In Memory of Pixie

Tonight, we took part in a local humane society's fundraiser called "Dining Out for Animals." Several restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds from today's diners to the humane society. Jack and I toasted Pixie with his cup of milk and my glass of water. And on the receipt, I wrote, "In Memory of Pixie." It felt good to take a momentary break from the grief and celebrate her life while helping other shelter animals. And the food wasn't bad either.

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers.
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs
carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you
cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses
rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once
more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never
absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

(Author unknown)

Goodbye to a Dear Friend

I wasn't looking for an addition to the household, but a friend who wanted to adopt a cat asked me to go with her to the local humane society in 1997. I probably knew I was doomed before I set foot in the shelter. I have a tendency to get caught up in emotions even when they don't belong to me. I'm like a sponge and whether the emotion belongs to a human or animal, it hits me to the core.

There was so much sadness and longing in that shelter. A Tortie Point Himalayan caught my attention. She looked matted. She had the bluest, most beautiful, human-like eyes I had ever seen in a cat. It didn't take me long to decide to adopt her. The ladies at the front desk admired my choice. Not many people adopt the older cats. Many look for kittens. They didn't know how old my cat was because she had been homeless.

Pixie died this morning. After watching her not eat or drink for the past couple of days, I made the most humane decision I could. I couldn't bear to see my precious girl in pain. She was no longer the frisky cat she had always been. She had been struggling with an illness over the past several months. She had been on and off medicine based on the vet's recommendations. And I think she was ready to go. Pixie tried to seclude herself all weekend, although I kept finding her and telling her all the things I should have told her over the past ten years. I even tried to give her extra lap time, something she always craved and would have been happy just doing most of her days.

In the vet's office this morning, before she was given the first sedation shot, Pixie nestled up to my chest as if to say, "I'm ready to go mom." She didn't cry when the vet administered the first shot and after several minutes, she fell into a deep sleep.

I didn't want Pixie to die, but I know she's in a better place now. She's in heaven with all the energy of her youth. She's getting as much lap time and outside air time as she wants. Before we stepped inside the vet's office today, I pointed her towards the sunrise and told her that she would see even more vibrant and glorious sunrises in heaven. After all, according to Isaiah,

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatted calf together; and a little child shall lead them. (Isaiah, 11:6)

I believe animals go to heaven. Some will argue that animals don't have souls, but I've known animals that are more compassionate than humans. Pixie offered her heart and I wish I would have offered more of mine.

When I came home with Pixie, I saw a sight on the living room floor that I had never seen before, probably because I'm not usually home at that time or I'm running after Jack on the weekends. I saw a rainbow spectrum on the floor. To me, a rainbow means new life and a promise of hope. We saw a rainbow on the morning Jack was born. At the time, I remembered thinking, maybe Jack will be born today and we saw him for the first time that evening.

This passage from Genesis gives me hope:

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. (Genesis, 9: 13-15).I have many regrets of not spending enough quality time with Pixie and for taking for granted that I would always have time to do more with her. So, please give your precious ones some extra love. My remaining kitties and puppy have been smothered with love this evening.

Busy Week/Weekend

Spring Break has never meant much to me. During my college years, I was often working a part-time job. Once, I had all four wisdom teeth taken out without being put out. That's a "holiday" I'll never forget. Mom thought I could get it all done with our regular dentist, so off we went. Towards the end of my appointment and visualization technique that I was on a Hawaiian beach and had lost twenty pounds, a tip of the guy's instrument broke off in my gums. Ironically, he had to send me to the oral surgeon I wanted to see in the first place. By the time the surgeon could see me, my mouth was too swollen. Gulp. I got a double dose of iron that day. Oh, and some rough pain killers. But I digress.

Anyway, it was Spring Break for all the young and old kiddos around here which meant that our daycare provider was off. Luckily, Aunt EE and my mom were able to watch Jack. Also, Mike and I were able to take a day off. On Wednesday evening, I received a call from Jack's birth mother. She had a day pass from a military training facility. Could we come down?

Jack and I were able to go see her on Thursday and we had a wonderful time. Jack wore the t-shirt his birth mother made him with her military picture. I hope she passes her training and PT test soon. We're anxious for her to get out of there and back to college.On Friday, mom, Jack and I went rummage saling. We had fun, actually finding Jack a little kitchen set. He loves it. It's still in my trunk though. I guess now's the time to tell my husband about another toy for a house with little room left. Surprise! This is a tricky way for me to know when he reads my blog.

Weekend in Review

We had a fun, busy weekend. On Saturday, we visited the local Train Show. Jack enjoyed watching the "trus" or "trucks" as he calls all vehicles. It was pretty incredible. There were several train tracks and some contained elaborate towns and cities with big buildings, little oil drillers and even working railroad crossings. Grandpa and Grandma treated us to a chicken/roast beef dinner at a parish fundraiser today. Afterwards, we had lots of fun back home, letting loose outside, hanging with Meaghan and Garrett.
"Hey buddy! Can you give me a lift?" I think Jack was out of gas at this point.Funny things said by Meaghan:
As we drove to the parish fundraiser, I jokingly told mom that she looked like a
"H-O-A-R" because Meaghan had painted her nails red. Mom never paints her nails so it's totally out of character for her. Meaghan then proceeded to call herself a "day mistress" and mom a "dark mistress." Imagine that. Mom, a woman of the night.
As we played outside, we pretended that Meaghan's bike was broke and that I was the fix-it lady at the repair shop. She explained that her boys, "Gosh and Dang" had messed with it. The second time she explained her story it sounded more like "Josh and "Dane" but I thought the first names were more appropriate.Grandma and Jack looked like twins in their black sweat shirts and blue jeans. By the look on Jack's face, it must be time to go!

Jack's books (and mine) find a home

Grandpa recently made a shelf for Jack's books. It is a very nice book shelf that ended up just a little big because Grandpa didn't want to waste any wood. He and Grandma delivered the shelf this afternoon so we organized our books tonight. Jack even got in on the fun.

Ketchup is not a food group

Please tell my little man that. Apparently, ketchup goes well with fries, fish, vegetables. You name it, he dips it. It's also very tasty by itself.