My little cat died today of cancer. She was 15 3/4 years old and a yellow eyed orange tabby with an M on the forehead. She was special to me and had a type of feline cancer that took her tongue away from her until she could not easily swallow, or enjoy her fishies anymore. I told her she was a good cat at the end and she was the best and first cat I ever owned.

I had a busy December helping out as a Santa helper. I was blessed by Mannington Fire Department to be a Santa helper and give Christmas to two little boys who needed Santa. I was blessed to give Christmas to 15 hospice patients in three counties in one day with hospice nurses for Baptist Health Hospice who continually restore my faith in humanity.

It was a good Christmas and I was able to hold my little cat and let her see the lights and try to eat the tips of the cedar tree. She loved me and was actually jealous of females that she met for years including stalking my wife and mother in law.

She was always more playful with my neighbor and friends that she did not perceive as a threat.

As I get older I keep thinking that one price of getting old is losing the friends and family that share memories with you. If you are the last one left as you age you have to hold close all those memories to keep them alive in your heart.

I am truly blessed since I have at least twenty friends that are special to me and I can look up to still and I have a lot of really great uncles and aunts that loved me and I loved.

When I got married I gained more relatives and got more folks to care about. I was lucky enough when younger to get my friends kids to think of me as an uncle and I got to pick my nephews thanks to having good friends, and I got to get wonderful god daughters who are turning out wonderfully.

It is a sad end to this year, but I have more blessings than sorrows as well.