A word or two on Merlin

Merlin was not my first cat, but he was perhaps one of my "best"--I have loved every animal companion that has been part of my life, but of all the cats I've lived with, Merlin was the one creature that epitomized absolute devotion to me. He was my buddy.

Merlin passed away on June 25, 1999,of complications due to Chronic Renal Failure. He was nine years old. It was in grieving him that I learned to connect with grief, and it was losing him that moved my career into grief counseling.

My favorite picture of Merlin. Ever.

I drew this after he died. terribly sentimental, yes.