Well, it's been a few weeks since I've posted, and unfortunately it's
another round of purrs and prayers being requested.

First of all, I posted for purrs for a sick friend back in December, I
think. He was battling cancer, in the form of a particularly aggressive
form of lymphoma which had come out of remission.

Now I'm requesting purrs for comfort to his family and friends,
particularly his wife, his mom (who is disabled and for whom he was the
primary caretaker before he himself got sick), and the family's three cats
who will surely be distressed at their humans' grief and their Paw's
prolonged absence. :o( Jeff passed away on Saturday morning at the gae of
32.

Jeff was a good man and will be tremendously missed. You can get an idea
of what he meant to a great number of people in this thread on a hockey
discussion board which he founded:
http://www.flyersphans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59628 . He also founded
a charity called Phans for Hope, to raise funds for Hope Lodge in PA.
That's a place where cancer patients and their families can stay when they
are being treated far from home.

32 years is way too short of a lifespan, yet it was enough time for Jeff
to leave this world a better place than he found it. And now the RB is a
better place with him in it. He'll be deeply missed. :o(

My other request would be the thing that, had I not gotten a substantial
reminder of what's *really* important over the weekend when Jeff passed
away, would most likely torturing my mind at every waking moment. Where I
work is in upheaval and without going into great details, there is
personnel shuffiling in the works and I might lose my job. I can't afford
to lose my job, and I've fought SO hard to get permanent employment after
four years of being in temp work, that this is just the last straw
emotionally.

So any and all prayers and purrs that I am able to transfer into another
department that's NOT falling apart at the seams, ASAP before the axe
falls on me at this current job, will be greatly appreciated. Also
anti-anxiety and anti-depression purrs will be appreciated, as those are
two medical obstacles I've got to battle along with the nearly untenable
job situation I'm facing.

Just about the only thing that keeps my head from exploding is the
reminders I'm giving myself that losing a job, should it happen, is
nowhere near the burden that my late friend's family is going through
right now. So as bad as this is, there ARE worse and more difficult issues
out there, and I shouldn't lose sight of that fact.

Ideally, though, Jeff's family will get through this heart-rending time,
and MY family and I will get through this job-related turmoil, and peace
will eventually reign. Preferably sooner rather than later.

Prayers and purrs for everyone to get through some trying and painful
times will be deeply appreciated. And in return, my own prayers and purrs
are on the way for everyone ELSE here to come through their tough times
that they've posted about, too.

Boy, am I rambling. Sorry I'm not more coherent, but it's been a really
tough few days.

Donna, and the Feline Entertainment Committee who've managed to give me
some smiles even in the midst of a real emotional low point, Captain and
Stanley