Today’s post is about the intersection of the things we find personally meaningful and the things we share professionally with the world.
Last Thursday, we said goodbye to my 16.5-year-old cat, Biddy. He spent the summer suffering from intestinal lymphoma and a large mass between his small and large intestines. I treated him, I cooked for him, I cared for him, and when his frail body could no longer pass food, we sat with him in our legs at the vet and let him go.
Biddy was a huge part of our lives–and of my life since I adopted him as a kitten in 2007. He was curious, playful, talkative, a little feisty, cuddly, and a foodie. I was so happy when I started working from home in 2013 because I could spend all day with Biddy. He is a big part of my identify, and I loved him as a son, a friend, and a constant companion. Megan and I have shed so many tears over the last few days as we mourn and celebrate Biddy’s life, and we’re faced with a huge void left behind by his big presence, patterns, routines, habits, and needs.
If you’ve followed me or Stonemaier Games over the years, you’ve probably seen Biddy, maybe even without realizing it. For years, every Saturday on my Instagram account has been a day to feature Biddy (and our other cat, Walter). He walks in and out of frame of many of my game design YouTube videos and Facebook livecasts. Also, in nearly all Stonemaier Games, Biddy appears as an Easter egg, ready to bring a small dose of joy into your life as he did into mine.
I’ve reflected a lot recently on Biddy’s history, and I realized how much it meant to me that I could sneak him into our games. We all have different things in our lives that we’re intensely proud of or want to show off–that, for me, was Biddy. I loved showing people his sense of humor, the odd spots he’d contort himself into, or his ability to open doors. Sharing photos was one way to do this, but Stonemaier Games is my creative outlet–it’s how I share myself with the world, and Biddy is a big part of me.
I’m sharing this today for two reasons: One, of course, is that I’m heartbroken and am dealing with the grief by talking about my sweet Biddy. Thank you for letting me do that here.
Two, though, is about you. If there’s something or someone in your life that you’re intensely proud of and if you have a creative outlet, Easter eggs are a wonderful way to celebrate that passion. It’s okay to publicly love the things we love, to pay tribute to them while they’re still with us. For me, that was meaningful while Biddy was alive, and it’s also meaningful now that he’s gone–I know he’s continuing to prance around, plop down, and curl up on tabletops around the world.
Below are all of Biddy’s appearances in our games and other products. Thank you, Biddy, for being my cat for the last 16+ years. May these not be the last worlds you explore.
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Have you ever showcased something you’re proud of or passionate about in an Easter egg?
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72 Comments on “All Easter Eggs of Biddy and Why They Matter”
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[…] into manufacturing, freight shipping, and personnel (our most valuable resource). It was also a particularly bad year for cat quantity, which dropped from 10 to […]
[…] Biddy has been here for my entire Stonemaier journey, and he’ll continue that journey through Easter eggs in our games, but it’s been really hard without him by my side every […]
[…] I’m navigating the process of losing my beloved cat, Biddy. Sometimes I embrace the sorrow and just cry or hug it out with Megan. At other times it’s […]
Firstly, very sorry for your loss. We had an adorable cat called Merlin who left us after 18 happy years and who left a void far bigger than his little frame. On the Easter egg front we have done more of an hommage in quite a few of our Hero Cards in Heroes of Thargos. Some were asked of us, others we surprised people who had been very ill and others to remind of us of those we have lost. All have a huge amount of thought go into them as they have very personal traits, some of which are only known by one or very few people, others which are well known. This can be a tiny detail in the art as well as the in game effects of the Hero Card. In our own simple way we try to make a difference to someone and they all have a story.
This is a really special thing to do, Chris, and I appreciate you sharing.
Thanks Jamey.
Just over 4 years ago our 32 year old son David had a massive brain haemorrhage, caused by an undiagnosed brain tumour. Up to then, he had been a wonderful boardgame partner with my wife and myself. He loved Scythe – I had a great Rise of Fenris campaign with him which is fondly remembered (he beat me!).
For the next two years, he made some recovery, and moved up from London to a specialist nursing home near us (in St Helens, Merseyside). However, he was paralysed down one side, blind, and had very poor short term memory. Despite the latter (he would forget we had been in his room after leaving him for only 10 minutes), every time I tried to “remind” him that I had beat him in our Rise of Fenris campaign, he would immediately respond that he had hammered me (making a hammering action with his good arm!).
Sadly we lost him in July 2021 :-(
However we have fond memories beforehand of playing a number of different board games with him (he particularly liked Catan as well – sadly we never got to play any other Stonemaier games with him).
So thanks to Stonemaier games for giving us those indelible memories!
Thank you for sharing this, Laurence. That sounds incredibly difficult for you and your family, and it’s touching that throughout all that strife, David remembered his victory over you in the Rise of Fenris. I’m sorry for your loss and the loss to gaming community.
I’m sorry for your loss, Jamey. My condoleances. Good to see you did your bit to make sure he lives on in your games.
Thank you, Stijn.
Jamie, I’m so sorry for your loss. You’ve brought dozens of hours of joy to my home, and in some small way Biddy has too. As soon as I get a Stonemaier game, I start looking for Walter and Biddy while I’m unboxing, and I always point them out to friends when I’m teaching. It’s another little game within the game.
I feel your hurt. I lost my cat, Eva, just a short time ago. She was twenty years old and as much a part of the family as anyone. She was older than my college-aged son who never knew a day in our home without that cat. I miss her every day.
Thank you for sharing this, Luke, and it means a lot that Biddy has played a role in the joy our games have brought you. I’m so glad you had 20 years with Eva, though I can imagine that time made losing her even more difficult–I’m sorry for your loss.
Thanks for sharing this great expression of love & admiration with us. Having lost close family members, I can appreciate what you’re going through.sending thoughts & prayers your way.
Thank you, Steve.
I am so sorry for your loss Jamey. Our animals are such deep and interwoven parts of our lives. I really love this post. It speaks to how we can find ways to remember and honor others in our work. I haven’t shared this with many, but tomorrow I am preparing to say goodbye to a horse I’ve had in my life for nearly 20 years. I’m heartbroken, though I know it’s time, and I’ve been thinking of ways to honor her in a game. Thank you for all you do for this community.
Thank you, Kristen, and I appreciate you taking the chance to share that you’re preparing to say goodbye as well. 20 years is a long time–that goes all the way back to 2003! My thoughts are with you as you go through this process.
Sorry for your loss, Jamey. I always enjoyed pointing out Biddy to our game group when I spotted him. They were so many I missed though.
We also just lost our cat, Ollie, about a week ago (we always seem to lose pets around my birthday). He was the first pet my wife and I adopted together. But you’ve given me a great idea to slip in an Easter egg somewhere as I try and develop my first board game.
It’s so hard to lose a family member but hopefully you can relish the joy he helped you spread in your games, even if it’s bittersweet.
I’m so sorry that you lost Ollie last week too, Chris. I can relate to the bittersweet, and I feel your pain.
I am so incredibly sorry for your loss!!! I have loved seeing all the “this week in cats” posts over the years and even I as a viewer am going to miss Biddy! It’s so great you added him to so many games as easter eggs over the years! What a great way for him to be forever memorialized in your games. My heart is with you during this time as you heal. My two dogs are my children and I work remotely with them all the time so I completely understand how much of your life they really are and become and how life altering a loss of one can be. Thank you for sharing, and I hope it gets a little easier every day!
Thank you, Baley. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the Caturday posts over the last few years, and I’m glad you get to work remotely with your dogs.
So sorry to learn of your loss. I hope your memories will soon bring you some semblance of solace, however bittersweet, and in time, joy once more to think of your sweet lost loved one.
I appreciate that, Darin. I’m already grateful for the memories–bittersweet is indeed the right word. :)
OMG. I did not see so many of these. I cannot wait to wear my SM shirt with the arch again. How did I miss Biddy!
Thanks, Erin! :)
Jamey, the loss of a pet is always sad and a terrible cost for the love they bring us while they’re here. Wishes of healing to you and your family in your time of loss.
Thank you, Ethan. “Cost for the love” is a good way to put it.
Jamey – I know I posted on your Facebook page recently, and also asked how Buddy was going on last weeks LIVEcast, but I just wanted to say again how sorry we are to hear of Biddy’s passing. and we hope you, Meghan and Walter are going ok – in particular as this week is RUOK day. I started regularly watching/following your YouTube channel and other social media posts last year and we could see how much your cats have meant to you. We also have adopted 4 greyhounds over the last 10-15 years, and have lost 3 to old age/cancer and the loss never gets any easier but we still have so many great memories of them growing up with our kids. I’m so happy that you’ve done the Easter eggs of Biddy and Walter in your games both for your self and the gaming community – in fact Biddy helped me win a game of Expeditions yesterday with his Bravado card. As we say down here in Australia “Good Onya Biddy”
Thank you, Stuart. We made the decision last Wednesday, but it was a bit after the livecast in the late afternoon. I appreciate you asking about him, and I’m glad Biddy’s card gave you the win in Expeditions. :)
My condolences, Jamey. It’s always so hard to lose a loved family member. I hope your friends, family, including Walter, of course, can help you feel better.
I’ve also included my cats in my games as Easter eggs. It’s always a bittersweet moment to see one of them, as he has since passed away as well. It’s a really nice way to remember our beloved pets.
Thank you, Sami–I appreciate your support, and I love hearing that you’ve also included your cats in your games (and I’m sorry for your loss). I will experience those bittersweet moments in the future, I’m sure.
Sorry to hear it Jamey. My prayers are for you, as losing a lifetime pet like Biddy can be a real shaker.
From the start of his life to the end…it’s really difficult. Thank you, John.
It was very sad to hear about Biddy; losing a pet is very much like losing a member of the family. Our last cat is over 21 years old and we are not looking forward to that time when it comes. I never know what to say when one loses a pet or family member, I just hope that things get brighter in the coming days. It is so nice that you have Biddy remembered in so many of your games.
Thank you, Steven. I’m amazed (and maybe a tad jealous) that your cat is 21 years old–earlier this year I had hopes of Biddy pushing that, as he seemed to be doing so well after a crucial dentist visit in late 2022. But then the cancer happened this summer.
Thinking of you Jamey. Heartfelt condolences and my hope for your memories to remain fresh and vivid as you navigate a different looking journey. Much respect and support!
Thank you, Curtis. I don’t have a good memory in general, so I’ve been running the internal film about Biddy on repeat so I can bring many of the good memories to the surface. :)
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. This was a wonderful memorial. His presence on the games and in your posts have always been a highlight for us.
That means a lot, Jeffrey–thank you.
I’m really sorry about your loss, Jamie. We have a dog who is only 15 months old but fear the day something happens to her so I can only imagine what you’re going through. Made me smile seeing all the appearances of Biddy in your games, some of which I own and have not even noticed. I first noticed him during the nesting box design diaries. I hplope you find something to fill the void he has undoubtedly left. All the best.
Thank you, Peter. 15 is old for a dog, so I hope you can give her all the love you can while you can. :)
Jamey,
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss of Biddy! It is heart-breaking. We lost our miniature schnauzer Rosie recently, too, so I can understand a bit of your pain. Thanks for sharing about him, and for including him in your games as a lasting memory! I’ll think of him differently now when I see Biddy in the games.
Thank you, Barry. I share your pain, and I’m sorry about Rosie.
I’m sorry to hear about your pet passing. I’ve gone through that with dogs in my family — and a friend from church had to go through the same thing last week. Thanks for sharing — now and throughout his joyous life.
Thank you, Adam. I’m sorry your friend is going through the same thing.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Jamey. Losing a beloved pet is devastating. They add so much to us during their short lives. Thank you for sharing Biddy with us for all these years, and for sharing this story with us now.
Thank you, Dan–they really do add so much. Biddy was my first pet, and I had no idea how strongly I would connect to and bond with him.
Hi Jamey,
First, I am sorry for your loss. Dragon Phoenix Games (me and my husband, Harvey) has included a number of cards and illustrations of our dogs. I’m right there with you about them being a part of us, and therefore, a part of our creative output/outlet.
That’s wonderful, Carlie! I’ll look out for them in your games. :)
Hi Jamey, I also think easter eggs are a wonderful way to celebrate what we love. I write the names of my daughter Viola and my son Michele in the examples of my games’ rulebooks. When it is possible, publishers are very kind to keep their names in the final version. I was so happy to have my wife Huachong in Viticulture World’s Papas and Mamas cards, and for this I’m grateful to you. I even had the opportunity to have my children’s card and miniature in Tang Garden Seasons expansion, which was such a big surprise made by my great friends Gonzalo and Pier.
It’s wonderful that you celebrate your family in your games, Francesco. :)
I’m sorry for your loss Jamey. I know how helpful it can be to know that Biddy is still bringing joy on tabletops around the world. When I had to say goodbye to my Tecolote last year, it helped to know he was in Calico and still bringing smiles around the world. My wife and I will make sure to play with games with Biddy this week to remember him.
Thank you, Trevor. I appreciate you relating to this in Tecolote’s immortalization in Calico. :)
So sorry for your loss Jamey. I hope Biddy will continue to live on in your future releases!
Thank you, Matt. We already have art for Biddy in three upcoming games, he’ll be there. I wish he was here, but I’m glad he’s there.
ᛖᛁᛖᛋ ᛒᚱᛁᚷᚻᛏ,
ᚳᛚᚪᚹᛋ ᛋᚻᚪᚱᛈ,
ᛏᚪᛁᛚ ᚻᛖᛚᛞ ᚻᛁᚷᚻ.
ᚷᚩ ᚳᛖᛖᚾᛚᛁ ᛁᚾᛏᚩ ᚦᛖ ᛘᛁᛋᛏ, ᚩᛚᛞ ᚹᚪᚱᚱᛡᚱ.
ᚠᚪᛚᚻᚪᛚᛚᚪ ᚹᚪᛁᛏᛋ ᚠᚩᚱ ᛁᚩᚢ.
Eyes bright,
claws sharp,
tail held high.
Go keenly into the mist, old warrior.
Valhalla waits for you
(not my poem, written by someone on reddit)
This is lovely–thank you, Pearl.
Sorry to hear about Biddy. He seemed such a lovely cat and I always liked looking for him and Walter in games. We also had to say goodbye to our dog a few weeks ago, so I know how hard this can be.
Thank you, Louisa. I’m so sorry that your connection to this experience happened recently too–it’s incredibly difficult.
Very sorry to hear this. We’ve always enjoyed seeing Biddy (and Walter) in the background if your videos and I’ve sometimes played cards I didn’t really need because the cats were on them – it’s a lovely touch in always beautifully designed games. Thank you for sharing Biddy with us in these ways.
That’s so sweet of you to play those cards/tiles sometimes just because Biddy was on them, Katy–thank you. I do the same. :)
Thank you for the insight and sharing someone so precious to you. May your heart heal quickly and may you remember him in all the happy times!!!
Thank you, Eric. I don’t think my heart will heal, but I do remember the good times and am grateful for them.
Jamey, I’ll remember Biddy whenever I wear my Stonemaier Games cat-ear shirt or see him pop up in a game. Your Easter eggs are a lovely tribute to him.
Thank you, Julie. That means a lot to me. :)
I’m so sorry for your loss Jamey. What a wonderful post and a wonderful way to always have a reminder of him every time you play one of these games.
Thank you, Jordan. I look forward to Biddy’s appearances when I play our games in the future.
Biddy was always a bright spot when I watched some Stonemaier videos on Youtube and I love the appearance he made in my board games and when I see those components I can remember Biddy. Even though I never got the chance to scratch his chin or give him a good pat I still think he was a great cat.
Thank you, Chris. Biddy loved chin and head scratches. :)
Dear Jamey,
I want to give you my condolences for the loss of Biddy. We will not forget him and he will always be in our hearts.
Danny.
Thank you, Danny. Mine too. :)
My cat Dandelion is the same age as Biddy. He was born at the beginning of 2007. He is getting a little frail. Always a big cat you can feel his spine now when you stroke him. He has been such a big part of my life and we’ve had him since my three children were small. He used to sit looking out the window checking each one had returned from school. Now his the only one left in the empty nest. But he always perks up when they come home from Uni. I can’t imagine what it will be like when we his gone. It’s wonderful that you’ve immortalised Bobby in such a wonderful creative way.
Thank you for sharing Dandelion here. That’s exactly Biddy’s age. :) I can absolutely relate to the feel of the spine–Biddy went from hearty to really thin and frail quite quickly due to the lymphoma.