To all the people whose attachment to their pets I had trouble understanding, I owe an apology.

Our cat was killed this weekend. Not sure if it was a dog or a coyote or a raccoon or what.

Half an indictment of the tragedy-free life I’ve led and half a tribute to the special place pets hold in our homes and heart, it’s been one of the most difficult things I’ve ever experienced.

Without going into all the details, I have some guilt for the circumstances in which it happened. I’m furious that he’s gone. And, I’m unbearably sad that he was conscious and in fear, most likely, when it happened. He was not quite 2.

The worst is that, as a father of three, I’ve been given some horrible window into the more serious tragedy of losing one’s child prematurely. If my reaction is proportionally more severe, it looks like I’ll probably just quit.

Anyway, he was an awesome cat. His name was Pumpkin. My wife, three children, and I will miss him a great deal.