A Beautiful Pet Gone Too Soon

When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey -- a journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also test your strength and courage.

If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark.

Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life's simple pleasures -- jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears.

If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information. Your pace may be slower -- except when heading home to the food dish -- but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field.

Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details -- the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig. Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.

Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching summer insects collecting on a screen. (How bizarre they are! How many kinds there are!), or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by.

You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chewie toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie -- with a cat in hot pursuit -- all in the name of love.

Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that an old plastic shopping bag adorns your living room rug because your cat loves the crinkly sound.

You will learn the true measure of love -- the steadfast, undying kind that says, "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together." Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race.

And you will learn humility. The look in my dog's eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.

If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just a better person, but the person your pet always knew you to be -- the one they were proud to call beloved friend.

I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down.

And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go. A pet's time on earth is far too short -- especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for a while, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left.

The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle now gray. Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken.

But give them we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead -- young and whole once more. "God speed, good friend," we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.

Welcome To The Bridge!

You're going to love it here. You're completely healthy again. You can romp and play and chase butterflies all you want now.

I know your crossing was difficult on your family. It's pretty tough for those who loved us, so we're going to try and help them too. They're encouraged to post and talk about how they feel. There's lots of love here, and all the kitties, doggies, and families have gone through it, so there's lots of support. I'll be with you until you get your paws settled.

Let me share some of the wonderful things that you'll be able to experience here. One of the most important is that ANYTHING you wish for is yours for the taking. All you have to do is wish for it, and it will appear to you. Wish for toys, beds, things you’d like to eat, places you’d like to go…anything. Imagine too that you can eat as much as you want and never gain weight or throw up. This can be a good thing in case you overdo it at the Whipped Cream Parlor. Just choose your flavor -- anchovy is very good. There are restaurants for every taste and lots of entertainment, and let's not forget the Catnip Cocktails.

You can go to the many fun places. There's a Kitten Museum where they have interactive classes in kite making and puppet shows. We had a carnival with rides for the kits and adults, lots of yummy food, and fun things to see. There are hot air balloon rides, fields of catnip, fountains of milk and honey. We have Hammock Talk on Wednesday and Friday evenings. You’ll get a notice on how it works. We also have a place called Fur Love, a virtual website found in the Forums section of our main page, where you can meet other kitties who are looking for that special someone.

Are you getting the idea? It is truly a kitty heaven.

ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT?

Are you lonesome tonight,
do you miss me tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Does your memory stray to a brighter sunny day
When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?
Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?

I wonder if you're lonesome tonight
You know someone said that the world's a stage
And each must play a part.
Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart.
Act one was when we met, I loved you at first glance
You read your line so cleverly and never missed a cue
Then came act two, you seemed to change and you acted strange
And why I'll never know.
Now the stage is bare and I'm standing there
With emptiness all around
And if you won't come back to me
Then make them bring the curtain down.

I got tagged by Smokey!

Here are the rules:
Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

My name is Dolly.....

1. When I came to my furever home I was 7 weeks old. I ran everywhere I went.
2. I had 100 fleas when I arrived! YUCK!
3. I did not like to be picked up.
4. I would cry in annoyance if anyone petted me any where except my face.
5. My favorite food was fishy Fancy Feast!
6. My vet charged mummy $650, then told her the nicest thing she could do for me was to send me to Rainbow Bridge. Mummy has a better vet now.
7. I loved Treats! And mummy!


So now I tag....
Eva #511260
Riven Tuptim #382610
Bonnie #377860
Cybil Jo #74854
Dusty #315040
Henry Hawkins #225549
Kashmere #366075

There You’ll Be:

When I think back on these times and the dreams we
left behind
I’ll be glad 'cause I was blessed to get to have you
in my life
When I look back on these days I’ll look and see your
face you were right there for me.

In my dreams I’ll always see your soul above the sky
In my heart there always be a place for you for all my
life
I’ll keep a part of you with me and everywhere
I am there you’ll be
Well you showed me how it feels to feel the sky within
my reach and I always will remember all the strength
you gave to me
Your love made me make it through, I owe so much to
you
You were right there for me

'Cause I always saw in you my light, my strength
And I want to thank you now for all the ways
You were right there for me; for always

And everywhere I am; there you’ll be

A message from Dolly....

If tomorrow starts without me and I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today.
While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me, as much as I Love You.

And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name and took me by the paw.
And said my place was ready, in heaven far above.
And that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly Love.

But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye.
For all my life, I'd always thought I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for, so much left to do.
It seemed almost impossible, that I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad,
The thoughts of all the love we shared and all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday, just even for awhile,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized that this could never be,
For emptiness and memories would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things, I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.

So when tomorrow starts without Me,
Don't think we're far apart. For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in Your Heart! .....Love 4 ever Dolly

The Feline Spirit

And God asked the feline spirit
Are you ready to come home?
Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul
And, as a cat, you know I am most able
To decide anything for myself.
Are you coming then? asked God
Soon, replied the whiskered angel
But I must come slowly
For my human friends are troubled
For you see, they need me, quite certainly.
But don't they understand? asked God
That you'll never leave them?
That your souls are intertwined. For all eternity?
That nothing is created or destroyed?
It just is....forever and ever and ever.

Eventually they will understand,
Replied the glorious cat
For I will whisper into their hearts
That I am always with them
I just am.....forever and ever and ever.
~Patricia N. Olsen, DVM, Ph.D.~"

Rainbow Bridge Poem

Just this side of Heaven is a place called the Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies who has been especially close to someone here,
the pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all our special friends
so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine,
and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill or old are restored to health and vigor;
those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again,
just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing:
They each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes
when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.
His bright eyes are intent; his eager body quivers.
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the
green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend
finally meet, you cling to each other in joyous reunion,
never to be parted again.
The happy kisses rain upon your face;
your hands again caress that beloved head
and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet,
so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.


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