Golden Girl

Several hours ago, I found my beloved cat Polly, dead in my neighbor's yard. I am absolutely devastated.

I had always wanted an orange, long-haired cat when I was a child. There was just something about that golden softness...

Polly wandered into our yard one summer, skinny and starving. The kids and I fell instantly in love and she was home. She would follow us around the neighborhood like a puppy and tolerated Ava's unsucessful attempts to pick her up by her head.

She mothered three silky kittens this spring and I felt priviledged to watch nature unfold on our front porch.
Sadly, the one of her kittens that we kept has disappeared. It would have been nice to see just a little reminder of sweet Polly at the front door every morning.

I already miss her, but was happily informed by Benji that "we can just go to the animal store and buy another one, Mommy!" I guess that makes it all better. . .