.

Remember how you used to sleep on my face at night? And you used to be so small you could fit into the crevices between the books on my bookshelf... You were such a friendly, beautiful, sweet cat. You made it to 16, and I got 15 and a half beautiful years with you.

I remember the night my parents got you. You were shipped on an airplane from a Kansas City shelter because of someone my parents knew who thought you would be a good match for us. That person must have been an angel because you were absolutely perfect. It was August and I was at the Poe's house and you were in a carrier in my parents' car and being presented this gift of a perfect beautiful kitten basically made my 7-year-old life.

I miss you. Goodbye, and thank you for the companionship for almost the entire memorable portion of my life. I hope you loved your time with us as much as we loved you.