Our Sweet Rivkah Kitty

Dear Rivkah,

You've been my sweet kitty since I was 20. Now you are 20, and your body is failing you. Please know that you have never, ever failed me-- you've always been a sweet and loyal companion. Thank you for forgiving me for getting married and having a baby...twice. Thank you for bonding with Jason (finally) after Eva was born and I Just. Wanted. A Minute. Alone. Thank you for all the times you climbed up precariously high, and were cute, or squished yourself under something, and were cute, or hid inside something, and were cute. Thank you for all the nights you sat with Jason and me on the couch, and watched Buffy...and Heroes...and Battlestar Galactica... and Six Feet Under...and Mad Men...and Game of Thrones...and every other series from the last two decades. Your knowledge of pop culture must be impeccable.

Lately you've been hurting. Your breathing is labored, and your purr sounds broken, and the vet is very concerned. He told me today to be "prepared for hard decisions." I hardly know how to imagine those. You haven't wanted as much affection lately, but you still come around every single morning to sit next to me while I have coffee and read the newspaper. I treasure that time every day. I'll treasure it even more in the days to come, because some time sooner than I would ever want it, I'll be having coffee by myself.

I've never put key to a lock of my own and not had you there to greet me. You have been with me in every single apartment I lived in as a single woman, a dating woman, a married woman, a mother. You're not going to make it to help me be an old woman, but please know this-- it has been a great honor to have loved and cared for you during your twilight years.

Oh, sweet Rivkah. When you are gone, nourish the grass and the flowers and trees. Tell them about a happy family you once knew. Tell them-- whoever they are, where you're going-- that you lived a good life, liked a good fish, pounced a good pounce. You are the finest of cats, and you should be so proud. You make me so happy. Thank you for your time, sweet kitty. I'm going to miss you very, very much.