I am so sorry about your beloved Isabela, Mia. No matter how many pets we have, no matter how many goodbyes, each one is a new wound. She was lucky to have you and you were lucky to have her.

I admire what you do with houses. I enjoy watching renovations on HGTV but would never want to do one myself! Isn't it amazing when family want nothing from the house? My father and I had a very rocky history and had been estranged for several years when he passed, but I still wanted what few family items he had. In fact, I am estranged from all of my family - lots of stories there - but I still want to have some family history in my possession. But, my family problems were not violent or criminal. I guess if they were, I'd feel differently.