1. Juliet & Benjamin
Juliet was probably 9-10
years old here. Circa
1997-1998.
Juliet (1998 – 2012): A Tribute
Juliet was a calico kitty cat. She was a family
member to The Wardens long before I was in
the picture. She passed away peacefully
yesterday. And I feel inspired to say a couple of
2012
words in her honor.
Life is funny…
It’s funny how our perspective on things shifts
over time. Somehow I think it underscores how
incredibly important it is to keep an open mind,
not live life in “absolutes”, never judge too
harshly, and to not take things too seriously Juliet
(often easier said than done).
Seen here on
January 25, 2012
Bryn Mawr, PA

2. Juliet (1998 – 2012): A Tribute
I’m a “cat person” (don’t hold it against me), but I never really
cared much for Juliet early on. She was aloof, as cats often are. She Her final days…
didn’t really like to be held. She seemed a little disengaged. She Though Juliet had proven to be quite resilient over the
was never a “lap cat” (to her dying day). She rarely would come to
years, I could see in her eyes, over the last few weeks, that
your hand if you snapped your fingers and put your hand down for
she was starting to expire. Really thin…just a bag of bones.
her. And somehow, she just never seemed particularly bright to
She was docile…yet happy…still eating…still being a cat…still
me. Not so easy to quantify the IQ of a cat of course…just
something about the way she conducted her kitty-business I purring every time I picked her up.
guess—not the sharpest kitty in the litter. ;-) But we’re talking
about a cat here, right? Perhaps shame on me for passing any
judgment whatsoever. Tuesday into Wednesday she was missing. 36 hours. I
suspected she might have gone off to die somewhere, or
perhaps had met a more unpleasant fate. But Wednesday
Anyhow, over time, I grew to appreciate and love this aloof little mid-afternoon she showed up. She was back. We were quite
cat very much—especially over the last few years. She got a little happy and relieved. Much rejoicing ensued (hint of Monty
more personable—and I grew to appreciate her more. Did she Python sarcasm). No, we were, of course, really happy to
change? Or did I? (LOL) Did we both mellow, and “accept” a little
see her.
more, with age? I’m not sure…perhaps a little of both. Just
life…and perhaps not worthy of analysis. Humor me…I’m purging
my grief.
My theory on her 36-hour hiatus, which may be slightly
romanticized, is that Juliet knew she was dying, yet she was
We started forming rituals. I’d take the trashcans to the street— hanging on to normalcy, and what perhaps made her feel
she’d follow me down the driveway—and then back. I’d rake the most alive. I think she went on 1 final tour of the
leaves—she’d follow me all over the yard and lay at my feet, which neighborhood. I think she walked behind the most familiar
I was a sucker for, and I would always stop every 2-3 minutes to bushes, along the most familiar fronts of houses. I think she
pet her. And she got to where she loved getting in our cars. I’d pull went to other little kitty cat’s houses in the
in from running errands, I’d open the car door, she’d jump right in neighborhood…perhaps to say goodbye. 1 last lap. And then
my lap immediately, and then walk around the car, and then circle she slowly made her way home…to say goodbye to all of us.
back around to have her head scratched. It was quite endearing.
Class. Loyalty.

3. Juliet’s companion for the last 6 years.
I’m not sure why, but when Juliet arrived home, I felt compelled to
So anyway, I took Juliet to the vet this morning. We’ll have her
give her a bath - - I’d never given her a bath in 8 years - - and she
ashes back, in a little walnut box, with a little gold plaque that
wasn’t dirty really. However, I put her up in the kitchen sink and
says “Juliet” on it, in a few days.
gently ran warm water all over her little body. She literally just
melted into the comfort of it. I cleaned her eyes…and her fur…her
She was a sweet, gentle, loyal, and even smart little friend.
tail. I put a towel in the dryer to warm it up. I then wrapped Juliet in
We’re going to miss you, Juliet. R.I.P.
this warm towel and gently dried her off…and held her…for a long
time. That is the picture above…taken by Dawn. Holding her like that
Juliet is survived by me, Dawn, the kids, the 2 dogs—and
will stay with me for quite some time.
“Prince” (below right)—another awesome, sweet little
dude…who now gets twice as much love.
Afterwards, I returned Juliet to her day and got back to mine. She ate
a little dinner Wednesday night…her last supper it proved to be. I
rubbed her head later Wednesday night as she laid curled up in her
little bed. Thursday morning Juliet was still alive, curled up in her
little kitty-bed, but barely moving, and barely breathing. But she was
peaceful and in no pain…just tired. There was really nothing to do for
her. So I rubbed her head 1 last time and hoped that she might
bounce back yet again. Early afternoon, however, I found Juliet about
3 feet from her kitty-bed, on the floor…she was gone. She did not
look distressed. Poor little thing. She just expired. Yet so
gracefully...quite gracefully for a kitty I deemed as being “not so
smart.” I think perhaps I was wrong about her all along. She was
smart…and sweet.
As a family we cried and somehow celebrated Juliet last night…all of
us processing her passing in our own way…2 adults, 2 teenagers, a
12-year old, and even “Prince”,
/