Two weeks ago, on the day I left for a two week long trip, Nero died. Jamie had to bury him by himself. Now that I am home, I miss Nero in all the places he used to be. I dreamed last night that he wasn't dead and Jamie buried him by mistake. He was all covered in dirt and we were taking him to the vet.

Jamie and I had a service for him today. I made effigies of a chipmunk and a lizard, his two favorite things to catch. We buried them with his favorite toy. I made a tiny clay bowl, filled it with salt and placed it on top of his grave. Then we spread white hydrangea blossoms from the bush in our yard.

Jamie and Nero were real buddies...

Obituary

Nero the Cat, boss of the pink monkeys Heather and Jamie, 3 (25) of Ames, Iowa died on June 5.

Nero was an expert killer showing no mercy when it came to little cute things. He terrorized all things little and squeaky in his last neighborhood of Stanton Avenue and first neighborhood of Clisby Street. Among his conquests were numerous lizards, a rat, a few birds, several chipmunks and a mole. His crowning achievement was catching and maiming an adolescent bunny although he did not have the pleasure of trying to eat it since he was caught before he could. He presided over the Laundry Squad and was a reigning member of the house Itty Bitty Kitty Committee. His nick-names included Mr. N, Mr. N-ards (innards), Neewoes and Widdols.

He was survived by his brother, Xerxes the Cat, the sometimes co-boss of the afore mentioned pink monkeys, and his parents, the pink monkeys he used to boss around. “He was a special cat. He had a busy, happy life. We‘ll miss him,” said the one who always used to pick him up and squeeze him (Jamie). The one who used to give him food and rub his belly (Heather) said, “Out of every cat I’ve known, he was the most generous with affection and was non-stop enthusiastic about life. He will be missed.”