Sometimes, like this morning, I wake up and fall asleep often, cycling for a few minutes of each, and every time, return to the same dream. Like shuttling back and forth between two realities :)

Does that happen to you? Or... something else that's even more interesting? :)

(The picture is Sirens Dream by A. Andrew Gonzalez - here for part of his collection)

Our darling and very mischievious black cat Splat had been ill for a few days, but none of us were anxious. Surely it was just a tummy upset. But he became very listless yesterday and we became anxious. We had decided to take him to the vet this morning.

At 5 am my 18 year old son, who was about to have his shower and get going to school, came to my room distraught - "Mom, it's Splat - I think he's dead!" I had been sound asleep and it took a while for it to sink in.

He had died on the bathroom floor, just lying on his side and was already stiff. My son and I cried and kept telling each other what  a shock it was. We wrapped him in a towel and put him in a quiet spot in the garage until we could take him later this morning to the vet for cremation.

Then I waited in dread for my 12 year old to wake up so I could break the news to her.
After cuddling with me for a few minutes, she went off to be alone, and has been mostly silent and tearful since (I kept her home from school), interspersing her tears and reproachful looks with requests for another pet.

I don't know. I just can't think of another pet right now.

Splat was such a very difficult cat, unpredictable and prone to sudden stealth attacks on us from nowhere. It will probably be weeks before we stop carefully closing all the bedroom doors to protect from his mischief messes. Our other cat, Chelsea, has been with us 10 years and he made her life hell by pouncing on her.

And then he could be so sweet and cuddly when he wanted to be. Especially with my youngest, he would be the most indulgent with her when she wanted long cuddles.

We all had gotten very very attached to him in the year since he arrived unexpectedly on our doorstep. My older daughter had brought him to us in the middle of the night (already named) and explained that her friend owned him, but now had to find him a new home as the landlord didn't allow cats. I still have to break the news to her. Edit - turned out my son called her about twenty minutes ago - we have been chatting online about it, with my youngest.

I never was successful at getting a good picture of him. He was a perfect jet black, no white anywhere, with beautiful yellow eyes. This picture looks very much like him, down to the devilish gleam.

This is our first pet belonging to the whole family to die. My 12 year old had a goldfish who died last year, but that was so different.

We will miss you so!

The above was our very first pod icon, a year ago, on January 31, 2008, when the God Pod came into being.

The inspiration for the pod was Lindsey's blog, Please Help! Is There a God?

From the plethora of comments, it seemed to me that we could best have this kind of discussion in a pod.

So the Pod began as "Is there a God?" 

It has grown in leaps and bounds since then and at this time of writing has 652 members, 1268 discussion threads (or conversations as they are now called), and 15,084 messages. 

What has been special about it is, with occasional lapses, we have discussions about very contentious issues in a respectful and mutually listening manner. For that, I thank all the active members and moderators who share deeply and beautifully.

reminisce about old times, like some of our early discussions: