My neighbor arranged an elaborate funeral this week.
A beautiful casket lined with pink satin. A touching grave site service. An elegant marker ordered.
It was for her beloved friend and companion of 18 years. Her cat Dusty.
She is in deep grief. And feels guilt despite her vet telling her Dusty would have a terrible and painful ending unless she put her down.
She was her family.
It made me think about love – and the many forms it takes. Perhaps our pets give us the most because their love is so unconditional. They don’t ask much of us.
It reminded me of another beloved cat. I knew her and her owner well. She came to my house every week when she was dying. I wrote a poem about her.
Here is her story -
Sarah Mae Pussycat,
also known as The Queen of the Universe,
attends our weekly support group meetings.She arrives in a cardboard box,
her bright eyes dim,
whiskers tattered,
once beautiful coat
hanging dull on her body,
and lies still.Even my Doberman,
who usually takes exception
to this natural enemy,
doesn’t seem to mind.The lady she lives with
takes her everywhere now.
She is very ill.
No one should die alone.And she hasn’t seen much,
having been a house type cat.
What wisdom can you take away
if you have viewed the world
from a windowsill?Windowsills.
We sit on our windowsills.
Watching out through cloudy glass.
Peering through our drapes.
Afraid to go out, take chances –
Putting life off, sure we have time,
while our cells sign off,
quietly, one by one.
Aren’t we all critical cases?Our meeting revolve around unconditional love,
giving and the gift of receiving,
accepting others and ourselves,
just the way we are.And, on non-attachment.
Loving and letting go.As we review these principals,
our eyes shift often
to a silent cardboard box.Sarah Mae Pussycat,
The Queen of the Universe,
did not attend this week.
Is love devalued because it is for an animal instead of a person?
I don’t think so. Love is a Universal emotion.
What do you think?
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
You write beautifully about love. It doesn’t matter what the object of your love is. Love always enriches our lives. If you live alone with a pet, that pet becomes like your child in your affections. Sometimes, it even looks like your pet loves you more than your children because pets do love unconditionally.
Patricia – Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworker´s last blog ..Dreams About Tigers—What They Mean To Me
Yes, Patricia, pets do become our children. My neighbor had no children so it is the loss of her only child.
There are some studies that say that you even start to resemble your pets!
Love trumps everything. Everywhere. Everytime.
My dog of 15 years died last year. I loved loved loved him dearly. We dug a grace in our yard and my daughter painted rocks and put them all over his grave site. We still miss him. Our newest dog has been with us a month. We love him just as much. Love is love.
My son has a loving wife and son but he says when he comes home from work the biggest welcome is from Sasha, his 90 pound mixed breed bloodhound.
She goes crazy when she hears his car pull into the driveway. He says it cheers him up every day.
She then follows him wherever he goes – unless – she happens to see a squirrel through the window. That takes presidance.
It’s her favorite pastime – chasing them. Fortunately they are faster than she is.
I remember when your beloved dog died. It took the family a long time to adjust to losing him.
Glad you have a new friend. Your daughter must love having a new buddy and is happy.
You are right, there is such thing as love for animals. Unfortunately, for some, this is all they have, and not humans, family and friends. But even for those who have a loving family and circle of friends, animals can be very important. I was a kid when I had a dog, I will remember him for the rest of my life. Now, we have guinea pigs, I never thought you can get so close to those little animals. I got them for my wife and told her I won’t have anything to do with them. Well, I didn’t, until we got them home, we have had them for three years now, and even got two more.
Tom´s last blog ..A Day of A Deaf Blind Person
Hi Tom -
Yes, those little critters can be seductive.
I have a daughter who has two rats. They love her. One in particular sits on her shoulder while she is watching TV every night.
She is disappointed in me that I can’t get enthusiastic about them.
In the city of Chicago we call Rodent control right away.
(and they come right away!)
Yes, most folks would be horrified about my rats. I have had people peer into their cages and think they were perfectly nice until they saw the long tails.
Every creature, even the lowest of the low, is capable of love. My rats have shown me that.
Dawn´s last blog ..Second Hand Roses Talking Books TV Interview
Hi Corrine,
I think pets are wonderful. However right now I don’t have one, bcause I don’t want to put myself through the saddness if something happens to it. I know that is the chicken way out.
I feel that pets were put on this earth, for our enjoyment and companions at times. They are not here to take the place of humans and sometimes I feel people get the two mixed up.
When we lose a pet we have to keep in mind how they added to our lives and the joy we recieved from them,just like we do with a loved one. Everybody and everything has it purpose and that is what is important to remember when we have a lose.
My little brother always said, “There is one thing nice about a dog, if you are sad it feel sad with you, if you are happy it feels happy with you.” Isn’t this the purpose of pets. Sometimes humans won’t do this, but your pet will.
Debbie
happymaker´s last blog ..Whatever Makes You Happy, Not What Makes Society Happy!
Hi Debbie -
I know how you feel. Pets are a big responsibility. Especially, a dog.
We have had many in our family – but I had four boys to walk them.
For a while when they they all left for college, I HAD TO DO IT.
I used to put the dog in the car and drive him to the “spot!” Especially in the winter.
Now, I resent when I have to water a plant.
I am free!
I don’t know which is better, thinking about the post or some of your comments, especially the last one.
I have had a few dogs, all of them work dogs though. They lived in the barn, or a shed but not in the house. I respected them and admired them for all the work they did on our farm. I miss a couple of them for the same reasons as your son in law – they like you unconditionally. They also dislike unconditionally! People or other animals who are not supposed to be in the pack get no mercy.
I thought more though, about looking at life through the window. Never taking a chance, always living through the experience of someone else. I don’t want to do that.
Bruce “the Mid-Life Mentor”´s last blog ..Heart Disease and other vascular disease in Women part 2
Dear Bruce -
This is the last thing I would think of when I think about you -
“I thought more though, about looking at life through the window. Never taking a chance, always living through the experience of someone else. I don’t want to do that.”
Even if you wanted to, you don’t have the patience to be outside looking in or inside looking out.
You have too much experience that needs to be shared.
And you are already doing it.
Very nice observation. Love is definitely our most powerful emotion, I believe.
I just lost my pet rat, Joe. Now before anybody gets flipped out; I can attest that he was the epitomy of Love. He was always happy to see me, wanted to be held, loved, and gave love in his own little way. I truly believe my life was enhanced by knowing this little creature. Pets really make life worth living and I really appreciate your post. It’s a testimonial to the power of unconditional love.
Dawn´s last blog ..Second Hand Roses Talking Books TV Interview
So sorry, Dawn.
I know how you loved Joe and how he loved you.
As you said in your comment,
“Pets really make life worth living and I really appreciate your post. It’s a testimonial to the power of unconditional love.”
I witnessed this as I saw how quietly this little creature sat on your shoulder as you read or watched TV.
I am sure Joe is in Rat Heaven. My condolences.
Wonderful post. I don’t have a pet myself and don’t want one. However, having said that, I do have Bubba Do. My “Granddog”. And before him, there was Chiquita. Chiquita met an untimely death and it just about killed us all. It still brings tears to my eyes just to think about her. She was my daughters dog but when my mom was alive, my daughter would drop Chiquita off on her way to work and she would sit in my elderly mothers lap all day long until Julie picked her up at night.
When she died, my son-in-law paid to have her cremated and I paid to have a stainless steel heart made with her ashes inside. It may have seemed like a silly thing to do, but it gave me peace. I even took her on one of my trips to Europe. Ha
Thanks Corinne for posts that are different each time and always touching the heart in some manor or other. We out here in cyberland love you for it.
Sharon
Sharon Beck´s last blog ..Bake! Napa Valley with Alice Medrich
Sharon – you always have something wonderful to say.
I can imagine your sorrow at losing your Chitika. What a sweet thing to do – making a heart to hold her ashes.
I think we have all had a dog like that. In our family, we had Rhett. Huge dog who was no defender of the house. He let everyone in.
He could tell time. At exactly 2:45 PM every day, he stood by the front door and barked so he could walk to the corner to meet the kids coming home from school.
In the summer, he clicked on the latch of the screen door with his huge paw and let himself out.
He died of a brain tumor. I spent $500. for a brain surgeon when money was money. But it was inoperable.
I still think about him.