A little over 3 weeks ago we lost our cat Scooter. As I would do every night, I took a shower, and Scooter would always be there on the sink, drinking water from the fawcet, waiting for me to finish my shower. He did this every night. Tonight after my shower as I was drying myself off, I noticed in the fog on the mirror, two small paw prints. Scooter was the only cat that would ever be in the bathroom on the counter while I showered.

I never noticed those paw prints until tonight. I had a bad morning and was very teary and upset, missing Scooter. I realize that those paw prints were placed there by him while he was here with us physically? :He used to love to look at himself in the mirror. But, I truly feel that he showed me those paw prints, just to let me know he is near, never forgotten, and always in our hearts.

See The Post For My Scooter

Trish,
I think I'd probably never clean that mirror again. If you never saw them there before, I don't know what could have caused them physically. You've grieved so deeply over Scooter, maybe he felt you'd be closest to him when you were getting into or out of the shower. What a beautiful message he sent you - I can't think what else it would be. Bless his little sweet heart! Take care - Barbara

Barbara - You can be certain I will never clean that mirror again. I even called my husband into the bathroom to see. Of course when he opened the door, the fog on the mirrors started to go away, but my husband just blew on the mirror to fog it up again, and saw the two paw prints. A miracle and a true sign from Scooter.

Trish

I love that! I remember, a few months after my beloved dog went to Heaven, that I was reading an old book from our collection and found some of my dog's hairs inbetween 2 of the pages. I have also, over the months, found some of his rawhide chews hidden in certain places. He used to like to hide them in strange, out of the way places and I found them when I was doing spring cleaning. All those occasions brought on floods of tears too.

Last night after I took my shower, I looked for the paw prints that were so visably there the other night. This time, the paw prints were not there. I did not clean the mirror and niether did my husband(I asked him). I was so dissapointed when I did not see them. I miss Scooter so much. Mornings are especially hard, because I am here alone with my 3 other furbabies. It is so quiet, and I have to force myself out of bed. Just thinking of somthing to do, is an effort. I do try and get out. I've been to the animal shelter twice so far, but, ther is no conection with any cat yet (besides the kittens). I really don't want a kitten(I don't think). I was hoping to find a young cat, but wonder how it would fit in with my three other cats. Anyway, it really doesn't matter, because like I said, there has been no connection with any cats there. Maybe they sence I'm really not ready. Why do I go then? Does it make any sense that I think I'm looking for a cat that looks like my beloved Scooter? I guess I don't really know what I want. What I want can't happen because he's no longer here, but at peace. I wish I could find some kind of comfort. I have here, but it hurts so bad still. This is the only place I can come and talk about how I feel, and I feel like the hurting is all raw again, just like that first day without him. I know it is said that with grief you can move back and forth between stages, but this hurts as bad as before. Help me, if you can if anyone reads this.

I guess we all feel that these messages will always be there, but maybe part of the message is that even if the physical presence of Scooter isn't there, his spirit is, even if it doesn't show itself. I think every loss teaches us something in some way - I have to think that something positive is present in every experience we go through - maybe the ephemeral sight of those paw prints of Scooter's means that even if you can't see evidence of him physically, he is there in spirit.

If I were to pass tomorrow, I like to think that I would always be there spiritually for my kids, for instance, and they'd know it and find comfort in that. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but sometimes if all you can comfort yourself with is wishful, then wish away, I say.

I know it hurts, and hurts so badly sometimes that you can't believe you can live through it, and you wonder how humanity can go on if so much pain is present. If I could take some of the pain away, or hold it for you for a time, I would in a minute. But please know, you aren't alone, and we all care and know how acute the agony can be. It's far, far worse than physical pain, cause it's unrelenting at times. Even in labor (which as a mother of five and former OB nurse I can claim some knowledge of) you have time between contractions - well, there are times when this pain is so continuous and acute that you just can't believe it.

I don't know if any of this has helped you in any way, but we're here for you, and we will help you through this, and in time, you will help someone else with what you've learned. That's why we're here, so come back and let us know how you're doing. Please take care - Barbara