Today I had to put a dear friend down. After 18 long happy years with my beloved kitty, Chynna - the time came to say goodbye.

I noticed last week that she wasn't herself, and was visibly slowing down and had lost the light in her eyes. I went to TN this weekend to visit my folks in Pigeon Forge while Karl took care of the critters.

When I got back - it was clear that Chynna was in her last days - she didn't touch her food while I was gone, was unsteady on her feet and barely able to walk. She would raise her head in pitifully mewl at me and I promised her as I held her last night that I was going to let her go peacefully.

Karl and I just got back from saying goodbye at the vets, and Dr. C was his usual kind and gentle self, even giving her a sedative that he didn't charge me for, to completely relax her and give us time to say goodbye while she was painfree.

Sadly, her veins were too small for him to get a good injection to put her to sleep - even though he tried so that she could pass quietly in my arms - so he had to take her to the back to inject her directly in her heart. He gently gathered her in his arms and gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek and said that she'd be gone quickly. I told him that I didn't blame him for not being able to get into a vein, as I could tell he was pretty distressed about thinking he was upsetting me. She was clearly out of it from the sedative, and her last conscious memory was me holding her and whispering to her what a great friend and loyal companion she'd been and that this was my final gift to her.

Here's pictures of my wonderful friend - it was a wonderful 18 years.