Zeno's Bar & Grill

This week we had planned to do a Thirsty Thursday on pets, but in the saddest of coincidences, our sweet Russian Blue, Gracie, is no more. The coyotes got her late on Monday night. This one's for her.

We told the kids tonight. This is our first experience with pet death, and the outpouring of grief was incredible, and yet strangely life-affirming at the same time.

I really hadn't expected them to be so upset, because Gracie tended to hide from these noisy creatures who for some inexplicable reason lived in her house.

Their responses were a reflection of who each of the kids are, as well as their ages, of course. The two older ones really got what had happened.

My five-year old said, "Gracie's mom and dad and grandma and grandpa are going to be sad because they'll miss her." She really made the connection between what happened to Gracie and how death would affect the people in her own life.

My eight-year old can hardly talk about it, she's so upset.

And my three-year old...is ready for a new cat. "Let's go to the store, Mommy. Let's get a new cat tomorrow," she said, with some urgency. She told me she's seen a cat named Ellie "in the night," presumably in her dreams.

Goodnight, Gracie, we love you!
--Melanie