If only cats really did have 9 lives

This is a story of a kitten. It doesn't end well (as foreshadowed by the title.) But the story must be told.

Grace had been begging and we had been promising a kitty for months. The day finally came when we couldn't hold her off any longer.

Matt took her to the shelter where they found this charming little fellow. He was adopted, brought home, and Grace promptly changed his name to "Lurr Lurr." (Yes, there is a story behind the name; when Matt was a wee lad he had a cat too. He like the way it purred all the time so he named it Lurr Lurr. The kids love Matt's animal stories.) So....Grace was very responsible with the kitty, feeding, watering, giving it a little nip of milk here and there. And Lurr Lurr was a great kitty. No excessive scratching or crying. Bella loved to carry him around like a baby (under his "arms") and he would patiently hang out until she put him down. It seemed to be the perfect match.

When we went to Disneyland and my mom was home with Riggins she backed over him when she was leaving the garage. When she found him she put him in a shoe box and was going to bury him out back but she didn't want to leave Riggins alone in the house. Michelle A. and her son, Alec stopped by. When my mom told Michelle the story and asked if she would stay with Riggins so she could bury the kitty Michelle said, "Alec will do it." So sweet, strapping Alec dug a deep hole and the pet cemetery in the field had another beloved addition.

(An aside here... we have all kinds of friends in our lives; Friends to laugh with, shop with, eat with...etc. But it is important to know which of your friends will bury a body. . . I'm just sayin')

My mom told me on our way home from the airport. She cried. I cried. Grace cried. Bella didn't (surprisingly). McCade told Bella (with all the tact of a 6 year old boy), "Lurr Lurr is dead. Nana ran over him." Grace said, "It's not Nana's fault. It was an accident." I was proud of her. She cried and cried but forgave Nana without a second thought.

One of the most important and hardest lessons in life is that it is uncertain. And short. It's best to show the love and affection we feel with no hesitation. And no regrets.