We're all home: my parents in Washington and me in Boston. Long day, three countries, very tired.

My father called from the vet's office. One of their cats is sick. I don't know what kind of sick, but it must be bad to be at an emergency animal hospital after nine hours plus on planes. "We just walked in and found her," he said, which could mean anything.

Please, God, don't let the cat die.

My mother called back and said that Gracie had crawled into a cold, narrow space in a bathroom and didn't perk up when my mother found her. Grace is usually animated, demanding, and sort of pushy. Tonight, she was cold, and her front paws were dirty. That never happens with Grace. Grace is meticulous.

The blood tests indicate a liver problem. The behavior indicates a dying animal. Why can't we ever get away from death?

An update: Grace is better, but only a bit, and her bloodwork indicates liver and kidney failure. My parents are waiting for the vet to tell them what to do next. We think she's dying. Thanks for the warm kitty vibes; we need them. I don't want to lose Grace, but more than that, I want her to be as warm and comfortable as possible, whatever happens.

12.02.01 - farewell, sweet cat

Goodbye, Gracie. We loved you. (She's the white one.)

Grace is gone. Even if they had been able to pull her through this crisis, she would have died in a few weeks. Her kidneys had failed. She died this morning, warm and comfortable and loved.

I'm so sad. We're all sad. Grace was a force of nature, the indisputable boss cat of my parents' house, a cat food vacuum, a world-class vomiter ("chew the food! chew!"), a spreader of white cat hair (everywhere we go, we take a piece of Grace with us), and an all-around supercat with a purr like an outboard motor. She had the cutest pink feet I've ever seen and a sense of entitlement beyond any animal I've known. She was a wonderful cat.

Grace defied the odds again and again to make it to the safety and comfort of my parents' house in DC. She had a house, other cats, humans who loved her. She had a good life.

Goodbye, sweet cat, and thanks for all the love.