I always tell people that I have a sad anniversary, then I have a happy one.

Today’s the sad anniversary. It was 7 years ago today that I said my final goodbyes to my cat Lucy. It was a rough week leading up to that point, watching her get so sick and decline before my very eyes. I was one weepy wreck that week.

But then 9 days later, I’ll have a happy anniversary to celebrate where I went to the animal shelter and got chosen by a small kitten to be her forever human. And when I say she picked me instead of the other way around, I mean it.

This side of heaven is full of both joy and sorrow. Often, they coexist. Very rarely will you have moments of complete joy untinged by sadness. Even in the midst of grief, there can still be small windows where joy that breaks in.

And one thing I’ve learned in my life is that it’s okay to grieve a pet. They take up a part of your heart, and when they cross the rainbow bridge, they take that part of your heart with them. I don’t feel one bit sorry or embarrassed for crying over my cat who passed away.

One day, it won’t be sorroy and joy co-mingled. One day, there will be only joy. One day soon, I hope.