Please accept my sympathy on the loss of your father. Pets are a special gift from heaven. Over the past seven years, my Mom has had two major strokes, two surgeries to remove three brain tumors, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and just before my Dad passed we found out that Mom has a fourth brain tumor. When the doctor told me about the cancer, I was devastated and scared out of my mind. Mom took the news pretty hard too. A few days later, I stopped by a mom & pop pet store to get some food for my parakeet. There was a sign in the window announcing they had kittens. Of course they were right by the bird food. As I was looking at them and talking to them, a little face popped up. I looked at him, he looked at me and without question, this little guy was coming home with me. That was four years ago, the most wonderful four years of Groucho's love and companionship. He has been a large part of dealing with Mom's situation. Once Groucho moved in, I didn't feel completely overwhelmed. But even more important, I didn't feel all alone anymore. When I came home from seeing Mom in the hospital, Groucho was right there jumping up wanting to be held. He'd purr and snuggle, give lots of kitty kisses. Looking back, I think he needed us as much as we needed him. Mom was 84 last Monday and has a picture of Groucho in her room at the nursing home. Even though she has never met him, Mom is completely taken with him. Congratulations on finding the love that only a kitty can give.....