Dear Mark,
I don’t often get to listen to your show when it’s on but I was ecstatic today to find that I could get a podcast of it. I guess I’m pretty far behind the curve! But I did “happen to” be listening two weeks ago when you talked about your new book. I am so glad I was listening then because the poignancy of your words and voice about touched me greatly, and I am very sorry for the loss of your loved one, Sprite.

I lost my wonderful cat Taylor on Sept. 11th and was simply devastated. Taylor was about 14 years old and I had him for about 11 years after “adopting” him from a very good friend and her family. Taylor was all black except for a little white spot on his chest. There are many “Taylor stories” which are now among my most treasured memories. He didn’t meow very much, except for when he wanted to be fed, which was often. I never saw him run either except when he was running into the kitchen! He was a great lap cat and after sleeping on my lap for a while he would either lay down next to me with his head resting on my thigh, or sometimes lay his head on my feet. A loving companion always. Taylor developed feline diabetes and I never thought I could do this, but I gave him an insulin shot twice a day for a few years. He’s had a wonderful vet throughout, and we changed his diet and his diabetic condition went away. He was always a champ taking his shots or his medicine without a bit of trouble. More recently he had developed what seemed to be a chronic sinus infection. But we later found out these problems were being caused by a tumor in his head, and that he was showing signs of kidney failure as well. I would have Taylor for only about five more weeks after that, every day being filled with many tears at the prospect of losing him soon. I had to have Taylor put down on Sept. 11th and I still miss him so much. But I am so very thankful that I had him every day that I did. I have another cat named Zachary that I adopted from the Humane Society about 8 years ago and we both have really missed Taylor.

As a post script to my little story, I definitely wasn’t planning to find another cat anytime soon. But one found me. I got a call from my vet about ten days or so after Taylor passed away that someone had brought in to her a cat that had been abandoned in the neighborhood. My vet said that she and everyone in the office thought he was a really special cat. They were treating him before having to take him to the shelter but they liked him so much that they hated to just take him there. Anyway …. I went over to meet him and he won me over right away. He’s very friendly (and a little quirky) and has a great personality. He likes to sleep on my lap too like Taylor did. No one can take Taylor’s place but I am so thankful now to have my new little family member. I named him “Tony” after Tony Dungy, one of my favorite people in the world.

Mark, thank you so much for writing this book and telling your story. I have ordered it and am so looking forward to reading it. God bless you and your family, including your furry family members as well.

Susan from Florida