but anyway, she stayed for about 5 minutes, sitting quietly, seeming to contemplate what I was saying. Then she looked up at me, gave me one of her tiny little squeak meows and jumped up to be under her "heat lamp." I could swear she understood what I was saying,

I'm really fighting back the tears. If I'm hurting like this I can only imagine how many more tears you have to cry before the pain stops. I'm positive she understands.

I'm sure learning alot from you Debbie. To be honest, I've never had to make "the decision" and when the time comes for Speckles (and I hope that isn't for a couple of years yet) I'll remember what you and other Pet Talkers went through and what they did to help them cope.