Stranger Than Strange

Yesterday morning, Gracie went to join Abbie and Dave. Gracie was much older than Abbie and, frankly, it surprised me when Abbie went first. Gracie had been diagnosed with a possible tumor in her nasal cavity but, with meds, she seemed to be enjoying life. Over the weekend, she seemed to slip downhill, just a tad. On Saturday, I doubled her pain meds and she seemed to rally. On Sunday, doubled meds and she spent the day, with us, her family, on the back porch where she enjoyed the fresh air, sunshine, bird song and watching the cats play. But we knew it was time. On Monday, I drove Sophie, Sam and Grace to the vet office and we all said good-bye.

It’s been said before; grief is strange. Just when a person thinks I think I’m getting a grip, it flies in my face and, like Yogi Berra said, “It’s deju vu all over again.”
About 1:30 a.m., the night Abbie died, Jake shows up at the back door. I’d given Jake up for dead; it’s been three weeks, perhaps longer, since he’d been here. Then, I heard he was living down the road and wondered why he didn’t come ’round any more. Jake is his own dog, he comes and goes at will and Dr. Ann had given him a rabies shot. There’s no keeping Jake in the yard, unless it’s on a chain and I can’t do that. I hate seeing a dog chained! Anyway, Jake comes, stands tall and puts both arms on my shoulders and nuzzles his head in my throat. He loves to give hugs and he’s a really good hugger!

Gracie died yesterday morning, and this morning about 1:30, Jake is at the back door. Again, he comes in, gives me a hug, eats, sleeps in the kitchen and leaves this morning. How is it a dog knows what to do and goes about doing it? Unconditional love…we could all learn something from Jake and the other animals at Thistle Cove Farm.

Remember Miss Emma? A few weeks ago I posted she was missing; had gone missing about three weeks and had no idea what had happened to her.

A while ago, I came upstairs, sat down at Dave’s desk and a cat came to rub against my leg. Absently, I bent down and began rubbing her ears…I only have female cats…and glanced down. It was MISS EMMA!!! She’s a lot thinner, but healthy, and starved for affection and attention. Where has she been all this time? It’s been more than a month! Let me tell you, it was a trifle spooky when I realized it was Miss Emma! She ate a bit of supper and has been in my lap ever since; she and I can’t get enough of each other!

Sadie, Gypsy, Sophie and Sam are part of the current compliment of critters on the farm. With Miss Emma returned home, Hattie Cat and Tippy Cat our little family is complete. Or, as complete as it’s going to get this side of the veil.

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Isn’t that true in life? Firmly, I believe we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses that we cannot see with earthly eyes…humans and animals alike… God uses His animals to work His will. Remember Balaam’s ass and the colt Christ rode into Jerusalem or when the rider “Faithful and True” will ride the white stallion? The Bible abounds with stories of animals interacting with humans; those stories continue today, although, I must admit, I’m as gobsmacked as Balaam when I think about Jake, Miss Emma, etc. There are more things in heaven and earth than I could possibly dream!

Originally posted on Thistle Cove Farm.