For my butter thief
and all the pets we love first
One of my aunts has always said that it’s those first pets,
the first ones we choose all by ourselves
the first ones who are there because we picked them
just for us
as solo adults
(at least at the start)
Who move with us from place to place
Who follow us when we leave a room
Who are most excited when we come home
and can’t wait to snuggle with us, the moment we sit down
They’re the ones
when their time comes
who will crush you so deeply
because they touched you first
Not to say you won’t love the ones that follow
but those first ones
that bond
it hits different


My melvin
my little nut job
who loved everything he shouldn’t, including
butter
chocolate
bread
queso
salty chips
and,
the most delicious of them all,
licking the occasional plastic bag
passed away quite suddenly last week
My boy, whom I intentionally gave an old man name to
only made it just shy of 12
He was diagnosed with some heart problems late last year, but
I thought they might be solvable
I thought we had more time
Hindsight is an absolute dickhead
And while I’ll spend time raking myself over the coals with guilt
over the potential could’ves
I also know I loved that cat with my full heart
(well shared with his older brother oscar, who is currently purring on my lap)
I loved that he chirped when you opened a certain cabinet
I loved that his nose changed color depending on his mood
and got the cutest shade of pink when he was excited
I loved that he played fetch like a dog
and that the sound of a paper clip made him come running
I loved that he had to sit right by me, at the table
for a game of cards or a lick of my breakfast plate
I loved that he would paw at my arm and roll on his back for attention when I’d been away
and that when I held him, he held me back
I loved that his white fur was soft like a bunny’s
I loved that at any hint of food, he came skidding around the corner
even if he was sleeping in a hamper
I loved that he purred loudly as soon as I met him,
and fell asleep in my arms on our first drive home
I loved that he laid with his whole girth on you,
like a top-down waterbed
and that he slept so deeply, he sometimes rolled off the chair
I loved that he was 50% chill, 50% spicy mofo
I loved that he had a personality so large,
that I see him everywhere
Even if it hurts
I wanted to give him a permanent spot here
for the treats he loved to sample so much
(without my permission)
Because he’d been there through it all
And while it sucks
so
so much
that we only get to have them for a moment
They’re a part of our building blocks
our comfort in the stressful times,
our joy in the happy ones
our constants
day in
day out
So these are his paw prints in the concrete
And forever on my heart
I love you always, my sweet, mischievous melvy boy














A beautiful tribute ❤️
Oh my gosh, the cutest!! 🥹🫶🏼 I’m so sorry