Billy, a Cat

We lost Billy last night after an encounter with a wild critter yesterday afternoon. He was hurt bad and finally holding onto life was too much for his gentle soul. Melina raised him from a tiny ball of fur and tells his whole story here:

http://mwstaal.blogspot.com/2019/01/william-walter-purrbody-my-billy-mew.html

I knew him for about half his life, that is, from the time I met Melina. I got to know him well and love him much. Some thoughts for him and about him occurred to me this morning as Melina and I dealt with his departure and after a while they seemed to organize themselves into some kind of eulogy. It was not, and is not, a happy time - I'm heartbroken. But here are my words, dedicated to Billy and his place in our hearts:

Dear Billy

You are now at play in the fields of the Lord.

Here we are flesh, fur, and bone, albeit beautiful,

but we also know that the most of us,

the rest of us, the best of us,

dwells forever in a heartland

of infinite light and love.

We vow to find happiness

in your release to this new world and

in your freedom from care and want.

May the love we hold for you in our hearts, Billy,

join with you in your new heartland home. We miss you.

January 4, 2019