Dear Marley,
Your world is full of angels now, and you’ve become one.
We rescued you many years ago from the college of medicine campus where you lived in a garden along a cobblestone path. There as just a young kitty you survived for a time with wisdom, discernment, and savvy instincts among the flowers, shrubs, and ornamental grasses You made many friends with those walking by on their hurried way who paused to leave treats beneath a special tree–treats that would magically disappear when no one was around. Your friend Liz named you and took you to your vet appointments. Every morning you were there to greet Liz at her parking spot and receive a piece of tuna. Liz tried to fold you into her clouder, but you were too independent for those felines. So we left a note on your tree to ask if we could adopt you that was answered by an enthusiastic chorus of relief and joy: “You answered my prayer!”, “I cried!”. You were loved by so many! You came to live with us and graced every nook, corner, ledge, and sill with your beauty, presence, love, and trust–the visible soul of our home. Those spaces are empty now, an aching void in our souls. Your love resides instead in the corners of our hearts. I am sorry if you were lonely when we worked so many long days or left you for trips in the loving care of Connie. We brought you a young boy cat, Dino, to ease your loneliness and help brighten your days. You accepted him like a firm stepmother, always willing to cool his pranks and reckless abandon, and to teach him good manners. Dino loved you so much and was always ready to give you a big hug (even when you preferred that he didn’t!). When medical science had nothing to offer you we turned to the plant world that had once been your refuge. Those herbal concoctions kept you vibrant for nearly two more years of precious life, even to your last day on earth when we walked together outside and you explored the flowers, herbs, and grasses of our garden with your characteristic wonder and indomitable spark. Every day it was a blessing to wake up and find you still with us, greeting me with your bright eyes and spirit. I tried so hard to help you. Please forgive me for all of my failings. You spoke to me in my dreams and we traveled to a distant planet, peering together through the window of our spaceship at the glittering lights of an unknown civilization. One day we will again reunite in our cosmic journey.
Mom, Dino, and I miss you so very much. The love you left behind will carry on in our hearts.
Dad.

poulosps@me.com