On the heels of the best (40th) birthday party of my life I am sad to say that I had to put my cat Caesar down this morning. I know he intentionally waited until after the festivities to make it clear he was really really tired of fighting off anemia and kidney disease. He has always gone more than the distance for me.

I’m not in the right space to blog much right now, but I did want to post a little tribute to my beloved cat, who was a greater companion than I ever could have imagined.

Caesar has always been one of life’s most miraculous gifts to me. So much more than a pet, he has shared virtually every adult experience I’ve had, from college to my L.A stint to Napa life to marriage and child rearing. He has helped me though the best and the roughest times, never ran out of hugs and kisses, and even literally let me know that my husband Colie was the one for me. When I got pregnant, he shared in my excitement, regularly draping himself across or hugging my bulging tummy, and when our new baby finally arrived, he acted like a proud parent and dashed into my lap to meet Viva the second we got home from the hospital. He also raced to her room whenever she cried just to make sure she was okay and grinned and beared it when she’d clumsily hug and kiss him.

After 20 years together I hardly know what life is like without him. I wish I didn’t have to find out. Fortunately I have half a lifetime of love, memories, and the knowledge that he had a wonderful life to get me through.

RIP Caesar, my most beloved and spectacular friend.

Erika Lenkert

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