Thanks for letting us know about Ziggy, Peg. And thanks to all the others as well.

Our old lady cat, Tilly, had an operation a few weeks ago, and though she's feeling better now, we know it's just a matter of time, and probably not that much time.

But then when you let a cat into your life, you know all along it's going to be that way. Which is also true of everyone and everything. It's worth it though.

Here's a song I wrote about Tilly.

Well, here you are once more,
And here we are together.
We thought you'd gone for ever,
And we didn't like the thought.
You've never been away before,
You've not been on your own.
And we couldn't help but wonder,
Would we ever bring you home
But, here you are once more,
And here we are together.
We thought you'd gone for ever,
It's so good to have you home.

When first you came to stay
You weren't the least excited
We weren't too sure you liked it,
But you liked it in your way.
You always were a bit reserved,
Your feelings you would hide
You didn't care to purr out loud
But you always purred inside.
And as the time went by
We settled down together
As if you'd been here for ever
As the years went sliding by.

You'd lie there in the dark
Rest your head upon my shoulder,
But we all of us grow older,
Though you never seemed to change.
But change must come to all of us,
There's nowhere we can hide.
And we know some day it's coming,
The thought can't be denied.
And I took you to a stranger,
And I'd no way of explaining.
And I left you there, complaining -
And I came on back alone.

But, here you are once more,
And here we are together.
We thought you'd gone for ever,
And we didn't like the thought.
You'd never been away before,
You'd not been on your own.
And we couldn't help but wonder,
Would we ever bring you home
But, here you are once more,
And here we are together.
We thought you'd gone for ever,
It's so good to have you home.