Emma told me last night that Robin is upset hearing that Red has died, she spent some time with him on her last visit and loved him.

She is three this month. Emma said she was talking about Red all day, this is perhaps her first encounter with the idea of death, and thus important.

Robin is trying to grasp the idea that the animals and people she loves will die. How nice she didn’t know for years. But it doesn’t have to be so gloomy and depressing. There are many beautiful things about death and loss, it is not only sad, but it is also life

Maria took this video of me and Fate sitting by Red’s new grave. I told her that Red’s body was gone, but his spirit remains here, I invited her to come and say hello to Red, as I do every morning.

Emma believes, as I do, that death should be acknowledged to children when they ask, and when appropriate, discussed. I will never lie to my granddaughter, who calls me Me-Paw, for some unfathomable reason.

I sent the video to Robin this morning. She lives in Brooklyn.

In the video, I invite her to come up and see where  Red is. For children, death is a big idea, and I know she will have to deal with my death before too much longer. I hope I can help her deal with it in a healthy and gentle way.

Because she, like all of us, will have to learn to deal with it.

Come and see.