Days Between

They're called 'Jerry Days'.
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995)
The days between his DOB and DOD. 
It's also the remarkable (and final) song written by Garcia and Robert Hunter, currently performed by Bobby Weir, his former Grateful Dead band mate.
This is a particularly moving recording of it as is the haunting and especially poignant version from last year's 50th Anniversary Dead/Fare Thee Well Tour.
(Days Between/Live at Soldier Field, Chicago, IL 7/5/2015)

I now have my own kind of Days Between.
This morning, August 1st, 2016 (which also happens to be Brother Judge's birthday), we took our precious Barrett in to be euthanized.
Next week, August 9th, 2016 will mark a year since Moose seized and gasped his last breath.
It's still raw and overwhelming to think of what just happened today, so I'll save the details for a later edit, although the story is brief.

What we wrote off not too long ago as old age, eccentric behavior might have very well been the beginnings of what killed him in short order.
Soon after SHOW, he was whisked away to the vet's where there was conjecture over the course of less than 2 weeks about what might be ailing him.
It turned out that an aggressive cancerous tumor in his mouth was the cause of his inability to eat, drink and thrive.
I'm relieved his decline wasn't as drawn out and pathetic as Dodger's, but maybe going in a blink of an eye like Moose and his sister, Minnie Pie, would've been better.
Despite swearing I was never going to employ extraordinary measures ever again with any animal, is exactly what transpired over the previous 48 hours.
That long, last night couldn't end soon enough, but I also dreaded day's arrival.
This was no quality of life; easing his suffering was kind.
And heartbreaking.
As mentioned earlier, he was an oft photographed feline, probably because he was so handsome (and personable.)
When I'm feeling up to it, posting some of those will occur.

Right now, I just want to get lost listening to the music play and be comforted by sweet memories to rock my soul of a righteous cat who graced my life for 16 years.

May The Four Winds Blow You Safely Home
my exceptional kitty <3