Julie Reminders

It’s been four days now. For the most part, I’m okay, I guess. I have a few moments each day when I think about her, and I have to do all I can to keep myself together. 

But Julie reminders are everywhere. 


This morning, as I ate breakfast at a restaurant, for example: 


“Cute cat,” the waitress says.

“What?”


“On your phone. Cute cat.” She points at my phone’s background, which is this picture of Julie. 


“Oh, yes,” I say, trying not to choke up. “Thank you.”


And that’s that. The waitress pours me a cup of coffee and walks to the next table. I hope she can’t tell I almost started bawling. 


A few days ago, on the way back from Lake George, we stopped at a Wal-Mart so I could buy her squeeze treats, as Hurricane Henri bore down on New York. Yes, I was more than willing to risk my well-being so that Julie could eat on Sunday. She only ate a couple of them. 


Then, on Friday morning, I opened a package that had been sitting in the living room for a few days, and…it’s full of squeeze treats. 

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