Sillysusan, we are only as old as we feel, so they say, whoever "they" is. I think that often I have so much material to use and I will be darn if I will leave it all for someone else to pet, enjoy, sell, give away, etc. Once I started cleaning around and sorting and saw just what I have for stash I will not, will not, will not buy any more till I shop the stash and settle. Even if it isn't the exact of what I have in mind, I will settle and make do. I will, I will, I will.
Judith, I know the feelings of your loss and I am sorry you are feeling as you are. Because we love our fur babies so much it is a part of us, our family. I have learned not to react to someone when they say to me "its just a cat" because I know it isn't. My home is empty since I lost my two, one was 18 and 11 months later I lost the other that was almost 16. The oldest I rescued from a rushing stream in the spring, it was on the only patch of land in the middle and I had to wade to get it. He was only about 2 months so how in the world did he get there. They sure can cry when they want to, very loud, thankfully. The second one I found, the vet said it was around 2 weeks. I took it back and forth to work with me for months, hand feeding it all day. So I had them for a long time, and miss them dearly. I am glad I had the chance to enjoy them. Best to you hope the sewing helps.