I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and got their fill of turkey! I got a special yummy Thanksgiving meal yesterday, and for once, Mom didn’t spend most of the day on the computer, so it was a really good day. I’m so thankful for my mom – she’s the best.
I also know that this holiday weekend is difficult for her this year. It was this time last year that my sister Buckley passed away. The actual anniversary is tomorrow, but I know Mom has been thinking about this time last year for the past few days, remembering Buckley’s last days with us in physical form, and I know that it makes her a little bit sad. Humans make such a big deal out of this death thing. I miss my sister’s physical presence, but I still talk to her all the time. She never left us, and she comes and visits all the time. She and I have a lot to talk about. We talk about what it’s like for her to be in the non-physical realm, about how happy we are that Mom’s book about Buckley is so well-received, and about how we can help Mom. Mostly, what we want Mom, and all other humans, to know is that nobody ever really dies. We just change form. The connection that we had while we were together in physical form continues beyond this lifetime. The love never dies. It’s just that when humans are so sad about not having a loved one with them in physical form, they tend to disconnect from that part of themselves that allows them to feel their connection with something greater than themselves. Humans have different terms for that – some call it Source, some call it Spirit, some call it God. Cats don’t really think about what the right word for it is. We *are* it. And it’s through that close connection that we are able to communicate with those who’ve passed over into the non-physical dimension. We cats know, and have always known, that the bond that exists between us and our humans is unbreakable.
And that’s why I’m the wise one – because I know stuff like this. It just takes humans a little bit longer to get it. My mom is pretty evolved as far as humans go (and that’s a high compliment, coming from me!), but even she gets caught up in the sadness of missing Buckley. Sometimes, Buckley and I feel like we need to hit her over the head with evidence of Buckley’s presence, and we have fun messsing with her head because she doesn’t always get it right away. But she’s coming around.
So Mom and I are spending this weekend remembering Buckley. The photo above was taken during one of our morning play sessions. I do miss those. But we still play together – it’s just different now.
To all the humans who are missing a feline or other furry companion this holiday season: find quiet time, be still, and listen with your heart. Your departed friend is never far from you.
