I just came across this picture of Petey and HAD to share it!

I hadn't considered that a great deal of the physical illness is due to the loss. I loss not only my own personal possessions but also all the stuff my Mom left me and also my bear making business. What hit me the hardest was losing the furry babies. It had been years since I thought of my "brother" and his torture of animals and his doing it in front of me. Losing my furry babies in the fire brought back those memories like crazy. Between that and the stress of listing the losses a lot of my medical problems are coming more pronounced. I can totally relate to your not being able to go by the spot that your "home" was on. You lost more than just a home, you lost memories, happiness, and so much more It's all extremely difficult to release out of your memory banks let alone accept and continue with day-to-day life. It's even harder to go by the spot even occasionally. There is a LOT of pain there and I can relate to it totally. I just wish I was closer to comfort you in your pain. Bill and Petey are crazy about each other. Bill pretends to be anti cat, but Petey has him wrapped around his kitty paw! I guess I should grab my shower so we can go to the xray place. I'm not in the mood to go, but I need to get deer corn and a few other things too...including my pay check from the shop....so off to shower. More later!

@BearArtistLady Instead of going to a shrink I write short stories. That farm house creeps right in and for the space of that Tale I am back in its safe arms.

@sallypup I think that instead of going to a shrink I make teddy bears. I buy both old and new fur and go to it to my hearts content. The old faux furs I can cut and tear and get the agression out of my system, both furs I can sew and mangle getting them turned right side out and have all the agression released by turning the cotter pins to make their joints. Stuffing them is the cherry on top as it takes a lot of stammina and strength to stuff the bears as firmly as I do. So I get a lot of anger and problems out of my system. There are times when I think I should go, just to talk to someone who has dealt with PTSD so I know what to expect from myself and catch it before I break loose with it. I've already had more surprises than I care for from the fire and the anger and pain it has caused.

@BearArtistLady No wonder you love Petey to bits. He is obviously a great comfort to you both.

@JudyEv He is a super intelligent cat. From the moment the fire started he took on the responsibility of being both dog and cat to us both. He knew what we would need and has provided it through the months. I've read where the Ginger Tabbies are very intelligent and can be trained to do almost anything and after living with Petey so close up I believe it. I know that they are used a LOT here in the states for commercials so they must be easily trained.

He is a comfort and much more! Right now he is over pestering Bill, he knows Bill isn't feeling up to snuff because of pain and he wants to comfort him. He got up on the table (Petey, not Bill) and started chattering at Bill which made Bill pet him. Bill is now petting Petey and relaxing. That alone is worth Petey's weight in kitty treats! I hate to count the number of times I sat in the ruins of what was once my home and hugged Petey close and cried on him until he was soaked. When I'm outside he's right by my side "just in case" I happen to need a furry shoulder to cry on and a fuzzy body to hug. He is such a sweetheart. Petey finished comforting Bill and trying to make him feel better and came over to see me and sat on my lap for a few minutes. He was trying to make me feel better because I'm worrying about Bill. He is such a special cat! When I went out to feed my deer I saw a pair of ears pop up over the dash board of the Kubota and of course it was Petey's ears. He was busily sleeping in "HIS" Kubota! Of course he helped me feed the deer and then came in for his breakfast and pretty quick it will be back out into "his" yard to keep an eye on things. It reminds me when the ambulance drivers came out in May and had loaded me into the ambulance they had a heck of a time with Petey. They would get things sort of arranged and have to unload the cat, then arrange things some more and unload the cat, arrange some more and unload the cat, arrange some more and unload the cat, close one door and unload the cat, close the other door and climb in to get the cat to unload him. By the time the ambulance attendant had climbed back out of the ambulance the cat was back in. Fortunately Bill came out about that time and wanted to know what the problem was. The attendants were one mass of giggles and finally managed to squeak out "the cat". Bill went to the back of the ambulance, called "Petey", to which Petey came, and Bill held him while they got the ambulance out of the area. Then Bill came to the hospital. It was a riot and I wish I could have gotten video of it! I'm sure they had a great laugh out of it at the ambulance office too. Well I need to get to work...I picked up another faux fur coat to make into bears. I need to get the pattern drawn out and then do the cutting. I have one drawn out and need to do the cutting but not until I have a bunch ready to do the cutting on.... so off to work. Of course if Petey is in he'll have to help....