Go With God, Baxter

It's with sadness that I write this. Our sweet little Baxter kitty died this weekend. We don't know how or why, but we found him when we came in last night. He was well and energetic and a bouncy bundle of kitten. Perhaps he played with a wasp, as they sometimes get inside. He may have eaten one, who knows. We will never know. It was clear he didn't die alone. His arm fur was licked by his friends. They were probably trying to make him better and in doing so provided for him the last comfort he got in this world. He was with us for 7 short months, still getting to know things, constantly exploring and very slowly growing into his large ears. He ran sideways like a puppy and smiled when he slept. Loved to be a lap cat from the minute we met him.

He personified hope.

He came to us in the fall of last year when things were pretty bleak. He was the ray of light we so very much needed.
He ran towards us one night down the driveway as we walked in from the studio.
It was that same path we took last night to lay him to rest.
Under the same star-lit sky.
Hope feels different now. Kind of hard to find.
Too much uncertainty.

We're forever grateful we had this wonderful little tiger for the time we did, however brief. His passing a cruel reminder how hard it is to let go, especially with no notice.There are lessons to take from this, all relevant, but right now we are wrapping our thoughts around our Milo, Fripples and Oreo, and missing our little Baxter bear. We all lost a part of our little family and today we are sad.

Thanks for the love all our friends have sent.
Thanks for understanding how hard this is.

Thank you Saint Francis for taking our Baxter home to God.

Pat & Jon
Milo, Fripples and Oreo