Three days to remember~

The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your young new friend. Perhaps in a fleeting moment, you may have just chosen that silly looking mutt in a shelter or in my case, a cat rescue group back in Germany-- simply because something in its eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that chosen pet home, and watch it explore, and claim its special place in your hall or front room -- and when you feel it brush against you for the first time -- it instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the many years to come. When Minky was two years old, we moved to America. I flew her over here to spend the rest of her life with me and my than four month old son and new husband. I could have never left her and her brother Bommel behind, and although being called crazy to buy additional airline tickets for two rescued cats, I knew it was the right thing to do.

The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later. It will be a day like any other. Routine and unexceptional. But, for a surprising instant, you will look at your longtime friend and see age where you once saw youth. You will see slow deliberate steps where you once saw energy. And you will see sleep when you once saw activity. So you will begin to adjust your friend's diet -- and you may add a pill or two to his food. And you may feel a growing fear deep within yourself, which bodes of a coming emptiness. And you will feel this uneasy feeling, on and off, until the third day finally arrives.
And on this day -- if your friend and whatever higher being you believe in have not decided for you, then you will be faced with making a decision of your own -- on behalf of your lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest Spirit. But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you -- you will feel as alone as a single star in the dark night. About three month ago, Minky was diagnosed with Lymphoma. I had the choice between Chemo Therapy or certain death within a couple of weeks. Of course I opted for Chemo, as I was not ready to let her go. I knew I'd do whatever it took to save her life. I loved that little girl, she was my comfort in so many ways. She was with me through my divorce. She bonded with my son like a sister and was with him when he was growing into this young man he almost is... Time flew and made the years so much better for us. Minky gave us a piece of our Hometown and preserved our memories... She was a true german cat...
If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as they must. And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or comfort you. And for those who have met her when she was well, those have loved her, because she was like my child but acted often like my son's mommy, always protective of him.
So if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through the many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul -- a bit smaller in size than your own -- seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely days to come.
And at moments when you least expect anything out of the ordinary to happen, you may feel something brush against your leg -- very, very lightly.
And looking down at the place where your Dear, perhaps Dearest friend used to lie -- you will remember those three significant days. The memory will most likely to be painful, and leave an ache in your heart.
As time passes the ache will come and go as if it has a life of its own. You will both reject it and embrace it, and it may confuse you. If you reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you. Either way, it will still be an ache.

But there will be, there must be, a fourth day when -- along with the memory of your pet -- and piercing through the heaviness in your heart -- there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will be as unique and strong as our relationship with each animal we have loved, and lost. This realization takes the form of a Living Love -- like they scent of a rose that remains after the petals have wilted, this Love will remain and grow -- and be there for us to remember. It is a love we have earned. It is the legacy our pets leave us when they go. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we live. It is a Love which is ours alone. And until we ourselves leave, perhaps to join our Beloved Pets -- it is a Love we will always possess.

This is in Memory of Minky who parted way to early from us and who will be dearly missed by me and my son, who I promised, none of our cats will go to cat heaven till he is done with high school...

Sometimes you can't keep promises, but you can keep the memories...

Forever loved and remembered~ MINKY~