Today, I'd like to reprint an e-mail I sent out to my friends and family who knew my special friend Jet:

Some of you may have already heard this, either from me or second-hand, but it is still fresh news to most. And unfortunately, while I do not wish to be the bearer of sad tidings, life has other plans.

Yesterday, Tuesday, July 9, 2002, at approximately 5:00pm, my companion rabbit and friend Jet died while enroute to the vet. Jet had been ill for a few days and this was to be her second visit to a vet in as many days. She was apparently suffering from a form of gastro-intestinal stasis - and possibly other complicating factors - which stressed her little body to the breaking point. The exact cause of death is unknown, but rapidly deteriorating developments such as this are apparently not uncommon among rabbits, especially those near five years old and older. Alas, Jet would have been five years old in just two months.

Some of you had the pleasure of meeting and knowing Jet personally. Some of you have even looked in on her for me or otherwise helped to care for her, and so knew her well - thank you all. Some even learned that rabbits really do have "big, nasty teeth." Others knew her only through the stories you heard me tell of her. And some heard more stories than others.

For me, Jet was more than "just a rabbit." She was a constant friend. She comforted me in the darkest of times, let me know who was boss (at least so far as her cage went) at other times, and always kept me groomed like a proper rabbit-friend should be.

I will miss her hopping about the apartment in search of new things to chew up. I will miss her curiosity - exploring every nook and cranny of the world around her, and standing up on her hind legs to get a view over her horizon. (When it comes to curiosity, let me tell you... cats have nothing on rabbits!) I will miss finding her hunched down in those special hiding places of hers. I will miss her fiesty defense of her chosen territory. And I will miss her soft warm nose nudging me and prompting me to play with her on her level.

If anyone ever says to you that rabbits couldn't make very good house pets (as I myself once erroneously thought), don't believe it. All the effort I (and Debbi) put into caring for Jet was always more than made up for in return by her devoted companionship and love.

So here's to Jet. May she run in grand fields of alfalfa forever.

Thanks,
Jet's Human,
-Steve
note: Older stuff on Jet can be seen at jet - http://members.aol.com/srhawk/jet.htm

Okay, back to the kitsch.

How about a quick Top Five list? Well, here goes...

My Top Five Favorite Movies
(note: this does not mean I think that, critically, these are the five best movies, just those that are my favorites, for whatever reason)

1. Star Wars (1977, 1997)
2. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
3. The Matrix (1999)
4. Joe Vs. The Volcano (1990)
5. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn (1982)

And, as an added bonus, my...
Top Two Favorite Books:

1. Dune (by Frank Herbert)
2. Watership Down (by Richard Adams)

If I think of it later, perhaps I'll share why each of these is a favorite of mine.

Take care all.

Time for a moment of... seriousness. Today, July 2, 2002, is the four year anniversary of the death of my wife Deborah Herendeen - Debbi as she was known to me and to her friends. Four years sounds like such a long time ago... but today it seems like it was just yesterday. To say that I miss her and that my life is nowhere near the same is, well... a HUGE understatement.

One thing I know, one thing I have long felt I must do is to try to keep her memory alive - to make certain others know a little about her and the life she had. Maybe later today I will post some writings about her, what she was like, or something like that. In the meantime, if you - the reader of this humble blog - knew Debbi and have a story about her (any story, good or bad), please e-mail me at srhawk@aol.com. I love hearing about her life and and am always willing to share my own stories and thoughts.
(note: you may also find just a little about Debbi on my
personal webpage.)

And today, in honor of Debbi or just for yourself, as you go about your life, please remember to tell those you care about that you care... it's important.