Kiki came to us early in the summer of 1989.  Justin's doctor suggested the therapeutic use of a pet to teach Justin about caring for another.  He chose a kitten.  When she came to us, she was all white with blue eyes, looking the same as a cat I had lost in a house fire 10 years earlier.  I knew she had come back to help, so we named her Kiki (the 2nd) after my first Kiki.  She got a reputation with family and friends who came to visit as "psycho cat"...she was extremely protective and nipped and scratched other people without warning. If I raised my voice to Justin, she would come between us and meow and yell at me! :) We called her our angle who reminded us to always be kind and loving with each other. When we were alone with her, she was a sweet baby girl, always close by.  She would climb on my chest when I tried to read, as if to say "it's all about me!"  5 years ago she started loosing weight, slowing down, and mellowing out.  She became extremely social and affectionate.  She met me at the door every day after work, meowing until I sat on the sofa and she could snuggle.  At the end, she meowed and stared into my eyes, then pushed her face into my neck to hug me and say good bye.  Then she looked into Justin's eyes and he held her while the doctor put her to sleep. 

Thank you, baby girl, for your 19 years of love and devotion.  Our hearts are breaking for our loss, but we know you will always be with us and that your spirit is happy to be free of that old and sickly body.  Your work here is done, dear teacher:  Justin learned to nurture and is comforting me today.