Goodbye is an interesting word. It can mean, “I’ll see you in a few minutes, hours, weeks, months, or even years.” It can also mean, “I’ll never see you again,” although in that circumstance someone is more likely to say, “Farewell.” Too often with the first meaning, the future is not known. The assumption is that you well see each other again. That can change at any time.

My sister Sophia Harlequin has been sick for the last four months. Mom has taken her to the vet many times, but Sophia continued to decline. Last month, she seemed to rally a bit after another vet visit. We got to play outside together where she at least got to roll in the dry grass. She has always loved dirt, but the dry grass seemed to work for her. I was glad that she was enjoying herself. I didn’t join her in the grass rolling, but did try a few turns on the sidewalk. Earlier I managed to slip outside unnoticed to roll on the sidewalk all by myself, but that is another story.

Her trip to the vet at the start of the week didn’t work as well this time. There was no rally. By the end of the week, she had gotten weaker and no longer wanted to eat anything. She would just lay with her head down. Mom and Dad spent time talking to her and petting her gently. She rarely even raised her head for the pets. I didn’t know if I should have sympathy for Sophia or for Mom and Dad. They clearly hurt for her.

That ended when Mom carefully wrapped Sophia in a pink blanket to take her to the vet for one last visit. I got a chance to say “GoodBye” but it should have been “Farewell, My Friend.” I will miss her.

I participated in my first video call today. Mom chatted with her granddaughter and great grandson this afternoon. It was kind of cool to see two people that I’ve only met a few times who live 2,100 miles away. We talked about when we will see them next month. Now I need to ponder just what the relationship is. Her father is Mom’s son so that means he is my brother. That makes her my niece and her son my grand nephew. Considering people who only have two legs, and are not my mom and dad as my relatives is hard. All of this makes my head hurt. I think I’ll go back to my afternoon nap.

Mom and Dad hate me. I thought they loved me as much as I love them, but it is just not true. Yesterday they proved that they hate me. Dad had told Mom that he missed Sophia. They discussed getting another cat who would purr and be happy sitting on Dad’s lap. I knew that both of them had loved Sophia, but Dad has been especially sad about her passing. I’ve asked him to pick me up so I could hug him and kiss his ear. I had hoped that would be enough, but I guess it wasn’t what he needed.

Mom drove them to a cat rescue. They both smelled like a lot of different cats when they got home. Mom said that Dad held a dozen different cats and kittens. He decided he wanted a 4 month old female kitten that is about 75% Siamese. I hate her. I growled and hissed at her to tell her to leave. She hasn’t. She runs around the house, climbs on Mom’s desk where I like to nap on Mom’s desk chair, and wraps around Dad’s legs until he picks her up. Missy barked at her, but later I saw them kissing. Disgusting! How could they do this to me?

They had given her a name at the rescue that Mom said doesn’t really fit her. Dad is trying hard to think of the best name for her. I had hoped that if they don’t give her a name, they might take her back to the rescue. That hope is probably gone, because this afternoon Mom fit her into a tiny pink harness that I think Sophia wore years ago. If she wears a harness, that means they plan to put her into the van when we travel. I may be stuck with her. Why do they hate me so much?

I’ll add pictures of her another time. She really hasn’t held still very much for pictures unless she is asleep. At least last night, she slept next to Dad. She better not try to sleep beside Mom. That is my place. I’ll make sure she understands the rules. I’ll keep hissing at her for now. She needs to know I hate her even if she is kind of cute.