2022 has been a year with some hellos and many farewells. We reconnected with friends and family and said farewell to others. One aunt, a cousin, and stepfather died this year. Mom is now a widow; although most days she doesn't remember. For privacy, I won't include their photos.
Also gone are two family pets. We lost both Tigger and Ember this year. Tigger wasn't a big surprise because she was over 20 years old. I looked back through the photos and did not find any recent ones. Even the one from last year showed her primary pastime, sleeping. The other four of eating, drinking, barfing up hairballs, and peeing were never photo worthy. Near the end she was a very grouchy and probably deaf old thing.
Ember on the other hand was a sweetheart to the very end. She developed a tumor in her abdomen that interfered with her liver function. She had her final trip to the vet before the symptoms became really bad. Mooching the chin an ear rubs to the very last.
Duke, the stray cat who wormed his way into our household on Labor Day weekend 2021 is now an only pet. He keeps us on our toes and will get himself into lots of trouble and get stuck in inappropriate places if allowed to do so. As below, "Get your furry behind out of the appliance parking cupboard please."
Wishing you a Very Happy New Year!
(And watch out for the pillows with claws lurking below.)