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#1
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And now we are 3
I have been caring for my father's cat, Jade, a chocolate tortie, since
February. I really came to like her in the last few months. She seemed to take to me too. She has had a rough go of it what with stomatitus but the depo kept it under control. She was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in the mouth this last Tuesday. She did fine for 2 days and even fell asleep with her head in my hand. She is "denning" now, extremely head shy, cannot eat much and what she does eat is with great effort. She is in some pain and she has at best 6-8 weeks of "life" left according to the vet. I have agonized over this, I have ripped my heart out, I have fought what the logical part of me knows is right. I just can't put her through what I did to my poor cat Zipper 7 years ago. So she will be put down today unless the vet has the last word and I doubt she will. Probably sometime late this afternoon on the west coast. I just feel like such a piece of crap. I know I can't help her and truth is she seems like she is just waiting for the end. From What I have read about SCC it is one ugly and aggressive cancer and I surely would not want to die that way. I could at best keep her going for a couple of weeks if I force fed her and IV fluid injected her and generally made her more miserable than she is. Just tell me this is right. Just tell me I am not doing this so I can avoid the worst of it all and that I can have my room back without having litter boxes and dried cat food lying around and younger cats pawing at the door trying to get in and make trouble. I just feel like a **** is all. But I just can't see any other way. What's 2 weeks or whatever when it is just not good? I almost feel Buddy's passing so quickly was a blessing in disguise. This is just such a crappy time to deal with this ****. I just have to know it is right. Paul |
#2
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And now we are 3
"Euker Voorn" wrote in message ... On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:17:11 GMT, "Paul M. Cook" wrote: I have been caring for my father's cat, Jade, a chocolate tortie, since February. I really came to like her in the last few months. She seemed to take to me too. She has had a rough go of it what with stomatitus but the depo kept it under control. She was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in the mouth this last Tuesday. She did fine for 2 days and even fell asleep with her head in my hand. She is "denning" now, extremely head shy, cannot eat much and what she does eat is with great effort. She is in some pain and she has at best 6-8 weeks of "life" left according to the vet. I have agonized over this, I have ripped my heart out, I have fought what the logical part of me knows is right. I just can't put her through what I did to my poor cat Zipper 7 years ago. So she will be put down today unless the vet has the last word and I doubt she will. Probably sometime late this afternoon on the west coast. I just feel like such a piece of crap. I know I can't help her and truth is she seems like she is just waiting for the end. From What I have read about SCC it is one ugly and aggressive cancer and I surely would not want to die that way. I could at best keep her going for a couple of weeks if I force fed her and IV fluid injected her and generally made her more miserable than she is. Just tell me this is right. Just tell me I am not doing this so I can avoid the worst of it all and that I can have my room back without having litter boxes and dried cat food lying around and younger cats pawing at the door trying to get in and make trouble. I just feel like a **** is all. But I just can't see any other way. What's 2 weeks or whatever when it is just not good? I almost feel Buddy's passing so quickly was a blessing in disguise. This is just such a crappy time to deal with this ****. I just have to know it is right. Hi Paul, What can I say. Raw feeding cured my cats from stomatitis, but SCC I never heard of before and if it's a cancer in the mouth, she must be in a lot of pain. You don't sound like a guy who would put a cat asleep for nothing. If a cat needs to be force fed for longer than a few days, the cat gave up and doesn't want to live anymore. Like you I've been there before and extending only increases the pain for both cat and caretaker. I just can't say how this is killing me inside, and I don't really know why. She came to me after my dad died and I had never really even known her at all before that. Just 10 months is all. And Buddy, my beloved tom, died last October 18th very suddenly and I still grieve. I have quite sincerely never agonized over anything so bad as today. And thank you for the response. It will give me some strength. I love these little guys and seeing their lives end is proving to be the hardest part of love I can think of. No human ever affected me this way. Paul |
#3
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And now we are 3
I just feel like such a piece of crap. �I know I can't help her and truth is she seems like she is just waiting for the end. �From What I have read about SCC it is one ugly and aggressive cancer and I surely would not want to die that way. �I could at best keep her going for a couple of weeks if I force fed her and IV fluid injected her and generally made her more miserable than she is. I am so sorry you are going through this. If you think she has given up and it is time, then it's time. Sometimes the best gift we can give our pets is a peaceful goodbye. Hugs and best wishes to you. Don't beat yourself up over this. SCC is a nasty aggressive cancer and it's not your fault. Rene |
#4
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And now we are 3
On Dec 11, 2:17 pm, "Paul M. Cook"
wrote: I have been caring for my father's cat, Jade, a chocolate tortie, since February. I really came to like her in the last few months. She seemed to take to me too. She has had a rough go of it what with stomatitus but the depo kept it under control. She was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in the mouth this last Tuesday. She did fine for 2 days and even fell asleep with her head in my hand. She is "denning" now, extremely head shy, cannot eat much and what she does eat is with great effort. She is in some pain and she has at best 6-8 weeks of "life" left according to the vet. I have agonized over this, I have ripped my heart out, I have fought what the logical part of me knows is right. I just can't put her through what I did to my poor cat Zipper 7 years ago. So she will be put down today unless the vet has the last word and I doubt she will. Probably sometime late this afternoon on the west coast. I just feel like such a piece of crap. I know I can't help her and truth is she seems like she is just waiting for the end. From What I have read about SCC it is one ugly and aggressive cancer and I surely would not want to die that way. I could at best keep her going for a couple of weeks if I force fed her and IV fluid injected her and generally made her more miserable than she is. Just tell me this is right. Just tell me I am not doing this so I can avoid the worst of it all and that I can have my room back without having litter boxes and dried cat food lying around and younger cats pawing at the door trying to get in and make trouble. I just feel like a **** is all. But I just can't see any other way. What's 2 weeks or whatever when it is just not good? I almost feel Buddy's passing so quickly was a blessing in disguise. This is just such a crappy time to deal with this ****. I just have to know it is right. Paul Paul, you are doing the right thing. I remember the terrible loss of Buddy only a few short months ago. You must be going through hell right now? I'm just so sorry that this agony has imposed itself twice on you in as many month. The ultimate gift of love, is to allow her to go peacefully. I imagine that there are some memories tied to your father too with this particular cat, so I can understand that this simply makes it all the harder to do for her. You are a dedicated cat slave, & there is no question in my mind that you will be making the right decision, all be it a very difficult call. All I can do is offer you purrs of comfort, & peace to you all. I'm so sorry to hear this Paul. Sheelagh "o" |
#5
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And now we are 3
Response to "Paul M. Cook" :
snip I just feel like such a piece of crap. I know I can't help her and truth is she seems like she is just waiting for the end. Actually, you're wrong. You can help her, just like you did Buddy. Show her that her new, but best friend is there holding her paw as this horrible sadness transpires. Show her that she is not alone in this possible time of uncertainty and fear for her. What am I saying? I know you will. snip Just tell me this is right. Just tell me I am not doing this so I can avoid the worst of it all and that I can have my room back without having litter boxes and dried cat food lying around and younger cats pawing at the door trying to get in and make trouble. This is one of those gray areas. Like you mentioned, your brain says the logical thing to do is allow her to pass from this world as peacefully as possible... ....your heart on the other hand needs her to stay with you for as long as possible. And I know her being your father's kitty makes it that much harder. I believe that either choice is right, because inevitably your heart will not let her hurt -- if it comes to that, your heart will decide... not your brain. I just feel like a **** is all. But I just can't see any other way. What's 2 weeks or whatever when it is just not good? There's nothing that can be done about that. All the words, well wishes, and comfort in the world cannot possibly replace what you are about to lose. However, that won't stop me from saying that you have been a very, very strong man and a true friend to Buddy, and now Jade. I know you'll do what's right, and I pray that time heals your wounds quickly -- at least enough to help be somewhat at ease. I almost feel Buddy's passing so quickly was a blessing in disguise. This is just such a crappy time to deal with this ****. I just have to know it is right. It is such an odd thing, I was raised to not have much interest in the Holidays and for the most part they rarely excite me -- but let something like this happen and you can rest assured it drops me much lower than I would have been had it been any other time of the year. Paul, love your dear friend with all your heart, show her that you'll gladly walk her to the Bridge. With tears streaming down my face I wish peace and happiness (as much as possible) to you and Jade. -- -Lost Remove the extra words to reply by e-mail. Don't e-mail me. I am kidding. No I am not. |
#6
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And now we are 3
"Paul M. Cook" wrote Just tell me this is right. Just tell me I am not doing this so I can avoid the worst of it all and that I can have my room back without having litter boxes and dried cat food lying around and younger cats pawing at the door trying to get in and make trouble. I just feel like a **** is all. But I just can't see any other way. What's 2 weeks or whatever when it is just not good? I almost feel Buddy's passing so quickly was a blessing in disguise. This is just such a crappy time to deal with this ****. I just have to know it is right. It sounds like the merciful thing to do, Paul. I am sorry you have to go through this. -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com |
#7
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And now we are 3
On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:37:05 +0000, Paul M. Cook wrote:
"Euker Voorn" wrote in message ... On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:17:11 GMT, "Paul M. Cook" wrote: I have been caring for my father's cat, Jade, a chocolate tortie, since February. I really came to like her in the last few months. She seemed to take to me too. She has had a rough go of it what with stomatitus but the depo kept it under control. She was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in the mouth this last Tuesday. She did fine for 2 days and even fell asleep with her head in my hand. She is "denning" now, extremely head shy, cannot eat much and what she does eat is with great effort. She is in some pain and she has at best 6-8 weeks of "life" left according to the vet. I have agonized over this, I have ripped my heart out, I have fought what the logical part of me knows is right. I just can't put her through what I did to my poor cat Zipper 7 years ago. So she will be put down today unless the vet has the last word and I doubt she will. Probably sometime late this afternoon on the west coast. I just feel like such a piece of crap. I know I can't help her and truth is she seems like she is just waiting for the end. From What I have read about SCC it is one ugly and aggressive cancer and I surely would not want to die that way. I could at best keep her going for a couple of weeks if I force fed her and IV fluid injected her and generally made her more miserable than she is. Just tell me this is right. Just tell me I am not doing this so I can avoid the worst of it all and that I can have my room back without having litter boxes and dried cat food lying around and younger cats pawing at the door trying to get in and make trouble. I just feel like a **** is all. But I just can't see any other way. What's 2 weeks or whatever when it is just not good? I almost feel Buddy's passing so quickly was a blessing in disguise. This is just such a crappy time to deal with this ****. I just have to know it is right. Hi Paul, What can I say. Raw feeding cured my cats from stomatitis, but SCC I never heard of before and if it's a cancer in the mouth, she must be in a lot of pain. You don't sound like a guy who would put a cat asleep for nothing. If a cat needs to be force fed for longer than a few days, the cat gave up and doesn't want to live anymore. Like you I've been there before and extending only increases the pain for both cat and caretaker. I just can't say how this is killing me inside, and I don't really know why. She came to me after my dad died and I had never really even known her at all before that. Just 10 months is all. And Buddy, my beloved tom, died last October 18th very suddenly and I still grieve. I have quite sincerely never agonized over anything so bad as today. And thank you for the response. It will give me some strength. I love these little guys and seeing their lives end is proving to be the hardest part of love I can think of. No human ever affected me this way. Paul Sometimes a quote from a favorite poem says it best: "And you shall shortly know that lengthened breath Is not the sweetest gift God sends his friend, And that sometimes the the sable pall of death Conceals the fairest boon His love can send..." ---from a poem by Mary Louise Riley Smith Purrs for comfort and peace for all concerned. MLB |
#8
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And now we are 3
http://www.indigo.org/rainbow/rainbow.swf
================================ With you a part of me hath passed away; For in the peopled forest of my mind A tree made leafless by this wintry wind Shall never don again its green array. Chapel and fireside, country road and bay, Have something of their friendliness resigned; Another, if I would, I could not find, And I am grown much older in a day. But yet I treasure in my memory Your gift of charity, and young hearts ease, And the dear honour of your amity; For these once mine, my life is rich with these. And I scarce know which part may greater be,-- What I keep of you, or you rob from me. --George Santayana ================================ I say hello, but sadly good-bye, as I hold you in my arms. You, who I have known, deep within my heart. You are so real to me. For moments, yet for all eternity. Why? Why I ask, must this be? To endure in pain is to ask for answers. Why must this be? Does God know why? Will He enlighten me? Will He strengthen my faith, my beliefs so I can endure? Will I ever know the answer? Why? --Julie Fritsch ================================ Strange that so small mortality should leave So large an emptiness! for as we grieve Your little life of few but happy years Ended for us, one who could understand Each subtle word, and answer hand with hand Had hardly taken greater toll of tears. Yet why should we not mourn for as a friend? That name was yours; if every man would spend His life as well, earth were not hard to save. Grant that God made your heart and brain but small. What more has an archangel than his all? And all God gave to you, to us you gave. --Amelia Josephine Burr ================================ Our rooms are very still today, The loneliness...a void; That dented pillow mutely mourns Companionship...destroyed! That fluffy ball of purring fur-- My comfort--subtle teacher-- Has left a tender tolerance For every living creature. My traits and faults were audited By questioning, loving eyes; All tests of friendship were fulfilled By trust that verified. --Nellie Baldwin Rudser ================================ Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. --Anatole France ================================ We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan. --Irving Townsend ================================ I believe that the loss of a beloved companion animal is like no other loss because our relationships with animals are like no other. Our culture tells us that an animal companion is an engaging toy, and that our grief over its death is alarming and ill-paced. And our culture is just flat wrong....Animals are more to us than we know. Their partnership with us is a holy one that endures across a lifetime and possibly beyond. --Susan Chernak McElroy ================================ I shall walk in the sun alone Whose golden light you loved: I shall sleep alone And, stirring, touch an empty place: I shall write uninterrupted (Would that your gentle paw Could stay my moving pen just once again!). I shall see beauty But none to match your living grace: I shall hear music But not so sweet as the droning song With which you loved me. I shall fill my days But I shall not, cannot forget: Sleep soft, dear friend, For while I live you shall not die. --Michael Joseph ================================ Comrades of our past were they, Of that unreturning day. Changed and aging, they and we Dwelt, it seemed, in sympathy. Alway from their presence broke Somewhat which remembrance woke Of the loved, the lost, the young-- Yet they died, and died unsung.... Fare thee well, companion dear! Fare for ever well, nor fear, Tiny though thou art, to stray Down the uncompanion'd way! We without thee, little friend, Many years have not to spend; What are left, will hardly be Better than we spent with thee. --Matthew Arnold ================================ THERE IS A NEW STAR SHINING IN THE SKY TONIGHT... by Sarah Hartwell There is an old belief that the stars shining in the night sky are the spirits of those who have died. They have shed their earthly bodies and exchanged them for bodies made of light; thousands upon thousands of our dear departed friends all promoted to glory in the night sky. There is another saying that the brightest flame burns the shortest. My friend, you were the brightest star in my own universe. While I burn on, my flame dimmed by grief and despair at your passing, the stars are watching me. They are too far away for me to touch, just as you have gone somewhere I cannot follow until my own star-time comes. They cannot be held close for comfort, just as I can no longer hold you close, though I held you close to comfort you in your final moments. We were together for such a short time, but the stars will burn forever. One day I will grow tired of this earthbound body, my own star-time will come and my spirit will soar into the sky to burn with all those friends who have gone before me. On the inky cloth of space we will be reunited in constellations of joy. Until then, my flame burns low and dim and cold without you. Through my tears I look upwards to see if you are watching me and what do I see? There is a new star shining in the sky tonight. ================================ Since you have gone the sun has left the sky, No breezes blow, No birds sing To ease the aching vacuum in my heart. I shall not forget your gentle ways; No judgements made, No difficult demands, No needs save one, To share your life with mine. Now kind, uncomprehending people say, "Cheer up, you'll love another pet some day." --Hilda Lunn ================================ Pet was never mourned as you, Purrer of the spotless hue, Plumy tail, and wistful gaze While you humoured our queer ways, Or outshrilled your morning call Up the stairs and through the hall-- Foot suspended in its fall-- While, expectant, you would stand Arched, to meet the stroking hand; Till your way you chose to wend Yonder, to your tragic end. Never another pet for me! Let your place all vacant be; Better blankness day by day Than companion torn away. Better bid her memory fade, Better blot each mark she made, Selfishly escape distress By contrived forgetfulness, Than preserve her prints to make Every morn and eve an ache. From the chair whereon she sat Sweep her fur, nor wince thereat; Rake her little pathways out Mid the bushes roundabout; Smooth away her talons' mark From the claw-worn pine-tree bark, Where she climbed as dusk embrowned, Waiting us who loitered round. Strange it is this speechless thing Subject to our mastering, Subject for her life and food To our gift, and time, and mood; Timid pensioner of us Powers, Her existence ruled by ours, Should--by crossing at a breath Into safe and shielded death, By the merely taking hence Of her insignificance-- Loom as largened to the sense, Shape as part, above man's will, Of the Imperturbable. As a prisoner, flight debarred, Exercising in a yard, Still retain I, troubled, shaken, Mean estate, by her forsaken; And this home, which scarcely took Impress from her little look, By her faring to the Far Grows all eloquent of her. Housemate, I can think you still Bounding to the window-sill, Over which I vaguely see Your small mound beneath the tree, Showing in the autumn shade That you moulder where you played. --Thomas Hardy ================================ When humans die, they make a will To leave their homes, and all they Have to those they love. I too would make a will, if I could write. To some poor, wistful, lonely stray I'd leave my happy home, My dish, my cozy bed, my cushioned chair, my toy, The well-loved lap, The gently stroking hand, The loving voice, The place I made in someone's heart, The love, that at the last Could help me to a peaceful, painless end Held in loving arms. If I should die, Oh! Do not say: "No more a pet I'll have To grieve me by its loss." Seek out some lonely, unloved cat And give my place to him. This is my legacy, The love I leave behind, 'Tis all I have to give. --Margaret Trowton ================================ Is Heaven all you asked of it, O little cat? Did Peter fit A halo for your graceless head? Is there a quilt for your special bed, And a bowl of cream just out of reach Of your thieving paw? Or do They teach You not to steal in paradise? Does the flapping of Their wings entice? Do you scamper and swing on a golden fence, Or are They teaching you reverence? And are there really golden thrones Up there? Or do the Mighty Ones Have nice fat chairs that you can claw And tear and snag with an impious paw? And do the angels understand That a little cat in a lonely land Still longs for a kiss and a friendly cuff? Celestial joys are not enough. Please, some small saint in shining white, Hold her close in your arms tonight. --Bianca Bradbury ================================ Dancing ribbons pushed by time Float through an old kitten's dreams. She chases them into eternity, And catches them, As they change into angels' wings. --Daryl Douglas Foyer ================================ CHOICES by Anne Kolaczyk The little orange boy stopped. Behind him, kitties were playing, chasing each other and wrestling in the warm sunshine. It looked like so much fun, but in front of him, through the clear stillness of the pond's water, he could see his mommy. And she was crying. He pawed at the water, trying to get at her, and when that didn't work, he jumped into the shallow water. All that got him was wet and Mommy's image danced away in the ripples. "Mommy!" he cried. "Is something wrong?" The little orange boy turned around. A lady was standing at the edge of the pond, her eyes sad but filled with love. The little orange boy sighed and walked out of the water. "There's been a mistake," he said. "I'm not supposed to be here." He looked back at the water. It was starting to still again and his mommy's image was coming back. "I'm just a baby. Mommy said it had to be a mistake. She said I wasn't supposed to come here yet." The kind lady sighed and sat down on the grass. The little orange boy climbed into her lap. It wasn't Mommy's lap, but it was almost as good. When she started to pet him and scratch under his chin like he liked, he started to purr. He hadn't wanted to, but he couldn't help it. "I'm afraid there is no mistake. You are supposed to be here and your mommy knows it deep down in her heart," the lady said. The little orange boy sighed and laid his head on the lady's leg. "But she's so sad. It hurts me to see her cry. And Daddy too." "But they knew right from the beginning this would happen." "That I was sick?" That surprised the little orange boy. No one had ever said anything and he had listened when they thought he was sleeping. All he had heard them talk about was how cute he was or how fast he was or how big he was getting. "No, not that you were sick," the lady said. "But you see, they chose tears." "No, they didn't," the little orange boy argued. Who would choose to cry? The lady gently brushed the top of his head with a kiss. It made him feel safe and loved and warm--but he still worried about his mommy. "Let me tell you a story," the lady said. The little orange boy looked up and saw other animals gathering around. Cats--Big Boy and Snowball and Shamus and Abby and little Cleo and Robin. Merlin and Toby and Iggy and Zachary. Sweetie and Kamatte and Obie. Dogs too--Sally and Baby and Morgan and Rocky and Belle. Even a lizard named Clyde and some rats named Saffron and Becky and a hamster named Odo. They all lay down near the kind lady and looked up at her, waiting. She smiled at them and began: ******************************************** A long long time ago, the Loving Ones went to the Angel in Charge. They were lonesome and asked the angel to help them. The angel took them to a wall of windows and let them look out the first window at all sorts of things--dolls and stuffed animals and cars and toys and sporting events. "Here are things you can love," the angel said. "They will keep you from being lonesome." "Oh, thank you," the Loving Ones said. "These are just what we need." "You have chosen Pleasure," the angel told them. But after a time the Loving Ones came back to the Angel in Charge. "Things are okay to love," they said. "But they don't care that we love them." The Angel in Charge led them over to the second window. It looked out at all sorts of wild animals. "Here are animals to love," he said. "They will know you love them." So the Loving Ones hurried out to care for the wild animals. "You have chosen Satisfaction," the angel said. Some of the Loving Ones worked at zoos and wild animal preserves, some just had bird feeders in their yards, but after a time they all came back to the Angel in Charge. "They know we love them," they told the angel. "But they don't love us back. We want to be loved in return." So the angel took them to the third window and showed them lots of people walking around, hurrying places. "Here are people for you to love," the angel told them. So the Loving Ones hurried off to find other people to love. "You have chosen Commitment," the angel said. But after a time a lot of Loving Ones came back to the Angel in Charge. "People were okay to love," they said. "But sometimes they stopped loving us and left. They broke our hearts." The angel just shook his head. "I cannot help you," he said. "You will have to be satisfied with the choices I gave you." As the Loving Ones were leaving, someone saw a window off to one side and hurried to look out. Through it, they could see puppies and kittens and dogs and cats and lizards and hamsters and ferrets. The other Loving Ones hurried over. "What about these?" they asked. But the angel just tried to shoo them away. "Those are Personal Empathy Trainers," he said. "But there's a problem with their system operations." "Would they know that we love them?" someone asked. "Yes," the angel said. "Would they love us back?" another asked. "Yes," the angel said. "Will they stop loving us?" someone else asked. "No," the angel admitted. "They will love you forever." "Then these are what we want," the Loving Ones said. But the angel was very upset. "You don't understand," he told them. "You will have to feed these animals." "That's all right," the Loving Ones said. "You will have to clean up after them and take care of them forever." "We don't care." The Loving Ones did not listen. They went down to where the Pets were and picked them up, seeing the love in their own hearts reflected in the animals' eyes. "They were not programmed right," the angel said. "We can't offer a warranty. We don't know how durable they are. Some of their systems malfunction very quickly, others last a long time." But the Loving Ones did not care. They were holding the warm little bodies and finding their hearts so filled with love that they thought they would burst. "We will take our chances," they said. "You do not understand." The angel tried one more time. "They are so dependent on you that even the most well-made of them is not designed to outlive you. You are destined to suffer their loss." The Loving Ones looked at the sweetness in their arms and nodded. "That is how it should be. It is a fair trade for the love they offer." The angel just watched them all go, shaking his head. "You have chosen Tears," he whispered. ******************************************** "So it is," the kind lady told the kitties. "And so each mommy and daddy knows. When they take a baby into their heart, they know that one day it will leave them and they will cry." The little orange boy sat up. "So why do they take us in?" he asked. "Because even a moment of your love is worth years of pain later." "Oh." The little orange boy got off the lady's lap and went back to the edge of the pond. His mommy was still there, and still crying. "Will she ever stop crying?" he asked the kind lady. She nodded. "You see, the Angel felt sorry for the Loving Ones, knowing how much they would suffer. He couldn't take the tears away but he made them special." She dipped her hand into the pond and let the water trickle off her fingers. "He made them healing tears, formed from the special water here. Each tear holds bits of all the happy times of purring and petting and shared love. And the promise of love once again. As your mommy cries, she is healing. "In time, she will be less sad and she will smile when she thinks of you. And then she will open her heart again to another little baby." "But then she will cry again one day," the little orange boy said. The lady just smiled at him as she got to her feet. "No, she will love again. That is all she will think about." She picked up Big Boy and Snowball and gave them hugs, then scratched Morgan's ear just how she liked. "Look," she said. "The butterflies have come. Shall we go over to play?" The other animals all ran ahead, but the little orange boy wasn't ready to leave his mommy. "Will I ever get to be with her again?" The kind lady nodded. "You'll be in the eyes of every kitty she looks at. You'll be in the purr of every cat she pets. And late at night, when she's fast asleep, your spirit will snuggle up close to her and you both will feel at peace. One day soon, you can even send her a rainbow to tell her you're safe and waiting here for when it's her turn to come." "I would like that," the little orange boy said and took one long look at his mommy. He saw her smile slightly through her tears and he knew she had remembered the time he almost fell into the bathtub. "I love you, Mommy," he whispered. "It's okay if you cry." He glanced over at the others, running and playing and laughing with the butterflies. "Uh, Mommy? I gotta go play now, okay? But I'll be around, I promise." Then he turned and raced after the others. ================================ If I should ever leave you whom I love To go along the Silent Way, Grieve not, Nor speak of me with tears, But laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you there. (I'd come--I'd come, could I but find a way! But would not tears and grief be barriers?) And when you hear a voice Or see a face I loved, Please do not let the thought of me be sad... For I am loving you just as I always have... You were so good to me! There are so many things I wanted still to do-- So many things to say to you... Remember that I did not fear... It was just leaving you that was so hard to face... We cannot see Beyond... But this I know: I loved you so-- 'Twas heaven here with you! --Isla Paschal Richardson ================================ Farewell, my humans, yet not farewell, Where I go you too shall dwell. I am gone before your face, A moment's time, a little space. When you come where I have stepped, You will wonder why you wept. --Edwin Arnold ================================ Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. I am in a thousand winds that blow, I am the softly falling snow. I am the gentle showers of rain, I am the fields of ripening grain. I am in the morning hush, I am in the graceful rush Of beautiful birds in circling flight, I am the starshine of the night. I am in the flowers that bloom, I am in a quiet room, I am the birds that sing, I am in each lovely thing. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there. I do not die. --Mary E. Frye ================================ Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the infinite peace to you. --adapted from Gaelic runes ================================ Aionía aftís e mnéme--May her memory be eternal. --from the Eastern Orthodox requiem service ================================ Warm summer sun Shine kindly here, Warm southern wind Blow softly here, Green sod above Lie light, lie light-- Good night, dear heart, Good night, good night. --Robert Richardson, adapted from his poem "Annette" in _Willow and Wattle_ (1893) by Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain) as the epitaph for his daughter, Olivia Susan Clemens Take care, Nicholas |
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And now we are 3
Thank you everyone. I made the appointment and she will pass in a couple of
hours. She is worse off today. She is making odd motions with her tongue, she is breathing loudly and she will not so much as even look at me. She Just wants to be left completely alone. So there can be no doubt it's time. I'm torn up about this but I know she's been through enough. Thank you all for your support. I feel stronger now. Paul |
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And now we are 3
Response to "Paul M. Cook" :
Thank you everyone. I made the appointment and she will pass in a couple of hours. She is worse off today. She is making odd motions with her tongue, she is breathing loudly and she will not so much as even look at me. She Just wants to be left completely alone. So there can be no doubt it's time. I'm torn up about this but I know she's been through enough. Thank you all for your support. I feel stronger now. Bless you, Paul. And bless your beloved friends. -- -Lost Remove the extra words to reply by e-mail. Don't e-mail me. I am kidding. No I am not. |
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