This came through during the night from a longstanding and beloved friend, and was too good not to post in its entirety:<\/p>\n
I\u2019m so sorry for your loss. It is a frightening thing to say I
\nremember the day you welcomed Akasha into your home in Des Moines
\n(need we mention Serge here? I still applaud him [ed. note: Serge was my mad-as-a-box-of-ferrets French landlord when I was at University. In order to convince him I was worthy of my flat, I had to sit on floor of it with him, a very large bottle of wine and no furniture, for several hours, discussing existentialist philosophy. En fran\u00e7ais.]<\/b>). It is a testament
\nboth to how long we\u2019ve known each other and the tenacity of a
\nparticularly fine feline. She still had her claws in those days, and
\nI still have the scars\u2026 I particularly remember coming over to your
\nhouse on Saturday mornings, full of energy and looking for adventure. <\/p>\nI was greeted by Portrait of Medusa, with cat. I honestly can\u2019t
\nremember who did the spitting and hissing, but it all worked out in
\nthe end\u2026<\/p>\nAkasha instinctively knew of my allergies to members of her species,
\nand took every opportunity to jump, rub and lick on me in ways that
\nwere guaranteed to keep me sneezing and wiping my eyes. She
\nexemplified Evil (the exact science of being precisely, correctly
\nwrong) in so many ways, and for that I admire her deeply. <\/p>\nI offer these words in condolence, in my own geek fashion (altered
\nfrom the original):<\/p>\nFelis Cattus, is your taxonomic nomenclature,
\nan endothermic quadruped carnivorous by nature?
\nYour visual, olfactory and auditory senses
\ncontribute to your hunting skills, and natural defenses.<\/p>\nI find myself intrigued by your subvocal oscillations,
\na singular development of cat communications
\nthat obviates your basic hedonistic predilection
\nfor a rhythmic stroking of your fur, to demonstrate affection.<\/p>\nA tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents;
\nyou would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance.
\nAnd when not being utilized to aide in locomotion,
\nit often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion.<\/p>\nO Akasha, the complex levels of behaviour you display
\nconnote a fairly well-developed cognitive array.
\nAnd though you are not sentient, Akasha, and do not comprehend,
\nI nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend.<\/p>\nData, “Schisms”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Many thanks, Greg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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