Dear Friends and Fellow Animal Lovers,

It is with the heaviest of hearts that I share the news of Tigger’s passing. Our beloved orange striped troublemaker, newsletter writer, and master negotiator crossed the rainbow bridge peacefully in his sleep last week at the age of fourteen.

Those who have followed along here know Tigger as the feisty feline who hacked my laptop to demand more treats. What you may not know is how he came into my life during a thunderstorm… bouncing in like the well-known Disney character he was named after. His personality was outsized from the start.

For almost fourteen years, Tigger was a constant companion, and he left his mark on my writing. He supervised from the warmest spot on my desk, leaving orange fur on the pages he claimed. His love of walking across keyboards often drove me crazy and made for some interesting editing. 

If I walked away with one lesson from Tigger, it would have to be persistence pays off. Sometimes you just have to keep batting at what you want until you get it. 

Zen seems to understand what is going on. He’s been quietly checking Tigger’s favorite spots during the day and yowling for his friend at night. I’ve even caught him snuggling on Tigger’s favorite blanket, sniffing it. But I think he is slowly realizing Tigger won’t be coming back. 

Tigger’s memory will live on inside my heart.

I’m grateful for his love and for the chance to love him. 

Arden (and Zen)