Saying good-bye to a pet

Spatch remembers his cat Martha, who died today:

... Martha died after a final night at home, with those who loved her. She died on a lap, where she liked to perch. She died in the sun, where it was warm. She died as she was being petted. She knew it was time and that this was right and safe and comfortable, and she let go.

Neil and Beckie showed up and sat with us. I had Martha on my lap then and was stroking her side, telling the story of her life. You have to honor the life. You have to honor it even as it's just left. I explained how the first time I met Martha, she was six weeks old and hiding under a dresser. A little tiny kitten, the runt of the litter, in a household with small children. I told of how we adopted her and how she first learned to run on hardwood floors and skidded into the wall over and over again ...