Showing posts with label Death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Death. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 7

Last Days Spent with a Bewhiskered Friend ........................6/7/11 Alexander Part II

I used a glass bowl, like this one, to give Alexander the Gray water
     Good evening,
More about my dear friend, Alexander the Grey(t), in a minute----after getting in my gratitudes.

     I'm excited; today was terrific. Met with clients this afternoon. Afterwards, I met with friends who own businesses. There was energy, balanced with wisdom.  I'm thankful for my notes. There were ideas aplenty mentioned that I'll apply to my work.

My Gratitudes for Today:

1. My car is fixed. I'll pick it up up tomorrow. I appreciate the flexibility and independence of having a set of wheels.
2. It's fulfilling, working on my business plan. I'm seeing results. I'm thankful for increasing awareness about the shape and direction of my work, along with greater effectiveness.
3. I'm working with others, who support me as I take my business to a higher level.
4. I heard someone talk today. It was encouraging hearing about him succeeding in today's economy. .And he has a regular job!
5. It's motivating seeing  my vision becoming increasingly clear. You may want to see my previous post for details.

Buddy Time with a Cat in Decline

     Alexander, my friend's cat, is still kicking. Although, it's no longer with his hind feet. It's his heart that perseveres. I dropped by his house and helped out earlier today. He no longer walks.

     I love his quiet determination. I witnessed him using his two front paws, pulling himself along the carpet, as he tried reaching the litter box. A feline diaper, he now wears. I picked my furry friend up, held him in the box and removed his undies. He took care of business.

     Afterwards, outside, on a big pillow, like the royal pasha he is, I transported him. Laying on his side, unable to move, he viewed the rows of Redwood trees in his backyard. The moment reminded me of a scene from the movie Solyent Green, where Edward G. Robinson went to end his life.

     In the film, Robinson reclines, drinks something that will do him in. Before his eyes, he views films of nature and listens to music, before passing on. Once outdoors, Alexander's ears perked up. His eyes darted.

     Neighboring cats, Sammy the Siamese, Benjamin, the tuxedo cat and Freddy, the puffy, big, half-feral black cat, came by to sniff him and say good bye, real gentle like. After the feline visitors departed, we sat, watching darting flies---cats notice the darnedest things----butterflies and the occasional flitting of a bird. I swear I saw a smile creep upon his bewhiskered face. Alex had been cooped against a wall in the kitchen, all day, until then.

    When I returned him to the house he owns, that he shares with the resident, Arlene, I thought he might be thirsty. Outside, the sun, at length, had caressed his back.  A small glass water bowl was brought to Mr. Grey(t).  As I approached, water splashed in the bowl.  His eyes expanded, reaching out for it, like a cartoon character seeing something that captures its fancy. With the water bowl standing on his pillow, inches from his face, Mr.Gray was unable to drink.

    No longer can he sit or stand. This being the case since Monday.  Tenderly, from behind, I pulled him up with a hand on each of his sides, allowing his scrawny body to stand, in front of the shimmering bowl. He lowered his head and drank and drank and drank.

    I'm thankful for simple pleasures.  I never realized how satisfying it is doing hospice care, tending to a dying cat, taking time to slow down and listen, as Alexander spoke to me with his beautiful green eyes.

    For the first story in this series, please read here. 

Sunday, May 15

Reassuring a Little Girl

   
       Dear denizens of the Attitude of Gratitude Inn,
This story was forwarded to me this weekend. On the off chance that you haven't read this story, which is attributed as true, I share it with you. I especially relate to it.  A cat dear to me is dying: Alexander the Gray. He's an intelligent, spiritual, silvery-tipped, Russian Blue. Alexander has been getting subcutaneous fluids for over two years, due to renal failure.His medications now make him wobbly. His gig is almost up.

       The other day, when I dropped by, he got between me and the laptop I was using while waiting for my friend, who lives at Alex's house.  His big eyes stared into mine, quietly---but persistently---they pled for affection. I'm a sucker when gently entreated. Together, he and I spent time; he received the unique back rub down his spine that I give, which he likes. I sure would like someone from the Dead Letter Department of the local post office to send me a comforting letter, when Alex goes to cat heaven. May the tale that follows warm some cockles within your bosom, thereby contributing to your attitude of gratitude today. 

       May this Lord's Day bless you and yours,  

      The Innkeeper
******************************************************* 

     Our 14-year-old dog Abby died last month.  The day after she passed 
away my four-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about 
how much she missed Abby.  She asked if we could write a letter to God 
so that when Abby got to heaven, God would recognize her.  I told her 
that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:
 
     Dear God,
 
Will you please take care of my dog?  She died yesterday and is with you
in heaven.  I miss her very much. I'm happy that you let me have her as
my dog even though she got sick.  I hope you will play with her. She likes
to swim and play with balls.  I'm sending a picture of her so when you 
see her you will know that she is my dog.  I really miss her.
  

     We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abby and Meredith
and addressed it to God/Heaven.  We put our return address on it.  Then
Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she
said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. 
That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office.  A 
few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet.  I told her that 
I thought He had.
 
       Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front 
porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand.  Meredith opened it. 
Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.'  Taped to 
the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened
envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abby & Meredith 
and this note:
 
      Dear Meredith,
 
Abby arrived safely in heaven.  Having the picture was a big help; I
recognized her right away.  Abby isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here
with me just like it stays in your heart.  Abby loved being your dog.
Since I have a pretty good memory,  I'm sending Abby's picture
back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to 
remember Abby by.
 
      Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping 
you write it and sending it to me.  What a wonderful mother you have.
I picked her especially for you.  I send my blessings every day and 
remember that I love you very much.  By the way, I'm easy to find. 
I'm wherever there is love.
 
      With all my Love,

 
          
God

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      Let me know what you think.

Quotes from the Posts

"I'm mindful that our thoughts affect the words we use, our words influence our actions, our actions shape our character and our character determines our destiny."

From "My Character Determines My Destiny." To read it, please click here.

"Progress not perfection, is better than no progress at all, especially when we're trying to rid ourselves from unwelcome dragons that dwell within the closets of our soul."

From, "Still Learning" which, within four days, became the most popular post
written. To read it, please click here.

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its trouble, but it does empty today of its strength"
From the post: "Life Is Not a Correspondence Program." Click here to read it.

"Even though we cannot control our circumstances, we can control how we choose to respond to them."

From, "Handling Stress and Dealing With an Emotional Bully."Click here to read this post.

"Nope, being busy isn't exciting. Boring is good. Because boring is not boring; boring is being healthy, living a balanced life that has serenity"

From: "Do You Know What It Means If You Are Too Busy?" For more, please click here.

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