Trish Allearz
Moderator
We had a rough week over here... Our F2, Bean, was pregnant with a singleton baby which was unusual, but we were confident things would be okay and if not, we'd do a c-section and the baby would have a fighting chance. Sunday-- he looked great in the womb, happy little fella, rolling around and doing his thing. Monday-- he looked great in the womb and both my vet and the head repro vet said to check him the next day-- he wasn't quite ready to be born. Tuesday-- his heartbeat was gone and we had to put Bean under for an emergency c-section.
So much love and time is put into these babies-- and it doesn't matter if they make it here alive or not-- it HURTS to lose one. So in honor of all of our tiny babies who never make it into loving households-- those who die before birth, at birth, or after we've spent weeks bottle-feeding them-- I wrote this...
(FYI-- Bean is doing great. She bounced back from her surgery with headbutts and happiness abound. The kitten was perfect-- so no obvious defect to tell us what went wrong. My guess is he was just in there too long and although he didn't show signs of distress Monday, he obviously went into distress that night and we couldn't know about it. We are still heartbroken-- but we are glad Bean is doing good!)
***
Samson licked his grizzled paw as he watched his fellow felines scamper and play. A few snoozed in the variegated light of the bridge while others darted after butterflies that lazily drifted in the sky. A few of the younger kittens raced over the hammocks of grass and a striking curly-coated tortie female sat and watched them, a bemused look upon her face.
This is as close to Heaven as one can get, Samson said aloud, and then chuckled inwardly as his gaze settled upon the bright stripes which created the bridge.
Of course it is! The tortie female, Sasparilla, had quietly snuck upon him and now she sat, tail tucked primly around her colorful feet. This is the Rainbow Bridge!
Samson turned his head and slashed a warm tongue across Sasparilla’s orange and black muzzle. Oh shush, you!
She whipped her head to the side and wiped her face clean with a paw, but he heard her soft laughter in response.
This is such a beautiful place, but it’s missing something… Samson mused as he continued to watch the other cats frolic. In the distance, a shadow was forming and as it solidified into human form—that of a young man—a black and white naked tuxedo kitten’s attention immediately centered upon the shape and Shadow ran, no, raced to his human’s side.
“I’ve missed you so!” The human’s voice was alight with tears and laughter.
I’ve missed you more, the kitten replied silently, wrapping his body betwixt and around and in between his human’s legs. The purring reverberating from Shadow’s body could be heard all the way to the bridge and back.
All of the cats’ attentions were now centered upon the pair as Shadow and his human made their way to the Bridge. For a moment, all play was hushed. The sleeping cats each shook their whiskers and raised their heads, alerted to the human presence in their midst. Kitten or cat, male or female, they all recalled the feel of a human hand upon their fur, the soft brush of a kiss upon their back.
Sasparilla flattened her ears to her skull and Samson nudged his friend with a striped shoulder. Don’t worry. Your human will be here soon enough.
As they watched, Shadow and his person took a step upon the Rainbow Bridge. Red-orange-yellow-green-blue-indigo-violet washed the valley and the felines closed their eyes in response. When they opened them, the kitten and his human were gone.
Samson had been an old cat when he had passed away on Earth and his owner was a young woman just starting her life. He knew with each passing day he spent at the Bridge, awaiting Amelia, she was living a life of her own and growing older as well. He did not begrudge her his wait at the bridge. Samson would prefer Amelia to live a long, happy life on earth and when the day arrived when she passed on, he would be patiently waiting for her here. Yet, just like Sasparilla, his heart always sunk a little when a new human approached and he realized, it was not his one.
What were you saying about the Bridge missing something? Sasparilla’s curiosity could not be held back.
It is perfect here, Samson stated as he groomed a small cowlick on the tip of his black and grey striped tail into place, But perhaps it’s too perfect!
How could that be? Amusement tinged Sasparilla’s question.
We’re cats! When was the last time you got into real good trouble here? He raised a green eye questioningly.
So much love and time is put into these babies-- and it doesn't matter if they make it here alive or not-- it HURTS to lose one. So in honor of all of our tiny babies who never make it into loving households-- those who die before birth, at birth, or after we've spent weeks bottle-feeding them-- I wrote this...
(FYI-- Bean is doing great. She bounced back from her surgery with headbutts and happiness abound. The kitten was perfect-- so no obvious defect to tell us what went wrong. My guess is he was just in there too long and although he didn't show signs of distress Monday, he obviously went into distress that night and we couldn't know about it. We are still heartbroken-- but we are glad Bean is doing good!)
***
Samson licked his grizzled paw as he watched his fellow felines scamper and play. A few snoozed in the variegated light of the bridge while others darted after butterflies that lazily drifted in the sky. A few of the younger kittens raced over the hammocks of grass and a striking curly-coated tortie female sat and watched them, a bemused look upon her face.
This is as close to Heaven as one can get, Samson said aloud, and then chuckled inwardly as his gaze settled upon the bright stripes which created the bridge.
Of course it is! The tortie female, Sasparilla, had quietly snuck upon him and now she sat, tail tucked primly around her colorful feet. This is the Rainbow Bridge!
Samson turned his head and slashed a warm tongue across Sasparilla’s orange and black muzzle. Oh shush, you!
She whipped her head to the side and wiped her face clean with a paw, but he heard her soft laughter in response.
This is such a beautiful place, but it’s missing something… Samson mused as he continued to watch the other cats frolic. In the distance, a shadow was forming and as it solidified into human form—that of a young man—a black and white naked tuxedo kitten’s attention immediately centered upon the shape and Shadow ran, no, raced to his human’s side.
“I’ve missed you so!” The human’s voice was alight with tears and laughter.
I’ve missed you more, the kitten replied silently, wrapping his body betwixt and around and in between his human’s legs. The purring reverberating from Shadow’s body could be heard all the way to the bridge and back.
All of the cats’ attentions were now centered upon the pair as Shadow and his human made their way to the Bridge. For a moment, all play was hushed. The sleeping cats each shook their whiskers and raised their heads, alerted to the human presence in their midst. Kitten or cat, male or female, they all recalled the feel of a human hand upon their fur, the soft brush of a kiss upon their back.
Sasparilla flattened her ears to her skull and Samson nudged his friend with a striped shoulder. Don’t worry. Your human will be here soon enough.
As they watched, Shadow and his person took a step upon the Rainbow Bridge. Red-orange-yellow-green-blue-indigo-violet washed the valley and the felines closed their eyes in response. When they opened them, the kitten and his human were gone.
Samson had been an old cat when he had passed away on Earth and his owner was a young woman just starting her life. He knew with each passing day he spent at the Bridge, awaiting Amelia, she was living a life of her own and growing older as well. He did not begrudge her his wait at the bridge. Samson would prefer Amelia to live a long, happy life on earth and when the day arrived when she passed on, he would be patiently waiting for her here. Yet, just like Sasparilla, his heart always sunk a little when a new human approached and he realized, it was not his one.
What were you saying about the Bridge missing something? Sasparilla’s curiosity could not be held back.
It is perfect here, Samson stated as he groomed a small cowlick on the tip of his black and grey striped tail into place, But perhaps it’s too perfect!
How could that be? Amusement tinged Sasparilla’s question.
We’re cats! When was the last time you got into real good trouble here? He raised a green eye questioningly.
