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Bridge Thoughts

post #1 of 26
Thread Starter 
Compared to humans, cats live relatively short lives. While these special companions are in our lives, we do our best to provide them with love, and with care. Sometimes, under the best circumstances, and sometimes under the worst, they are snatched away from us and leave us broken and confused and very sad. It takes time, after someone’s cat dies, for that owner to have the courage to land here in this forum. When they do come here, I applaud them, for it means the healing can finally begin.

For some cat lovers, they cannot even come here to read, because the sorrow is to great, the grief is to overwhelming, or they have been one of the fortunate few who have not had to make that tough decision, sign that final paper- shed the first tears of many to come, and return home with empty arms.

The poem Rainbow Bridge that says author unknown- the author is known. He is grief counselor, and he used to live in Portland Oregon. His name is Paul C. Dahm and he wrote the poem after his own pet died, so he could find his way through the sorrow and emerge somewhere whole on the other side.

Those of you, who are brave enough to post here, are on your way to finding that other side of the grief. The path is not easy for you, it is not a short walk and you will discover inner truths along the way if you do not shut down your heart.

The food bowl may be empty, and your bed may be missing that furry lump snuggled next to you- but in your heart, that special cat will ride the time with you, until one day the remembrance no longer brings with it the lump in the throat or the tears and instead you will count yourself lucky to have been blessed and bonded with such a companion as the one that enriched your life enough that you sought to leave his/her memory in Crossing The Bridge~ a very special place.
post #2 of 26
Just wanted to say that was very beautiful...
post #3 of 26
So Sweet Hissy! I can't see my screen, My eyes are all blurry

Hugs!

Sam.
post #4 of 26
post #5 of 26
Very well said,Hissy.I think this section of the site helps others who have lost a loved-one cope with eachother and help chear themselfs,and eachother up.
post #6 of 26
Quote:
Originally Posted by WellingtonCats
I can't see my screen, My eyes are all blurry

Hugs!

Sam.
Likewise.

That was so well-written, so eloquent, MA. Thank you for posting that.
post #7 of 26
Ditto!


Quote:
Originally Posted by WellingtonCats
So Sweet Hissy! I can't see my screen, My eyes are all blurry

Hugs!

Sam.
post #8 of 26
Your words are so wise Hissy.

post #9 of 26
Your words are lovely. Many thanks!
post #10 of 26
In honor of of KIKI and baby boy my orange pumpkin
post #11 of 26
I don't know why I didn't see this thread before. Hissy, everything you've said is so very beautiful and so very true.
post #12 of 26
Oh Hissy... Well said
post #13 of 26
Just wanted to say that that is terribly helpful.As I have just lost my dear Rotten this morning, I am having a really tough time dealing with it. My first thought was of this site. I knew the people on here would understand my grief! Thank you all so much for your support and knowledge!!
post #14 of 26
I cry every time I read the poem...your post was nice and comforting...THANK YOU.

I will look forward when my time comes to cross the bridge and be greeted by ALL my beloved fur babies.
post #15 of 26
Thank you, Hissy
post #16 of 26
I for one also believe that our cats can still reach us after their over the bridge. My Tigger had to be put down on July 2nd after consuming a lilly. There's another long post about it but back to the point of this post. I had been fighing a cough for almost 3 months now. XRays showed nothing and antibiotics were not working. It was getting really frustrating. I just come to the realization that the afternoon that Tigger was put down my cough has improved drastically and is now almost gone completely. I believe that after Tigger past, he helped rid me of my cough before crossing the bridge.

Our pets enrich our lives everyday they spend with us, and some even manage to help us even after they have passed.
post #17 of 26
I love the Rainbow Bridge story. Our daughter sent it to us last year in July when we lost Max. I love to think about seeing him again someday. The one year anniversary of his death is coming up. I am so dreading it. We had to put him down due to sudden kidney failure. He was my soulmate cat. Hugs to all of you with "holes in your heart" caused by losing your soulmate cat.
post #18 of 26
Their time with us is far too short.
post #19 of 26
I think that Chloe and Tiggy, my diceased cats, have listened and are happy thank you
post #20 of 26
"On the morning of Sept.11, 2001, there was an unprecedented amount of
activity at the Rainbow Bridge. Decisions had to be made. They had to be made quickly.And they were.
"An issue, not often addressed here, is the fact that many residents really have no loved one for whom to wait.Think of the pups & kittens who had lived & died hideous deaths.No one on earth loved or protected them.What about the many who spent unhappy lives tied in backyards or scrounging in dumpsters ? Think of the many who were abused. Who are they to wait for ?We don't talk about that much up here.We share our loved ones as they arrive, happy to do so.But we all know that there is nothing like having your very own person who thinks you are the most special pet in the heavens.
"That Tuesday morning a request rang out for pets not waiting for a specific person to volunteer for a special assignment. An eager, curious crowd surged excitedly forward. They were told that all at once over 4,000 loving people had left earth long before they were ready.
"All the pets, as pets will, felt the humans' pain deep in their hearts.'May I have one to comfort?' asked a rabbit.One fluffy kitty asked,"Are there any children?I would be very comforting because I 'm soft & squishy, & I love to be hugged.'
" A group of Dalmations came forward to meet the firemen & their friends.The larger, working breeds offered to greet the police officers & to make them feel at home.
" Little dogs & cats offered to do their best to cuddle & kiss.Pets who had never had a kind word or a pat on the head, stepped forward & said"I will love any human who needs love." Then all the pets rushed to the Rainbow Bridge & stood waiting, overflowing with love to share !"

This parable, author unknown, appeared in a column written by Fr. Joe Breighner, in "The Catholic Review" in Baltimore Maryland.-------from catcat
post #21 of 26
Beautifully stated, Hissy.
post #22 of 26
Although we now have three new kittens who run and play and love the way that Kittens do, The thoughts of My buddy Kira, a tuxedo male who I lost in october of 2007 continue to visit me from time to time

When those thoughts of my little buddy come to mind, I read through the rainbow bridge passage, and sometimes fall apart for a few seconds at the part where there is something missing in his life..

The new Kittens are very special to me, but I still take time to feel the loss of my buddy Kira.
post #23 of 26
Hissy that was absolutely beautiful and has helped me find some solace in this otherwise very depressing day. It is hard dealing with such strong emotions at one time, but I know I will get through it somehow.

Also, the Sept. 11 thing was beautiful too. Crying lots and lots now!!!
post #24 of 26
ONG OMG that wsa the most sweetest thing i've ever seen in this life
post #25 of 26
AMEN!!!!! The first post I made here after I lost my Ashley, I could barely type for crying. It still hurts, and will for a while. But it helps to talk about it with those who understand. And that makes this forum essential for pet lovers like us.
post #26 of 26

March 27, 2012 will be the two-year anniversary of the death of my 20-year-old cat, Coco.  She was originally my mom's cat, but because mine as well.  Coco was jet black, except for a white spot on her chest and a few white hairs here and there on her feet.  She was very slender, and named after French designer Coco Chanel, who invented the little black dress.

 

Coco came into our lives when she was 13.  She and her buddy were abandoned by their previous owner.  He moved away, and left them behind.  Those two sat on the porch of the house for months, waiting for him to come home.  Even when it rained, there they sat.  One day, Coco's buddy was killed by a dog.  A neighbor buried him in her yard.

 

Now Coco was alone.  But she still sat, now on the lawn, waiting for her owner to come home.  My mom started feeding her, but felt so bad, watching this cat waiting for an owner who'd never be back, that she took her in.

 

Coco was a very affectionate cat who liked nothing more than to curl up with us when we were reading, sleeping or watching T.V.  She'd give a little "prrrtt" to signal that she was about to jump on a lap, the bed or the couch, and there she was.

 

When my mother decide to move, renting a room from a friend, Coco started to go downhill fast.  Within a week, she was dead -- euthanized by the vet.  I knew why.  Coco smelled my mom's friend's dogs, and after losing her buddy to a canine, she was not about to move in a house with dogs.  She went from healthy to dead because she had decided she wasn't going to go to her new home.  She started saying good-bye, giving us extra attention.  Then, three days before she died, her breathing became labored, she was listless and refused to eat.  Finally, on the day my mom moved out, Coco died.

 

She was cremated, and her ashes are now in a beautiful wooden box with her name and dates of birth and death.  The vet, too, thought Coco decided to leave this earth because she didn't want to be with dogs again.

 

Rest in peace, Coco.  You brought us a lot of love and laugh.

 

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