Willow, my fierce, fiery friend. Today, we said our goodbyes. She was surrounded by her dad Cody and her mom Melodie.
As I reflect on the passing of our beloved cat, I’m grateful we had extra time to prepare and say farewell. When she first got sick this summer, we took her to the Rhythms on the Rio music festival. There, she lounged in the pop-up trailer, soaking up the sun while receiving her medicine. Every morning, she listened to the river and the birds, and I truly believe that experience inspired her to keep fighting.
One of my favorite Willow stories is when she fearlessly took down a 130-pound dog named Zeus. That was Willow—bold and unyielding.
While she wasn’t always easy to love, if you were in her circle, she would purr and lay on your heart to comfort you. She taught me about unconditional love. Sometimes she could be downright savage, but there was a part of me that loved and respected that about her. There was no blind loyalty; you had to earn her affection. Willow was not to be possessed or controlled—she was inherently untamed, a wild spirit that belonged to nature, slaying mice along the way.
She left this world the way she came in—fighting ⚔️🖤⚔️🖤. You taught me to never stop fighting, no matter how much others try to tame you, and to never yield.
Here’s to the end of an era, fight on my fireheart.
And big thank you to Caring Pathways! I would not be able to even write this if it wasn’t for your wonderful organization and care today. We are at peace, just as we know Willow is, thank you!