I was going to write my last vacation post and fill it with my observations about the UH Warriors’ performance in the Sugar Bowl, the afternoon we spent snorkeling, and the really cool green geckos that we saw at the Kona airport.

But we got home Thursday night and Scrum was really happy to see us, but he wasn’t well, he wasn’t comfortable, and he wasn’t happy. He followed my instructions to the letter. Before we left on the morning of the 18th I had told him in no uncertain terms that he had to wait for me, that he absolutely couldn’t die while I was gone. And he obeyed me without question for once in his life. By Friday evening he was ready to go and so we called nice Auntie Rachel who came and euthanized him for us. Scrum fell asleep purring in my arms and never noticed the final injection.

The house is quiet, although scrupulously clean (Andrew and I had a cathartic cleaning day on Saturday), and very empty without a cat around. We will, without a doubt, have cats again at some point in the not too distant future, but for now we need some time to decompress, to mourn, and to celebrate their lives.

Bummer of a post with which to start 2008, sorry about that. At some point I’ll get around to writing my eulogy for Master Scrum Archie Tweedletrousers The Futon Torpedo. I’m sure his brother is overjoyed to see him.