Alaidh's daily diary

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of 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 and 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 and times 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 together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the 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....

Author unknown...

This is the final entry for Alaidh's diary. She's gone and my heart is broken.

7 Comments:

  • At 10:21 p.m., Blogger Michelle said…

    I know you don't know me, but I read about your sweet Alaidh on Catster. I, too, lost my baby who was almost 20 years old this past May. He went because of a sudden case of intestinal lymphoma, and making that decision was the hardest thing to do. I spent a lot of money and effort trying to find out what was wrong, but when we did it was just too late and too much for my poor baby.

    Beau-Beau is there with Alaidh on the Rainbow Bridge. She looks a lot like his sister, Vader....and he knows how incredibly special old kitties -- especially old, loved, pampered kitties -- are.

    God bless you and keep you, and may you feel peace and strength during this difficult time.

     
  • At 11:00 p.m., Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I know what you're thinking. You think I'm dead. Because you cannot see me with your human eye, cannot feel me, with your hands or hold me in your arms. You feel as if I am gone forever. You recall how I looked when I left this place and you cannot remotely imagine how I could possibly be alive and happy in another place. You are racked and torn by the pain of our separation and it blinds you to that which is right in front of you ... me.

    How many times since I left your immediate sight have you been told that I'm dead and you should "get over it"... How many times have you cried yourself to sleep because you feel like an outcast, believing you're supposed to get over me because that's what people say is normal... but somehow you can't and no one seems to understand? How many times have you put yourself through such excruciating pain because you aren't willing to consider that I am not, by any means, dead ?

    I want you to do me a favor and go back in time with me. Remember the glorious day I came into your home- was I not the most intriguing creature you'd ever met? Did I not make you laugh and giggle? Did I not look at you with such adoration that you wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of your life with me? I wanted this too. Remember the days when I was in my prime and we did many things together? You were so proud of me! I was a good friend and I took care of you when you cried, were angry or felt down and unhappy. When you didn't have a lot of time for me because of your obligations, I waited patiently for you. I was always there when you needed me. Did I not look at you with such acceptance and patience that at times you felt perhaps a bit unworthy? You were never unworthy in my eyes. Remember when age crept up on me, my bones became stiff and my movements slower. Still I met you at the door when you came home and followed you around the house. We'd been together for so long, I was your very best friend regardless of what you were doing, saying, thinking. Did I not look at you with such kindness and understanding that you felt overwhelmed? I couldn't get enough of you.

    Remember the last time we saw each other with earthly eyes? You tried to be brave but I knew you were crying ... I know you so well - better than anyone else in the whole world. Did I not look at you with such pure trust and love that you yearned only to hold me close and keep me with you always? Did you not promise that you would love me forever? I believed you. If this is so then why have you let me go by thinking I no longer exist? Remember the depth in my eyes all those times I looked at you with adoration, acceptance, patience, trust and love. Who created this depth and love? Would the Creator diminish the song of our laughter which was created in the name of love? I am no longer an earthly figure, this is true. My body was only part of who I really am. My body would have been but a mere shell on earth if it were not filled to overflowing with my soul, my spirit, my loving light.

    When we met you thought I was cute, sweet, pretty and adorable. But what kind of relationship would we have had if this is all that I'd been? How could you have loved me if I'd had no spiritual substance? We are all made up of energy which resides far deep down inside of us, it is our core, our soul, spirit and loving light. It is the energy that is all of life ... it has no beginning, it has no end. It simply is and always will be and without it there is no life. You can't see it with the naked eye nor can you hold it in your hand, it is simply a certain knowing that this energy does exist. It's a knowing just as you know that our love existed on earth - you couldn't see our love in a solid sense, you couldn't gather it all up and confine it to one place. But you *knew* it existed. There was no doubt in your mind. They demand you get over me, insisting that I'm dead and you'll never see me again because animals don't go to Heaven. Oh really? I'm here to tell you different. You were worthy of my love and undying devotion on earth as I was of yours. Do you really believe this love would be snatched from us *forever* by a loving Creator simply because I wasn't human? Was I not a living, breathing creation with personality? How could I have been so if I didn't possess the energy of soul, spirit and loving light? And if this energy is and always will be, then how can it be that I am dead? If my core is not of the energy that is all of life then I was never alive to begin with.

    But you know better. You cry because you miss me, this I understand. I miss you too - I miss the belly rubs, hugs and kisses that we shared. But life does go on beyond these wonderful, fulfilling physical connections. I came to this place to live a whole new life, not because I didn't love you anymore or because I wanted something better - I came here because it was time for me to go to the next phase of my existence, something all living creatures must do eventually. It is the normal progression of life. I was not taken away from you because you cannot take away that which was never owned. My presence in your life was and is a gift to be cherished and honored - just as I cherish and honor you.

    Life is not simply about being born into a body, living a certain number of years and then dying. Energy cannot die. We are blessed with time in a body so that we can learn, share and grow. It prepares us for the next phase of our eternal life. The body holds within it the true life force of our existence ...our soul, spirit and loving light. Without these our bodies would be empty, blank, void of feeling and expression. Without our energy we would indeed be dead and could never have experienced our love for each other.

    You say that all you have left are memories. Not so. You see, when I took leave of my earthly body I left a little something behind for you. You can't touch it, hold it or examine it. For what I left behind is far too uninhibited for confinement. I left behind a piece of my soul. I placed it right next to your own which is quite fitting as we were always side by side in our earthly life together. I love you too much to have left you with nothing but memories which tend to fade and grow cloudy as the years go by. I love you too much to have vanished without a trace. How selfish it would be of me to remove love and light from your life. I understand your tears, each one you shed is testament to your love for me and I am honored and humbled. But don't forget the good things we shared - remember and smile. This is an honor for me as well. And when you need me I will be here. Close your eyes, relax, take slow, deep breaths and picture me in your mind. Shut off the world and your notions of what death is and give me a chance. Look for the subtle signs I send you. Don't stop being proud of me, I am a friend to be proud of, I am still your friend and soul mate. Don't memorialize the death of my body but instead honor and celebrate my never-ending life for it is eternal and forever as is my love for you. Until we meet again...

    I love you,

    Your Alaidh

     
  • At 7:03 p.m., Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Sleep now, Alaidh!
    Rest in fields of green and know
    You are remembered.

    Ann
    (catena / ann of meg & joe)

     
  • At 11:23 a.m., Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Though I only knew her through Stuff On My Cat and her blog, I enjoyed Alaidh's pictures and her "take: on the world. Please know that my prayers are with you. She was a wonderful cat who had a wonderful mom and a great life.

    directormll

     
  • At 6:52 a.m., Blogger MoratheMerrier said…

    Shaz.... Tears just keep streaming down my cheek...and I know they are streaming down yours... Headbutts, dear friend... Dear little Alaidh's has found a permanent sunny spot over the bridge and will wait until eternity to see you again... but she'll be well and whole... I know she sends you purrs from across the bridge and wants you to know she's okay. We know our lost loves are in a better place... it just takes a good long while for us to get our hearts to adjust to their absence in this physical world. Oh...headbutts and purrs to you, Shaz... Be well. We all love you at SOMC.... please come see us when you feel up to it. Love, MoratheMerrier & furmily

     
  • At 11:25 p.m., Anonymous Anonymous said…

    *Huggles for Alaidh's mum*

     
  • At 8:18 p.m., Blogger Unknown said…

    Alaidh was a wonderful cat and companion. I used to read her blog and think of our visit to BC. She played in one of my bags. Such a sweetheart.

    *hugs to you, Shaz*

    Mouse and Mr. Mouse

     

Post a Comment

<< Home