Frank - years ago I went through a painful divorce and in the process inherited a Bengal cat named Mannix. I didn't really have much use for cats, I've always been a dog guy. Well, Mannix became my buddy for the next ten years, and by buddy I mean I LOVED that cat. He would go out hunting at night though his little door, I would hear him come in before dawn and find him by asleep by the fireplace in the morning, or sleeping on the bed with me. He was incredibly independent but we just had a relationship that I've had with no other pet. When he was sick I got so worried about him, and when I finally had to have him put to sleep I was pretty inconsolable. I wrote a poem about him that night over a couple of martinis. At that time I was engaged to my current (and permanent) wife, and it was like she's moving in and he felt it was time to exit stage left.
I never like to say that I understand how someone feels when they lose a cherished pet, but I have a pretty good idea. Although it's been six years since I lost Mannix I still think about him a lot and always smile. My wife has been asking every day lately about getting a dog, and we probably will soon, but I will never forget my buddy Mannix, he brought me so much joy.
My heart goes out to you Frank, think about what a good life Berkeley had because of the love you showed him. He was a very lucky kitty cat indeed.
