[Bearygood]

I am sorry for all the recent losses I've seen on various boards in this forum. I can relate because we put our cat to sleep just over a week ago -- it was very sudden and she was only 11. We never saw it coming and the loss is profound.

She was cremated and my sister picked up her ashes the other day. (Misha was actually my niece but she lived with me a few months out of the year and we were very close.) The ashes were beautifully boxed and thoughtfully came with a memorial certificate and a poem called "The Rainbow Bridge". We all found the poem very comforting and I thought I would share it with you here. There are different variations on this poem over the internet -- this is the version that we received.

My deepest condolences to all of you who have suffered losses. I hope you find comfort in the poem, as we have.

The Rainbow Bridge

There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.

When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. They play with each other.

There is only one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loved them on earth. So, each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up! The nose twitches! The ears are up! The eyes are staring! And this one suddenly runs from the group!

You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take him in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again and again, and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated.

-Author Unknown

[Wren]

Bearygood - I lost my kitty last Saturday .... she came to live with me on Dec. 26, 1987. I can't get over it. I sleep in the exactly correct position because she's so picky about being between my knees. I haven't slept alone for many years and oh, how it hurts.

[Bearygood]

Wren, I'm sorry for your loss. It's amazing how they can rule the roost, isn't it? (And how we let them!)

I hope you found some comfort from the prose. Maybe your kitty and Misha are playing together over the Rainbow Bridge.
.

[lou_lou]

Dear Wren,
I am sorry your beloved cat passed away -
here is a poem written by the actor Jimmy Stewart - I am old enough to remember him reading this poem on "The Johnny Carson Show" but I was
just a kid then,
this is about his dog...
for you my friend,
peace, love and light -

"Beau"
by Jimmy Stewart
He never came to me when I would call
Unless I had a tennis ball,
Or he felt like it,
But mostly he didn't come at all.
When he was young
He never learned to heel
Or sit or stay,
He did things his way.

Discipline was not his bag
But when you were with him things sure didn't drag.
He'd dig up a rosebush just to spite me,
And when I'd grab him, he'd turn and bite me.

He bit lots of folks from day to day,
The delivery boy was his favorite prey.
The gas man wouldn't read our meter,
He said we owned a real man-eater.

He set the house on fire
But the story's long to tell.
Suffice it to say that he survived
And the house survived as well.

On the evening walks, and Gloria took him,
He was always first out the door.
The Old One and I brought up the rear
Because our bones were sore.

He would charge up the street with Mom hanging on,
What a beautiful pair they were!
And if it was still light and the tourists were out,
They created a bit of a stir.

But every once in a while, he would stop in his tracks
And with a frown on his face look around.
It was just to make sure that the Old One was there
And would follow him where he was bound.

We are early-to-bedders at our house--
I guess I'm the first to retire.
And as I'd leave the room he'd look at me
And get up from his place by the fire.

He knew where the tennis balls were upstairs,
And I'd give him one for a while.
He would push it under the bed with his nose
And I'd fish it out with a smile.

And before very long
He'd tire of the ball
And be asleep in his corner
In no time at all.

And there were nights when I'd feel him
Climb upon our bed
And lie between us,
And I'd pat his head.

And there were nights when I'd feel this stare
And I'd wake up and he'd be sitting there
And I reach out my hand and stroke his hair.
And sometimes I'd feel him sigh
and I think I know the reason why.

He would wake up at night
And he would have this fear
Of the dark, of life, of lots of things,
And he'd be glad to have me near.

And now he's dead.
And there are nights when I think I feel him
Climb upon our bed and lie between us,
And I pat his head.

And there are nights when I think
I feel that stare
And I reach out my hand to stroke his hair,
But he's not there.

Oh, how I wish that wasn't so,
I'll always love a dog named Beau.
___________

This poem was taken from Jimmy Stewart and His Poems by Jimmy Stewart, a short collection of poems published by Crown Publishers, Inc. in 1989. To order this book, call the Full Circle Book Store at 1-800-683-READ. Refer to ISBN number 0-517-57382-2.
It's a little illustrated hardback that costs about $12.

[Doody]

((Wren)) and ((everyone who's lost their babies))

It is so hard. I'm still grieving for my Sweetie Pie that I had to put down on Mother's day 2 years ago. It was unexpected and I still feel so guilty for the decision I made on that day at the vet when he told me she was suffering with a colon tumor. I had absolutely no idea. I made the snap decision there under extreme duress and wish I had brought her home with me instead.

*sigh, but what's done is done. I feel like she wasn't ready to let go though all my love ones say I did the right thing.

It's so difficult.

My Sweetie Pie. She was a great lap cat, purrer extraordinaire and a little lover with an attitude.
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[Bearygood]

Doody, what a beauty Sweetie Pie was!!

Here is another bit of prose that was on Misha's certificate:

Farewell, Master, yet not farewell. Where I go, you too, shall dwell.
I am gone before your face, a moment's time, a little space.
When ye come where I have stepped, ye will wonder why ye wept.

-Edwin Arnold

[Jappy]

Pets are wonderful. They are faithful and loving in everyway possible.
This is a poem that I wrote about my dog Ginger. She died 24 yrs. ago, but
she was the one at my side when I was dx with ms.


Good-bye my friend
How hard it is to do
My heart is heavy with sorrow
knowing now I only have memories of you

Your cold nose against my face to wake me
saying nature's calling
Your head on my lap when I am at my lowest with those
beautiful sad brown eyes seeming to say
"I Am Here"
The wiggle of your body when you nestle close on my bed.
waiting so quietly and still hoping not to be noticed.
The sweet cunning ways you had, to get your way, knowing
I would give in no matter what.
I will miss the quiet times we shared putting the rest of the
world aside.

You were the only one I could share my deepest thoughts
with.
I could cry, laugh, dance, sing and you stayed by me without
one critical sigh.

To walk in the door and have you greet me, tail wagging away
your voice in its high wail seeming to say, "YOU'RE HOME"
I am glad to see you.
The clicking of your food and water bowls, saying "don't forget
me"
Your foolish antics making me laugh so hard I could burst
Just knowing you were here, never to be alone.
My friend there is so much that can't be put into words.
Your death has left a big void in my life.
Everyday that goes by, every bark I shall hear, the memory
of you will always be here,

MY FRIEND


Ginger was 12yrs. old when she passed. She was a Brittany Spaniel
.


Jappy

[ali12]

Thanks for sharing this with us. I lost my 13 year old springer spaniel in October
Take care and if you need anything just ask
Thanks