I was just going back through a few blog posts from about a year ago. I found out a friend's dog died a week or so ago, so I reached out (via a facebook wall post). Doing so kind of triggered bits of memories when Maggie passed this coming week last year, so I reread my sentiments and philosophies I had spewed out in the aftermath. I had written that I'd never taken the chance to pick Maggie up (for some reason I could never really get myself to figure out how to hold her, or the courage to do so, so I just hugged and pet her instead). When I went home for break a little more than a month ago there was this one evening when I was rubbing Teya's belly and my mom wanted to get her attention. So I scooped her up and carried her all the way over before I realized what I was doing. I finally figured out how to pick up and hold a cat, and with Teya it was easy. I'm not sure if I'd dare try that with Cotton yet, but (and with the proverbial twinkle in the eye) I'm sure Maggie would have been proud of me. Maybe. ;-)