Note From The Pootie Princess:
This diary was discussed with me before it was scheduled to publish. We have all lost beloved companions, and this diary is a tribute to those who have crossed The Rainbow Bridge before us...specifically Desi and Max.
Please share any pics or stories of your own beloveds. We celebrate all the joy they’ve brought to our lives and are grateful that most of them crossed in dignity.
If this diary is not to your taste, please come back and visit us another day.
MarTigress
(Please send no donations to Smokey & Tiger. They are doing fine & many Peeps have needs.)
One evening I sat at my computer. I had been absent from PWB for a while and had lots of diaries to catch up on. Tiger (the empathetic cat) came walking across the table & looked at me, rather confused. I said “What’s up Tiger Man?” He replied “You look sad tonight, but you usually look happy and giggle when you go on that page.” I explained to him that I was sad because Desi crossed The Rainbow Bridge. I enjoyed the conversations between Freddie & Desi so much! And now Freddie & Flowergirl are missing Desi.
At this point, Smokey (the inquisitive cat) joined the discussion. “What’s the Rainbow Bridge?”, she asked. I told her it’s a lovely place where sick and injured animals go. They are restored to youth and health. It’s a beautiful place with meadows, sunshine and plenty of food. Smokey said “That sounds nice, so why are you sad?” “Her mommy & Freddie will miss her a lot.” Using her best cat-logic, Smokey replied “Well, she can just walk back over that bridge to them.”
And so the discussion began. “No, it’s a one-way bridge.” “That’s silly”, Smokey responded. “Why would a cat cross a one-way bridge?” Tiger sat, pensive and quietly listening. (I knew I had to come up with an answer, or Smokey would interrogate me all night.)
“Sometimes, a cat gets very sick or badly injured and cannot live on in this world. So, it is the place where they go to alleviate their pain. They don’t always want to leave here, but we all have to someday. Dogs go there too. And birds, and ferrets, and all kinds of animals. I want to go there to be re-united with all the cats who were ever in my life.” Tiger hung onto my every word. Smokey, true to her nature, had another inquiry. “I don’t think I like that! You have a bunch of cat ashes in urns (OMG! She can read urns!) and you’re way old. I’m only 10! How many cats have you known, anyhow?” (Like I cheated on her before I ever knew her!) She continued...”I need my space -And it sounds way too crowded!” “But your mommy Maureen is there. You would re-unite with her over The Rainbow Bridge.” Both of them thought about this for a bit.
They are happy here, but at the very mention of re-uniting with Maureen who hand-raised and bottle-fed them, both cats purred. We love them a lot and treat them like royalty, but we’re no substitution for Maureen, Mommy #1.
Tiger was content as usual. Smokey’s interrogation stopped. Maybe she understood.
Liz’s Max has crossed The Bridge just this week and we remember him. This came suddenly as he recovered, so I can’t even begin to imagine how she feels.
Many of us have all suffered the losses of our companions.
Please feel free to add your companion with little about them & a photo if you like. Cat / dog / bird / ferret/ any animal, so Da Peeps can remember them together.