You know, kat, since we all do travel that same road eventually (although I personally am not yet sure that I'm going to:), it's a great comfort for the ones who are having to let their loved one go to know that the traveler has chosen the gradual, releasing-the-fingers-bit-by-bit route. Given the choice, animals do that and I think that we can learn a lot from them. To sleep more and more and get all drifty- hey, that's not so bad.

So, yes, cry, get it out- and then when you can't possibly cry anymore, discover that there are yet more tears, and will be for a long time to come.

I still cry sometimes at some losses (including dogs!), no matter how long ago- and I don't cry easily. However, I did learn eventually not to choke back the tears- that lump in the throat is mighty hard to swallow.

{{{{{{{Hugggggg}}}}}}}