We lost Jean Grey a little over a week ago.  She’d been suffering from a heart murmur and kidney issues for some time – she finally decided she’d had enough. She really wasn’t well the last few months, but she seemed to still be enjoying life overall. She was pretty tough to get along with in her final days, although I’m sure many of us are needy in our final stage of life.

She and Dom got along for the most part, although she much preferred the attention of adults over the kind Dom offered. He enjoyed having a cat and sometimes referred to her as his best friend. I think he’s also called a rock or similar his best friend… not that it diminishes the way he felt about her. They had a good near-three years together.

I think the hardest part was thinking of having to explain it to him. He doesn’t really get the concept and hasn’t asked about her, especially since we left for a week of vacation the day after we put her to sleep. He did crack a short frown when I told him Jeanie was going to where the doggies in the picture went. It’s a picture of me when I was young, with Muffin and Mony (sp?) – dogs of family friends I spent my childhood around. He’d asked me a few days prior if it was a picture of him and where the doggies were.

Jean is the last major component of our life in the DC area. We got her somewhat on a whim from the Loudoun County Animal Shelter on the way back from a road trip. They told us she was the shy one of her and her recently adopted brother.  She purred a lot, which she never grew out of… and she was never ever really shy. Anyone who spent any time around her knew that. We actually got her a month after we got married. In 2003. She was almost 16.

Well, goodnight Jeanie. We love you.

P.S. – It’s unfortunate I didn’t do this when Logan died. Sorry bud.