i hate to love, and lose....especially to death. my last husband died of a brain tumor. i loved him well, but left him, because, undiagnosed and dying by inches...he became violent. i did not understand, why he had changed. i only understood that my children, and myself were in danger from this "new person". on to pets....well, our dogs and cats died. some lived longer than others. some played on this earth for a very short while. i don't do the pet/death...thing well. so, 15 years ago, i bought a parrot. i vowed...my kids could take in whatever pets they fancied, love them, and lose them in the manner of pets. we put down our rottweiler, and our griffon, 2 years back. both big dogs, they died of cancer. i was sad. sad, for my kids, and, sad for the pets. but, i have my poppibird, who, with a minimum of care will live 60 to 120 years. i will not love another "critter" with a short lifespan. monday, i went to work... our building is going through a complete renovation. they are making it exactly as it was when it was first built. i hate this. it scares away pretty much any potential clients that come calling. well, my partner just made me go out into the hall to see something amid the construction. there was a tiny 2 week..approx. kitten, shivering terrified behind a pile of sheetrock. omg...heart renching. i told the construction workers to try and catch it...no, not try...CATCH it. ummmm....can i just say that i am the new, not so proud owner of a "baby meow", as my parrot says. this little critter does not even know how to clean itself. and it is filthy from living in a 3 story construction zone. it still has blue eyes. it's a tabby cat, and, soooo, cute. my bird is jealous. he screams "bye, bye" all night to it. i can't keep it, as my condo association does not allow pets. (they made an exception with poppi the parrot, 'cause, he's expensive, talks, and doesn't break the rules.) i really like this little kitty. he's watching t.v., now. he is so underpriviledged in the cat food chain that t.v. fascinates him. i might let myself love him. i haven't called the humane society, even though i really meant to on monday. sharon...wow...there was a pet out there who needed ME to save its life. and, i don't care for cats. please, don't take too long to love again. i think your old good buddy would want you to.