In this age of "trigger warnings" it seems appropriate for posts like this to contain a "tissue warning". I cannot hear or read the rainbow bridge story without getting misty, but this one hit me hard, reminding me of the loss of Max the Wonder Dog, so-called because everyone used to wonder just what kind of dog he was.
I am laughing and crying for Max the Wonder Dog. We had some wonder dogs, too. If there's a rainbow bridge, there's going to be a whole zoo waiting for me. If I put a tissue warning, but then someone would be sure to let me know it wasn't that sad. lol.
I hadn't thought about the possibility of non-canine greeters at the bridge. When my time comes I may be overwhelmed by a plethora of ducks, lizards, fish, gerbils, and more. Maybe even my first departed companion, a turtle, that I lost around the age of 3. I don't remember naming it, only that my mother said I cried at his passing, saying "Why did he die? He knew I loved him!" Why, indeed, do so many of our pets die when we love them so much.
If love was all it took, they'd live forever. I used to have a long haired hamster that played with the cat. I'd put him in his hamster ball and the cat would stand with his legs splayed out so the hamster could roll between his legs. They played for hours like that. They will all be waiting.
Hi Linda. This did make me cry but I do know that God, when he knew he was going to leave, told his friends that he was going a head to prepare a place for them. And because He's been so active and gracious and merciful in my life I know He wouldn't say it if it wasn't true. And I know it's a beautiful place beyond what we can imagine. As the song says -
I was raised with those same words, Marcia, and mama would swat my bottom for questioning. But when I look around and see homeless children on the streets and the religious persecution around the world, I don't know what to make of it. So I can't say I don't believe. More than I am uncertain what to believe. You know? And I'm glad you liked this, thank you :)
Jesus said in John 16:33: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” I've experienced that peace in the midst of my physical and spiritual pain. It works for me. Your story is so sweet! :) xoxo
I hear you, Linda. The world is perplexing and troubling but there are redeeming moments and so much evidence of God's love. Sometimes we get overwhelmed with all the troubling things and in some ways I think we should be, but God is still good and always with us. As Elizabeth Barrett Browning said, "All earth is crammed with heaven and every common bush afire with God. But only those who see take off their shoes..." Every day I look for that common bush. Often it's right in front of me. :)
Thank you Cate, I'm glad you enjoyed this one. As for how long? Oh gosh, that varies. Sometimes they come out pretty clean and I can finish one in a few hours. Other times they feel off and I have to keep pecking at edits for days until they feel right.
Kelly, Zeus, Trotter, Duke, Kellytwo....each waiting at the bridge for me. Each gave me their hearts for years, and at 82 I'm still not ready to meet them again, but I know they are there when it's my time. That's glory!
It is glory indeed, Joe. I will have a zoo waiting for me. And every one of them waiting with pieces of our hearts in their fuzzy little paws. The Kellytwo really got me in the soft parts.
Omg. I’m 72 years old, and I’ve spent 2/3 of my life in terrible and inhumane places…and I’m sitting here crying like a kid. Thank you for this beautiful story.
What a. Beautifully woven story. I e joy learning about the Author of the rainbow bridge. I grew up in America, on occasion I would read dear Abbey. I never read to much back then outside of school literature.
I enjoy how you brought so many timelines together, and people, and touch, and heart I to every corner of this.
When my dear kitty Isolde (nicknamed Zoldie) had to be gently euthanized (she was almost 20 years old...I had spent 1/3 of my life at that time with her), the vet sent me a card afterwards with that lovely story...and I believe every word of it. In the Bible, it says that "all Creation shall be redeemed."
The lion shall lie down with the lamb. So I firmly believe I'll see my sweet kitty again.
Oh Marianna, what a beautiful name for a kitty girl and I'm so happy Zoldie had a beautiful long life with you. I had one kitty that made it to almost 17. Her name was Cleopatra but she preferred Cleo and Peanut. Oliver got a little shortchanged and only got ten years. And I absolutely believe we will see them again, too. xo
I really love this 🫶🌟✨ It had an activation-esque effect for me, when you and your sister were looking at the stars — I’m going to write about it.. thank you for showing up and writing your heart, Linda 🌈✨
Lulu, I love that. Is there a finer compliment to any writer than to inspire someone to write? I hope you'll come back and post a link so I can come read it
I lost my labrador, Saffy on the anniversary of my husband's death. It somehow seemed appropriate, like she'd been waiting those 6 years to rejoin him. A couple months after his death, Saffy was laying on the grass just at the edge of the pasture and I noticed a shimmering of light. It was shaped like my husband. He knelt down and petted her, seemed to be talking with her and I had the intense sense that they had just agreed she would stay until I didn't need her anymore. Her sadness left and she was fully here for me for the next 5 year and nearly 10 months. Your story brought this all back to me. Thank you. It was beautiful -- the story and the memory.
Oh my gosh, Amaya, this is exactly what I mean by the glue that holds us together. And how utterly beautiful that you saw him in the light petting her. What a beautiful story and experience. The world is so full of miracles, isn't it? Thank you, too
This is a beautiful story. It's an important story. What strikes me is how urgent it feels...as opposed to the stories on news channels...which try to make you feel like they are urgent.
As an animist, we don’t have a clear idea of an afterlife, like a formal religion does, but many of us believe we go somewhere else. We do believe everything is interconnected- animals, land, plants, bodies of water, air, etc. Some of us believe in reincarnation- that our consciousness goes into a different form- some for days, seconds, years, and so on.
I had a cat named Flossie, that wasn’t a typical, independent spirit of a cat. She was incredibly empathetic, almost like a formally trained service animal. She instinctively knew as soon as I walked in the door if I had a bad day. It was eerie how tuned in she was. I’d sit, and if it was a decent day or great day, she’d bring a toy or she’d rub and purr against me for pets and playtime. But I could sit down in the same place, try to keep up a happy facade with family, and as soon as I went to a different room she’d start to meow and stare. If I sat on my chair or bed in my room, she’d jump into my lap, nuzzle my face (she only did this when she felt my mood was bad, sad, never happy) and begin to lick me with her scratchy tongue like I was a kitten. And then I’d cry. She didn’t demand we play, treats, etc. she’d just nuzzle, lick and lay over my chest or my lap and purr. I had terrible taste in boys back then, and she’d also let me know by how she reacted to them. Did I pay attention back then? Unfortunately, not until later. If she didn’t like a guy, she’d refuse to let them touch her. If she let the guy pet her, they were at least a decent human, even if it didn’t work out.
I left Flossie when I got married too young at 21. Flossie did not come around him but I was too love sick to pay attention like I should and I wasn’t home that much. I’d had her since I was 11. My mother and her bonded when I left, and she comforted my mom thru the first few years of a difficult, painful diagnosis of lupus.
When Flossie passed, my mother never got another animal. I had feral cats where I lived on the wooded property, in a lonely, bad marriage. They sometimes had litters until I was able to get them fixed.
One kitten I named Baby bonded with me; unfortunately my then husband had asthma and was allergic, so she had her own set up in our small shed/barn. I would be alone, surrounded by beautiful trees, no children yet, and Baby would walk with me and if I sat to cry in my unhappiness, would lick my tears, purr and just sit in a comforting lump in my lap. If I was fine, she’d hunt, play, bring me dead wild animal “gifts,” climb trees like a mini panther.
I think it was Flossie, but now as an outdoor feral version.
The feral rescue cat I have now named Stitch, is not Flossie, but has the spirit of a high maintenance male opera singer. Very demanding, loves to sing (yowl) especially when focus is taken from him, and underneath the bravado, a sensitive soul who just wants to be loved.
Grief manifests in so many strange ways in our lives, doesn’t it?
Oh my gosh, my kiddo had a kitty just like Flossie. Little grey tabby that broke our hearts when she had to go at almost twenty. I like to think the cats we need show up. Stitch sounds a little bit like my Oliver. You are so right, grief manifests in so many strange ways
It's just not fair to tell stories like that. Just not.
I feel like maybe that's a compliment so thank you lol
Yes ma'am, and thank you.
😢 no words
In this age of "trigger warnings" it seems appropriate for posts like this to contain a "tissue warning". I cannot hear or read the rainbow bridge story without getting misty, but this one hit me hard, reminding me of the loss of Max the Wonder Dog, so-called because everyone used to wonder just what kind of dog he was.
I am laughing and crying for Max the Wonder Dog. We had some wonder dogs, too. If there's a rainbow bridge, there's going to be a whole zoo waiting for me. If I put a tissue warning, but then someone would be sure to let me know it wasn't that sad. lol.
I hadn't thought about the possibility of non-canine greeters at the bridge. When my time comes I may be overwhelmed by a plethora of ducks, lizards, fish, gerbils, and more. Maybe even my first departed companion, a turtle, that I lost around the age of 3. I don't remember naming it, only that my mother said I cried at his passing, saying "Why did he die? He knew I loved him!" Why, indeed, do so many of our pets die when we love them so much.
If love was all it took, they'd live forever. I used to have a long haired hamster that played with the cat. I'd put him in his hamster ball and the cat would stand with his legs splayed out so the hamster could roll between his legs. They played for hours like that. They will all be waiting.
I keep telling Linda this (she does this a lot) but she keeps forgetting. 😐
Jack, I am laughing. I thought of you the minute Jim posted. lol
Hi Linda. This did make me cry but I do know that God, when he knew he was going to leave, told his friends that he was going a head to prepare a place for them. And because He's been so active and gracious and merciful in my life I know He wouldn't say it if it wasn't true. And I know it's a beautiful place beyond what we can imagine. As the song says -
"No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny."
I was raised with those same words, Marcia, and mama would swat my bottom for questioning. But when I look around and see homeless children on the streets and the religious persecution around the world, I don't know what to make of it. So I can't say I don't believe. More than I am uncertain what to believe. You know? And I'm glad you liked this, thank you :)
Jesus said in John 16:33: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” I've experienced that peace in the midst of my physical and spiritual pain. It works for me. Your story is so sweet! :) xoxo
I hear you, Linda. The world is perplexing and troubling but there are redeeming moments and so much evidence of God's love. Sometimes we get overwhelmed with all the troubling things and in some ways I think we should be, but God is still good and always with us. As Elizabeth Barrett Browning said, "All earth is crammed with heaven and every common bush afire with God. But only those who see take off their shoes..." Every day I look for that common bush. Often it's right in front of me. :)
Beautiful. I have tears in my eyes.
Thank you Vanessa :)
Whew! So tender, Linda. Thank you. How long does it take you to write a post like this? It's so clean. Cuts right to the bone.
Thank you Cate, I'm glad you enjoyed this one. As for how long? Oh gosh, that varies. Sometimes they come out pretty clean and I can finish one in a few hours. Other times they feel off and I have to keep pecking at edits for days until they feel right.
I really enjoyed this
Thank you Ken :)
Kelly, Zeus, Trotter, Duke, Kellytwo....each waiting at the bridge for me. Each gave me their hearts for years, and at 82 I'm still not ready to meet them again, but I know they are there when it's my time. That's glory!
It is glory indeed, Joe. I will have a zoo waiting for me. And every one of them waiting with pieces of our hearts in their fuzzy little paws. The Kellytwo really got me in the soft parts.
Omg. I’m 72 years old, and I’ve spent 2/3 of my life in terrible and inhumane places…and I’m sitting here crying like a kid. Thank you for this beautiful story.
You are so welcome William. It means the world to me when my stories touch another heart so thank you, too
What a. Beautifully woven story. I e joy learning about the Author of the rainbow bridge. I grew up in America, on occasion I would read dear Abbey. I never read to much back then outside of school literature.
I enjoy how you brought so many timelines together, and people, and touch, and heart I to every corner of this.
Thank you
Thank you Jake, what a beautiful thing to say. Funny how experiences sometimes connect themselves in our heads. I'm glad you enjoyed that. :)
When my dear kitty Isolde (nicknamed Zoldie) had to be gently euthanized (she was almost 20 years old...I had spent 1/3 of my life at that time with her), the vet sent me a card afterwards with that lovely story...and I believe every word of it. In the Bible, it says that "all Creation shall be redeemed."
The lion shall lie down with the lamb. So I firmly believe I'll see my sweet kitty again.
Oh Marianna, what a beautiful name for a kitty girl and I'm so happy Zoldie had a beautiful long life with you. I had one kitty that made it to almost 17. Her name was Cleopatra but she preferred Cleo and Peanut. Oliver got a little shortchanged and only got ten years. And I absolutely believe we will see them again, too. xo
I really love this 🫶🌟✨ It had an activation-esque effect for me, when you and your sister were looking at the stars — I’m going to write about it.. thank you for showing up and writing your heart, Linda 🌈✨
Xx, Lulu
Lulu, I love that. Is there a finer compliment to any writer than to inspire someone to write? I hope you'll come back and post a link so I can come read it
I lost my labrador, Saffy on the anniversary of my husband's death. It somehow seemed appropriate, like she'd been waiting those 6 years to rejoin him. A couple months after his death, Saffy was laying on the grass just at the edge of the pasture and I noticed a shimmering of light. It was shaped like my husband. He knelt down and petted her, seemed to be talking with her and I had the intense sense that they had just agreed she would stay until I didn't need her anymore. Her sadness left and she was fully here for me for the next 5 year and nearly 10 months. Your story brought this all back to me. Thank you. It was beautiful -- the story and the memory.
Oh my gosh, Amaya, this is exactly what I mean by the glue that holds us together. And how utterly beautiful that you saw him in the light petting her. What a beautiful story and experience. The world is so full of miracles, isn't it? Thank you, too
the glue that holds us together is love, shimmering taking form, giving up form ... It's such a precious hoot, painful and joy-filled.
This is a beautiful story. It's an important story. What strikes me is how urgent it feels...as opposed to the stories on news channels...which try to make you feel like they are urgent.
Thank you Kim, what a nice feeling that was.
oh, this was so powerful and sad, and lovely all at once.
Thank you, Tree. Life, you know?
As an animist, we don’t have a clear idea of an afterlife, like a formal religion does, but many of us believe we go somewhere else. We do believe everything is interconnected- animals, land, plants, bodies of water, air, etc. Some of us believe in reincarnation- that our consciousness goes into a different form- some for days, seconds, years, and so on.
I had a cat named Flossie, that wasn’t a typical, independent spirit of a cat. She was incredibly empathetic, almost like a formally trained service animal. She instinctively knew as soon as I walked in the door if I had a bad day. It was eerie how tuned in she was. I’d sit, and if it was a decent day or great day, she’d bring a toy or she’d rub and purr against me for pets and playtime. But I could sit down in the same place, try to keep up a happy facade with family, and as soon as I went to a different room she’d start to meow and stare. If I sat on my chair or bed in my room, she’d jump into my lap, nuzzle my face (she only did this when she felt my mood was bad, sad, never happy) and begin to lick me with her scratchy tongue like I was a kitten. And then I’d cry. She didn’t demand we play, treats, etc. she’d just nuzzle, lick and lay over my chest or my lap and purr. I had terrible taste in boys back then, and she’d also let me know by how she reacted to them. Did I pay attention back then? Unfortunately, not until later. If she didn’t like a guy, she’d refuse to let them touch her. If she let the guy pet her, they were at least a decent human, even if it didn’t work out.
I left Flossie when I got married too young at 21. Flossie did not come around him but I was too love sick to pay attention like I should and I wasn’t home that much. I’d had her since I was 11. My mother and her bonded when I left, and she comforted my mom thru the first few years of a difficult, painful diagnosis of lupus.
When Flossie passed, my mother never got another animal. I had feral cats where I lived on the wooded property, in a lonely, bad marriage. They sometimes had litters until I was able to get them fixed.
One kitten I named Baby bonded with me; unfortunately my then husband had asthma and was allergic, so she had her own set up in our small shed/barn. I would be alone, surrounded by beautiful trees, no children yet, and Baby would walk with me and if I sat to cry in my unhappiness, would lick my tears, purr and just sit in a comforting lump in my lap. If I was fine, she’d hunt, play, bring me dead wild animal “gifts,” climb trees like a mini panther.
I think it was Flossie, but now as an outdoor feral version.
The feral rescue cat I have now named Stitch, is not Flossie, but has the spirit of a high maintenance male opera singer. Very demanding, loves to sing (yowl) especially when focus is taken from him, and underneath the bravado, a sensitive soul who just wants to be loved.
Grief manifests in so many strange ways in our lives, doesn’t it?
Oh my gosh, my kiddo had a kitty just like Flossie. Little grey tabby that broke our hearts when she had to go at almost twenty. I like to think the cats we need show up. Stitch sounds a little bit like my Oliver. You are so right, grief manifests in so many strange ways
And just wow! Beautiful. Thanks.
Thank you so much Susan :)