To love those whose lives are ephemeral, shorter than ours, is a heroic choice. We, who chose to love those who will not outlive us, whose lives are shorter and more fragile, have made a choice to have our hearts broken. In this endeavor, we prepare ourselves, as little as we can, for the inevitable parting. What can comfort us? That the inevitable parting will one day be a great reunion. Thus, we celebrate the Rainbow Bridge.
Yet, we on the other side, must awake to the lonely bed and the empty bowl. We must look though the corners of our eyes for a sign in the shadows, or wait for a sign in our dreams. These will show for many of us. But small comfort for the loss of the dear fur baby who has gone before us.
To bring a tear to our eyes,
and perhaps, some hope, is the Rainbow Bridge. I have have seen it in a dream. A dear foster kitty, named for me as Jenny, died unexplicably in her new adopters home. No one told me. I was "Just" a foster parent, although I had brought her from many vets, to rescues, attempts to be homed, fostered her myself, and then the adoption that culminated her life was the end of her life. I will never know how or why, that information was withheld from me, the one who no doubt loved her the most.
I awoke one night with her kitty paw steps over my bed. I knew her steps. She was functionally blind, a diagnosis I was grateful to receive from my respected, and now retired, vet at Pender Veterinary Center. It was after her crossing. She came back to check, to say goodbye, may I hope to say thank you?
Another night, I dreamt I saw her cross a street. At first I wanted to catch her to prevent a runover. But she made it to the other side of the street and there I saw an abundant, verdant landscape, filled with many happy animals, even gorillas, rejoicing and being in peace.
I was gifted with a vision of the Rainbow Bridge. For this, I am forever grateful. My other fur babies will cross over. For this, I reserve my vacation time, I pray and rejoice in our present love. The day will come when my human, fleshly palms will not be able to caress them.
Now, to comfort all readers, and myself, here is a poem:
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... Author unknown...