Memorial Garden

Across our driveway we have a place where we bury our ferrets and cats that have left us for the Rainbow Bridge. In the spring we have a lot of beautiful spring bulbs coming up to bloom; lots of little crocus and gorgeous big daffys. I wanted something more there, something more than just a small stone to mark their place and time here on earth.

I have to think I will see my cats and ferrets again someday, that is the only way I can give them up, as long as I have the assurance I will see them again.

I have tried to imagine what it is like for my wee-ones; leaving earth behind and flying across the dark night sky on their way to the Rainbow Bridge, awaking when they get there and seeing everything with new eyes, old limbs young and supple again in perfect working order, frail old bodies young once more in perfect health. I have wondered many times do they think about us, do they wonder where we are, will they see us again someday. I too wonder the same thing and hope that I will. If God created us and made arrangements for us to go to a wonderful place, why wouldn't He make a special place for our pets we love so much.

Many times I have imagined life at the Rainbow Bridge for my cats and ferrets waiting there for me. Angles with balls of yarn and other small toys for my cats to play with. Other angels rolling snow balls for the ferrets and playing with them. I can just imagine the angel who takes a moment to sit down, take off their halo, reach in their pocket for a polishing cloth to remove the smudges and when they reach for it again, they find it gone and you can just bet who has ran off with it. (StinkyBob, you take that angel's halo back where you found it) And for any ferret who brought crocheted ferret eggs from home, you better hide them well otherwise Mz. Derby will cabbage onto them all and you will have none.

I hope and pray the Rainbow Bridge is everything we have been told it is, grassy fields, skies more blue than we have ever seen, an endless supply of ferret kibble, forever running ferretone streams, a dirt mountain to dig in, sock mountains with an endless supply of dirty socks for my fuzzies, tube races, and a clear sparkling reflecting pond so my angels can look in and see that John and I still miss them, talk about them, still love them and look forward to the day we will see them again.

I want to see the green fields of catnip bushes for my cats, a never ending supply of mice they can chase but never catch, saucers of thick rich cream sitting everywhere for them, bowls of kitty kibble around every corner so they never go hungry, endless streams of sparkling clear water, bunnies they can sit and converse with, baby kittens coming to the Bridge and having no mommy there with them; they will find a gentle kitty willing to take them and raise them as her own; this is my idea of the Rainbow Bridge.

After putting a lot of thought and effort into our project, this is what we came up with, a Memorial Garden tribute to our ferrety and kitty angels who have gone on ahead without us.

I lost my beloved ShelbyCat April 12, 2009. Shelby had been with me since 1992 and she was my little buddy. Shelby had gotten on in her years, she was believed to be 17 or maybe even 18 at the time she passed. I got her in the spring of 1992 and she was a year maybe a year and a half old when she came to me. Shelby had to have an ear polyp removed in December of '08 and at that time we were aware of a heart murmur she had. Her vet and I discussed this as I was very concerned about her being put out with general anesthetic but the ear polyp was bothering her so much it had to be removed. He assured me he would only give her enough of a quick acting anesthetic to get her out for a very short time allowing him to remove the polyp and her feeling little to no pain.

Shelby was never the same after having the polyp removed and I have wished a million times I had not gone ahead with the procedure but at the same time I couldn't leave her in such discomfort with the ear poly bothering her so much. She developed pneumonia in the following weeks after the procedure and we very nearly lost her. I told her over and over how sorry I was for going ahead with that procedure but she was digging at her ear, it was bothering her terribly. God I hope she forgives me for doing that, I hope and pray she knows I was doing what I thought was the best for her.

The whole thing was too much for her and I lost her on April 12, on Easter Sunday at 11:15 that night. I was holding her, she whimpered a few time, drew a deep sigh and that was it. I had been holding her talking to her, I knew she was going and her beautiful little face was soaked with my tears. I loved her so much and I still miss her terribly, she was my best friend, my little buddy. Shelby could be a HUGE pain in the arse, she was UNGODLY spoiled, she could be very sassy and moody but God how I loved her. On days when I was not feeling well or days when I was having very bad back pain, Shelby would come and lay with me. She always seemed to know when I was in pain and she would be right there with me.

Days before Shelby passed, I had been talking to her telling her all about the Rainbow Bridge. I told her when she got there she would be able to see again; Shelby had gone blind in the last few months she lived. I told her about all the beautiful things she would see when she got to the Rainbow Bridge. I assured her she would have a brand new heart; no more heart and lung problems, she would be young and completely healthy once more.

I don't remember the loss of one of my cats ever hurting me as it has having to give up Shelby. For days afterwards I felt such crushing pains in my heart and it felt like I couldn't catch my breath. I still go and sit at her little grave and talk to her, I miss her so much, the pain is still as fresh as it was the day it happened. I had hoped she would somehow manage to get back to me, she did once before (that is another story) but so far she hasn't.

We found a beautiful plaque to go on Shelby's stone and the inscription so true, I feel a part of me is gone since loosing my beautiful Shelby.

For days Shelby I have stood at your grave and wept,
But I know that you are not there.

Instead you are the in the soft winds that blow,
Just as you are found in the October leaves that turn to gold.

I see you in the first December flakes of snow,
Just as you can be found in the Christmas lights that glow.

I look for you in the first drops of spring rain,
As I dream the memories I have of you
Over and over again.

Instead, I know that you are not in that grave so deep,

You live on deep in my heart
The memories I have of you
To always and forever
Cherish and keep.

I have lived on this property since 1981 and this is my tribute to all the wee-ones who have gone on before me.

Cats: Molly, Tigger, Speedy, Brandy, Sandy, Andy, Fuzz, Smokey, Fritz, Panda, Annie, Peachy, Curly, Seamore, Captain, Garfield, Squeaker, Mork, Snuggy, Mindy, Sonny, Buffy, Muffin, Douglas, Abby, Hoppy, Saddie, Peanut, Smudge, Pickles, Cocoa, Tiny, Chaloe, Lucky, Whiskers, Benny, Ronnie, Maggie, Rudy, Chompurr, Smokey, Muggsey, Scooter, Andy, Stormy, Rocky, Sandy, PC, Chuck, Cookie, Ginger, Louie, Chuck, Bear, Sissy, Mr. Bill, Mz. Kitty, Fuzz, Murphey, and my beloved Shelby.

Ferrets: StinkyBob, Peanut, Blossom, Hershy, Derby, Mickey, Jewel, Beepers, Sprout, Ziggie, Sylvia, Rosie, Toonie, Nestlee, Cody, Soda, Buster, Maggie, Buffy, Gypsy, Tigger, Tuffy, Cocoa, Cyndie, Mickie, Ollie, Pinky, Tucker, Nibbie, and Jackpot.

So for me, I have to believe I will see them all again, otherwise I could never give them up. Sleep well my angels, I hope to see you again soon,