It's been one year to the day since we lost our beloved cat Scooter. He was only six years old, and had kidney failure. It has been a long, sad year, but we have also had blessings also. After we lost Scooter, we lost 5 people very close to us. Three, to a murder suicide, and one was a close friend of my husband who died suddenly. The other was a woman we worked with for many years. It seemed as if the sorrow would never end. If not for this forum, and being able to express my deep sorrow, helplessness, anger, and other emotions, I don't think I could have made it through.I have met many wonderful people here, and I want to thank you so much for all of your kind words and help and shoulders to cry on. But, I want to thank someone special that I met on this forum. We'd both lost our cats very close to one another, and we started writing back and forth to one another through this year. We have shared so much with one another, and helped each other through sad personal times as well as shared happy times too. Without her, especially to this day, I doubt that I could have remained sane throughout all of the tragedy we've suffered this year. And her name is Barbara (Scatsmom) on the board here. I hope she doesn't mind, but she has become my closest friend. We both feel that our furbabies that passed on, did bring us together to help one another through.
Recently, Barb, had lost her cat Shadow, and had been missing for more than 40 days. I know she posted about it here. Through prayers every day and night, and thinking positive thoughts, we could only hope for a miracle. As each day went by, it was getting more difficult to think there could be a good outcome, but I still had faith that Shadow would return home. And, one day, before the anniversary of Scooters passing, SHADOW WAS FOUND AND RETURNED HOME.
Barb and I both feel that Scooter had somthing to do with Shadow being found and brought to a shelter.
A while ago, I'd had a dream that I shared, about Scooter, and could not understand it. I saw Scooter, and he appeared to be in a scene where there was a lot of chaos, and damage. I didn't recall him looking at me, but it was definitely Scooter in the dream. My friend came to the conclusion, after a lot of thought, that Scooter was there helping others to cross, or find their way home. It would have been like Scooter to do that. He was a brave little guy.
Anyway, after Scooter passed, we swore that we would never adopt any more cats. I started volunteering at the local shelter an went a few times a week. My husband knew that somthing more would come of this, and somehow, I feel that Scooter sent us to Marcel, whom we adopted,. We were back to four cats again. Marcel does so many of the same things that Scooter did, one of them, is how he would wrap his paws around my arm and snuggle with me, and Marcel does this too. There are other things, but Marcel has brought us joy.
We thought we were done with adopting. My son could not keep his 9 year old cats, and surrendered them to the shelter. I didn't think we could handle 2 more cats into our household. My husband I visited Astro and Dante at the shelter a few times, but then then got sick, and were put into isolation and on medication. We were still allowed to visit them in a special room, and we made sure to wash our hands before we came home, and even washed our clothes, to make sure we wouldn't spread any infection to our cats at home. Astro and Dante recovered, and the shelter wanted us to take them, because they'd not been adopted out, and were running out of space, and the alternative was unthinkable, so we rushed over and adopted both Astro and Dante. So, after swearing to never adopt any more cats, we've found more than enough room in our hearts to love for all six of our cats.
It has been a long year for sure, and so much pain and many tears shed. Just yesterday, we learned of another family friend that has passed, and another friend has cancer that has spread. Somtimes all you can do is cry, and we have. But, prayer, has helped so much, at least with me. And, of course, my friend Barb,
A while ago, we found a video tape of Scooter, in a camera we were going to get with, but checked to see what was on the tape. What a blessing finding and having that tape has been. A living reminder of our baby, healthy and happy, and of course, his cat bark, was caught on the tape also.
At some point, I'd come up with the idea of a memorial garden for Scooter with a bridge, to symbolize the "Rainbow Bridge". I'll try and attach a few pictures of it. Planting this memorial garden for Scooter, has helped so much. It will be a loving project in the works, as we will add other annuals each year.
I'm sorry this post is so long, but I've needed to come here and express my thoughts and thanks, and my sympathy to all of those who have had to come here.
"GOD DIDN'T PRMISE DAYS WITHOUT PAIN, LAUGHTER WITHOUT SORROW, SUN WITHOUT RAIN. BUT, HE DID PROMISE STRENGTH FOR THE DAY, COMFORT FOR THE TEARS, AND LIGHT FOR THE WAY'
My love to all of you
Scooters mom
Sharon
