To pet lovers (get the kleenex)

[Ardie/WI]

"Until we meet again"

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
think I am gone forever.
You recall how I looked when I left this place and you cannot remotely imagine
that I could possibly be alive 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
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 statement. 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.

[Bink]

Well, this is timely.
My favorite kitty who lives next door is ailing, and I don't think he's going to make it.

[BaronsMom]

Man, I can't even get through that....whoa. I'll just have to save for the day, I need it - hopefully I'll have another 5-6 years with my big sweeties.

[Jenn]

:waa: :waa: :waa: I need another dog or three Miss you Sheba :waa: :waa:

[bgak47]

I have 3 dogs that are in the 4-7yr old range. I'm 58. If they all live another 10yrs, I'll hopefully need another bunch to see me into my OLD age.

[sancraft]

Oh boy. Not a day goes past that I don't think about Sunshine, Cotton Candy, Gingerbread, Rollie, Buttercup, Peanut, Friskie, Melvin, Tiny, Tipper, Biscuit, Brown Sugar, Princess, Skipper, Chestnut, Betsy, Buttons, and Jill. That's a lot of love in my life. The love from an animal is like the love from a child, totally pure, totally fulfilling.

[Reauxman]

My little girl had been going down quick since early April. I knew she'd have to be going soon, but I wasn't sure when that time would come. I knew I would recieve a sign of sorts, so didn't find it odd to see this message here. I took her in to be put out of her misery on Friday.
Oreo 1/11/91-1/7/05
Love you girl, thanks for the great 13 1/3 years.