As the weeks passed, the sharpness of my grief abated, but I was still very blue. Some of my dear friends wanted to try to help. Marion Rose, whom I've known as part of the WebTV community since 1997 (five years!) came up with the idea of creating a memorial plaque for Valerie. Marion is a hand engraver who makes custom plaques for gardens, museums, etc. She contacted another online friend who communicated in some special way with Valerie's spirit and transcribed her letter to me, and Marion engraved it onto Corian.

One day, an unexpected box arrived. When I opened it, this beautiful plaque was inside (click on the picture to see a much larger image of it). It is 14 inches square, with a photo of Valerie in a metal frame chased with playing cats, and Valerie's message, "Cat's Letter to Home," engraved below. I burst into tears as I read the message, but my tears were not the same as those that I had shed so many times in the previous few weeks.

Valerie's plaque is on my mantle, next to the box containing her ashes. Even though I have some new kitties in my family, each pet is unique and they'll never take her place. I read her message every day, and she is still with me. It is truly a wonderful thing.

Valerie's plaque was the first pet memorial that Marion had ever made. I told her what joy and comfort it brought to me every day, and suggested that plaques might do the same for others who were grieving for a departed friend. Today, they are some of her most popular orders, and it gives me great pleasure to tell our community members about these wonderful memorial plaques and our community member who makes them by hand with care and love.