Thanks, guys. I can't look at those pics, and the others I have, without tearing up. It's really amazing how large a presence cats (and other pets too) can make in your life and how large a hole they leave when they are gone. We are truly lucky though to be able to keep such great friends as our pets, sometimes for years and years and other times for much shorter period.
I remember before Finway (Nick's brother) died, I jokingly thought to myself that the four cats I had were too damn many. Then when Finway died all of a sudden three cats weren't enough! And now I am down to one, the youngest, a calico named Magnolia. I wouldn't trade all those years with Nick, Finway, Gideon and Magnolia for anything.