Some Words About the Fallen

The earth shook Tuesday and the sun burned out. All the trees fell down and the ocean dried up. The sky went black and my heart broke.

Now I enter into the official record the name of a great spirit.

Pico Barcio.

Kitty Boo Boo, Tumbleweed, Boo Boo Kitty, Shabu-Shabu, Snookums, Boo Boo Snookums, Cuddly Wuddly Boo Boo Snookums, Sneaky-Sneak, Pico Boo Boo, Stinky-Binky, Princess, Sweet Baby.

Favorite Things: Stretchy-Stretch, Sunny Spot, Poofy-Poof, Comfy-Cozy Spot, Lap Time, Bweky-Bwekfast, Munchy-Crunchies, Crunchie-Munchies, Back-and-Forth, Up the Stairs, Outside, Bewy-Wub, Foot Rub, Sleepy Sleep.

Best Friends: Audrey, Elijah, Phillip.

Remember May fourth. Pick a purple flower on May 4th and give it to a true friend. May 4th is Pico Day. The last day I got to spend with my friend.

We took a walk together in the park with Audrey. We cried together and hugged each other. We slept on the floor side-by-side with Eli.

We looked out at the bay together and wondered how it was possible to hurt this much inside.

Now there is a sadness in me, and in our home.

I get up to give you your vitamins but you're not waiting for me anymore on your little pillow. I see you in my mind's eye looking up at me, purring. I see you at the door trying to get outside. I see you curled up in a ball in the sunny spot on the couch, on the bed, on the table. I see you looking out the screen door back on Prospect Street in Indianapolis. I see you sitting in the grass back on Gunnison Street in Chicago watching the bugs whizz by. I see you purring on the rug in Marcy Village. I see you flipping in the air trying to attack my hand back in Houston. What a Globetrotter you were, Pico. You always went along with me. You were a true friend.

Thank you for accompanying me in this life and on this journey. Thank you for coming out here with Audrey and Eli and me to California. Thank you for visiting the Salt Flats with us. Thank you for walking on the beach with us in Monterey. Thank you for your gentle, loving presence every day. Thank you. I love you.

I'm sorry we didn't have more time. We were not ready to say goodbye. But I know you were in pain. I see your face in the stars looking down upon me and smiling.

You were a good kitty.

Give a hug to Dweezil. Jump up on Lillian's lap. Rub up against Bob's leg. If you have a chance, look up Rudy and Patches and Heathcliff and Olive and Nemo. Tell them we all said hi.

And remember this Pico: I will never forget you, Princess. I am thankful for your companionship, and I am devastated by this loss.

A Heffelfinger by any other name...

A little bit of love goes a long way.

Thank you, friends, for all of your soulful comments and for the loving vibes you put out into the universe about Pico.

You have friends in high places.

Against the odds, we found a new vet on New Years Eve, got an appointment the same day, and now Pico appears to be recovering nicely from what Dr. Perry Heffelfinger diagnosed as an intestinal bacterial infection from an unknown cause.

With an name like Perry Heffelfinger you pretty much have no choice but to enter the field of small animal care.

Despite my initial disappointment, upon arriving at Arguello Pet Hospital, of learning that Dr. Heffelfinger was not three inches tall and did not have a high, squeaky voice, I was quickly converted to a major fan by her smiling eyes and gentle bedside manner. This angel in a lab coat performed with integrity, inquisitiveness, compassion and, as you might predict, a sense of humor.

I am in wonder at how so often a mission embarked upon in love ends well.

So grateful am I that this wonderful vet has made our acquaintance, and so relieved am I that she saved my friend, that I hereby vow in earnest to never again, outside of this blog post, attempt to get a cheap laugh out of the name Perry Heffelfinger.

Thanks, Dr. H. This is for you.

Looking into the distance.

As my dad points out, work is called work because they have to pay you to do it.

Tell the youngsters that there are days, believe it or not, when adults would actually rather be tending to work than what else happens to be going on.

Today Pico is experiencing a bump in the road of perfect health. In my pain and worry I made the mistake of looking on YELP for reviews of San Francisco Veterinarians. According to the internet reviewers of the world, every business sucks. Every restaurant has horrible food, every store has terrible customer service and every vet is mean and uncaring.

Apparently only the disappointed rabble feel inclined to review things. The satisfied majority pushes onward toward other exciting, rewarding experiences which they will no doubt also not YELP about.

What's a worry wart to do?

My friend is sick and neither of us have a reliable relationship with a doctor yet.

I ask that anyone who feels pity for vulnerable kitties and melting tough-guys do one of the following for Pico today:

1) Say a little prayer that she quickly returns to her happy, pooping on the floor self;

2) Put "the vibe" out that everything turns out okay; or

3) Just call me or email me with a kind word.

What is the point of companionship except that it provides comfort when things go awry?

I am happily putting Pico in the car now to drive to the Inner Richmond, to the one vet that has an appointment available on this short work day.

We do all we can do, and the rest we have to wait and see.