Thank you

I know that you've been coming by to play with your little brother, Tiki. It's so cute, because I can tell when you've been here. Tiki will suddenly do something new and it will be right out of your playbook. It's adorable to watch how you are teaching him and how quickly he picks it up.

Last Sunday night, I saw him come into the office and talk to you. Then the two of you started playing. It was so sweet to watch. I'm sure you were laughing when Tiki got a bath a few minutes later.

One of your pictures won a contest on flickr this week.

I've always loved this shot, so I was thrilled to see you win. Your daddy remarked that it wasn't because of my great photography. We know that sort of thing was all you. Your cuteness. I just happened to click at the right time.

Please continue to visit and play with Tiki. I love knowing that you are still here with us.

We're moving to the new house in the desert soon. I'm sure you remember those plans. So, soon, you will need to visit us at the new address. Maybe you should come on the plane ride and comfort Daddy and Tiki, because I'm sure they'll be scared. I would be greedy and say for you to hang out with me during the ride, but I know they will need you more.

Love you, sweet Tiny Tiger.

An Explanation

Dear Tiny Tiger,

I know that you come to visit me and Daddy from time to time. I feel you there with us.

Today, we are getting a kitten. He doesn't look much like you, except for his nakedness. We're pretty sure he won't be 10% as cool as you. I don't want you to be mad if you see the new guy. I like to think of him as the little brother that you never got to meet in person. He's not a replacement, because it is impossible to replace you. We simply hope to give him a happy home, like we did for you.

We miss you more than we ever knew was possible. Keep coming to play.

Love, Mommy

Sunday

Sundays are the worst. It's easy to fall into a pattern of missing you. Missing you so much that it feels like there is a giant hole in my heart that will never heal.

But Sundays... They always tended to be filled with too much miscellaneous crap. Errands or studying. A lot of other stuff that doesn't matter. And the evenings were your bath. But that wasn't any fun for any of us.

I want to remember Sunday mornings. They were the best. Sunday was almost always the one day that I didn't have to set my alarm. I usually would wake up to you knocking on the blanket to crawl in between 8:30 and 9:00. Once I'm awake, there is usually no going back to sleep. But I would stay there for as long as I could just to sit there and cuddle with you. You'd purr and purr. For what felt like hours. Then you'd go to sleep. While I hugged you close to me. I loved every second. I was never mad that you woke me with your knocking. I was so happy that you would even give me a second of your time because I know the sun was probably shining onto the spot in the blankets by the window - your favorite spot for your afternoon naps. But you picked me instead.... thank you, Baby Boy.

Missing you

The title really says it all. Your daddy and I are really missing you today.

I used to love how you would sit on the modem and sunbathe under the desk lamp while I was playing on the computer. Sometimes, you would crawl into my lap. That was the best. Feeling your warmth and hearing you purr.... Magical feelings that can't be erased. How I long to feel them again. How much it hurts to know that I can't....

Memories of a special kitty

The following letter was forwarded to me from Joann, another of Pal's many friends.

Dear Pal:

I am writing this letter to you even though you and I did not know each other very well. Thanks to your Mommy, I knew much more about you than you can ever imagine. Your Christmas photos have a well-deserved, premium spot on our refrigerator. That’s quite an honor, Pal, because we don’t even put photos of the kids in our family on the refrigerator. It’s a place of honor for those who we feel are special - like you. You’ve done quite a service to our family. When my little great niece, Alyssa, visits us, she runs to the kitchen to view the photos of “chicken cat.” She stands for the longest time just staring and smiling at your pictures. She’s hyperactive so we’re grateful that your photos keep her occupied.

You’ve touched my life in other ways too. When you were brand new, your Mommy sent me an email with your baby picture. I pulled up the e-mail in work and somehow managed to memorialize your photograph as a screen saver. Although I was delighted to see your sexy eyes staring at me from my computer screen, I somehow managed to “freeze” my entire computer system. This is ordinarily not a big deal, Pal, as I’ve done other interesting things with my computer. But, you see, I work with people who are stupid and paranoid (this is post 9/11 - before 9/11 they were just stupid). When my computer would not turn off, an alarm was sent to the “Security Dudes” who promptly came to my workstation (read: cubicle) to see the extent of the havoc I created.

On that fateful day, my friend, three security officers and a manager stood at my desk and stared at your lovely face which was forever frozen on my monitor. Oh, yes, they did question me and unfortunately they did not believe my explanation. The conversation has been committed to my memory:

SECURITY DUDE: What is that?
ME: It’s a cat.
SECURITY DUDE: That’s not a cat.
ME: It’s a cat.
SECURITY DUDE: That’s not a cat. Cats have hair.
ME: It’s a hairless cat.
SECURITY DUDE: Can you prove it’s a cat?
ME: Can you prove that it isn’t?

Sadly, dear Pal, the conversation deteriorated and I was written up for a “network security violation.” When I received a copy of the report, it stated that I violated the policy because I had downloaded a picture of a “unknown foreign animal, possibly an alien” onto my computer.

I did not fret, mon ami, as this began a series of interactions with senior management that lasted well into the next year. I met many new people and learned that Mensa will never be coming to my office to recruit members.

That was a long time ago and my co-workers still delight in retelling the tale of the “terrorist on the monitor.” After the computer network was restored (about 3 months later), one of the computer analysts made a copy of your photo and printed it out for my co-workers. Your pretty face is hanging on the walls of many cubicles - bringing smiles and laughter to people who have very little in their life worthy of joy.

Thank you for being a part of our lives. I’ll never forget you!

He did like to hang upside down...

Upon seeing an early picture of Pal, my father said (probably in an email):

Daughter, you've been duped. That's no cat. It's a fruit bat.

Some of Pal's Nicknames

Baby boy
Senor
Little
Mr. Kitty
Cat
Baby
Claby
Daby
Handsome son of a bitch
Nude Satan Worshipper
Nugget
Dumpling
He's just a baby!!!
Tiny Tiger
Climber Monkey
Greasy Monkey

Homecoming

Pal flew from North Carolina to Philadelphia to come live with us. Since Kevin was working that night, my friend Robin went with me to the airport. We waited and waited by the baggage claim. Finally, Pal's flight arrived.

We finally saw an airline employee with a pet carrier heading toward the baggage office. I quickly got up and started walking over to meet Pal.

Then I overheard the man say, "I have a really funny looking dog in here."

This is what Pal looked like when we first got him.

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time, the was a special baby boy named Pal. He was loved by people all over the world. Sadly, we said goodbye to Pal far too soon. This is a place where those who loved him can come to share their stories.