Rest in Peace, Mimi Merz

Our beloved cat Mimi passed this evening. Some type of infection or cancer came on terribly fast and over the course of the past few days, she had gotten progressively worse. The vet told us tonight that she was in great pain and would have probably crossed over very soon. We decided as a family to end her suffering this evening and she has now passed.

To Joyce and I, Mimi was something of our first child - our training wheels, so to speak. Silly as it may seem, she came into our lives a few months after we had married. I still remember the day clearly. Joyce and I walked to the Animal Rescue League and Mimi reached out to Joyce. Another couple was interested in her, but Joyce sat with Mimi on her lap, safeguarding her while I rode the train home to our apartment in Jamaica Plain and phoned into the Rescue League pretending to be our landlords - giving permission for Mimi to come and live in the house. I drove back in, picked up Joyce and Mimi and we drove home. We let Mimi out of her carrier and she sat on my lap while I drove, even putting her paws on the steering wheel.

As with any wonderful creature, Mimi soon became more than just a pet. She had an intuition I loved. She enjoyed wrestling with me in our small apartment. She would start at one end of the room, tuck her head just so, and edge her way across before falling on to her back and offering her tummy up for nuzzling and tickling. She slept often during those years in the crook of my arm, head nestled on my chest, purring loudly.

When Jack was born, she turned into a worthy guardian, often standing sentry out of wherever Jack slept. She never scratched or bit him, despite the enthusiasm of our newborn to tug a tail or ear. Even before Jack was born, Mimi would rest on Joyce's stomach during the pregnancy and Joyce said that the purring seemed to calm Jack when he was otherwise restless.

We all have so many memories of our dear family member and it grieves us all to say farewell to her now. We know she's in good company and no longer suffering as she did in her last few days with us here.

Jack drew a card for her tonight, writing both his and Will's name and underneath, "I love you Mimi."

He said it best.

Rest well, Mimi. Until we see you again, you'll be in our hearts forever.