Just spoke to my dad, who was down. Seems he's got to bury his beloved cat Toby tomorrow morning under his favorite bush. Toby in the recent year was a sick emaciated cat with a stomach tumor, but he still probably had a year or so left in him. Unfortunately, he got hit by a car on one of his increasingly rare ventures outside yesterday morning.

I remember Toby in healthier days when he was a fat black tom who loved a rough deep scratching on the nape of his neck. He was not one to be held until the last few years of his life. However, in the last year whenever I'd stay at my fathers place in Marlborough, Toby would curl up to my feet at night and wouldn't budge even if I was crashed out for 12 hours from escaping NYC insanity and accidentally kicked him. I'm glad he didn't have to suffer prolonged sickness and have to be put down, but you suburban bastards shouldn't get too cocky on the road!

Rest in peace Toby.