Gail High

Okay since so many people have been so concerned and generous with their sympathy and empathy, here’s the update. Gracie, the best cat I’ve ever met, never mind “owned,” reached stage four kidney failure this week. We made one last trip, as a family, to the vet to see if there was anything we could do. The only thing to be done was make her as comfortable as possible and see her off. She was a sweet heart to the end, even when she couldn’t stand up she was grateful and eager for company, water, pets, scritches, and love. A vet specialist came to our home this morning and was as kind hearted and considerate as anyone could ask. Gracie’s passing was peaceful. My daughter, Lucy, was by her side and we were all with her.

Please have a good thought for Gracie. She’s struggling — and so are we.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” –President Theodore Roosevelt