RAINBOW
RIDGE
The Bridge
AS LIFE ITSELF, THE OTHER SIDE
IS HOME TO THE VERY YOUNG
AND THE VERY OLD. THIS PAGE
IS MADE IN REMEMBRANCE
OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR "FLUFFY FAMILY"
FAMILY WHO HAVE CROSSED THE BRIDGE.
You may find it strange so many of
my friends have passed away.
Please remember, most of these cats
are strays and it has taken
months to gain thier trust. Some are
already suffering from
a commucable diseases on their arrival,
I fear, but they too
need love and a home.
May this
light shine brightly for all the loved ones we have lost.
FOUR EYES
April 3,2000
Dear Sir,
You trusted me today.
YOU FINALLY TRUSTED ME. I betrayed you.
Totally and with forethought, I betrayed you.
The story starts
in 1998. You came to my home looking for a handout.
What a handsome Man you were. You were plump with a very regal appearance
about you. A large head with greenish yellow eyes. You were mostly
white,
but you had two large black spots, one over each eye. You were given
an
American Indian name. Four Eyes.
You were
always very patient. You always waited till others had eaten
before you ate. Thus began your stay here. At first you were not
seen often. As
time went on, you left less often. You stayed on the porch until
5 p.m.. If you
had not eaten by then, it would be to late. You were gone. About
six months
ago you were seen more often, except around 5 p.m.. Where you went
will
always be a mystery.
About
3 weeks ago, your home was finally here. No more did you leave,
even at 5 p.m.. I could finally pet you. I did notice you had lost
a lot of weight. No
longer did you have a beautiful coat. It was dull and dirty. You
now even rubbed
against me.
A week ago I noticed you was sleeping on the mat outside the front
door.
You would sit and watch us inside the house. I came a sat with you
a few times.
You seemed to know you were really home and seemed to know I really
did like
you. Last night I noticed your left cheek was so swollen. It was
hard and appeared
to have some scratches on it. You had even pulled out some of your
hair
to try and
stop the pain of swelling. I got out a large pet carrier, brought
out some of your
favorite cat food and placed it far back in the carrier. You finally
trusted me and
walked into the carrier and ate all of your food. I thought “tomorrow
I will take him
to the doctor”. Before I went to bed I sat with you quietly outside.
We did not speak,
but you seemed to enjoy the company.
This morning you trusted me and went into the carrier. I shut the door.
Sir, you never said a word. Apparently the abscess was so large
and painful,
you broke it open during the night. Your left cheek, no longer swollen,
was now
pink from the draining abscess and blood. I took you to the vet.
It was suggested
you be checked for aids and leukemia. As I waited you never said
a word. The only
time you spoke was when you were being held down to have the blood
drawn. The
results were horrible. You have aids and leukemia and the horrible
abscess
that could turn into a systemic infection. The abscess would take
a long time to
heal due to your compromised immune system. This will have only
one end. A slow
death. You were put back in your cage. You looked at me with questioning
eyes. I
signed your death sentence. I left, never to see you again. You
are now over the
Rainbow Bridge. Please Sir, when I come over the Bridge, do not
feel badly toward
me. What I did was because I loved you. Aids and leukemia is a slow
and painful
death. I wanted to spare you the suffering and the pain. I
also knew you would
never again trust me and you would have required many vet visits.
I am so sorry Sir.
I will never forget the fact that you finally “ TRUSTED ME”.
Please Forgive me Sir. I will miss you.
Your Friend, Gloria
Age unknown - April 3, 2000
(December 29, 1998)
FOUR EYES WAS GIVEN AN AMERICAN
INDIAN NAME. SOMEHOW IT JUST SEEMED TO FIT. HE BEGAN COMING TO EAT
WITH US A FEW MONTHS AGO. I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE LIVES, BUT
THE HE USUALLY MANAGES TO SHOW UP AROUND MEAL TIME. I HAVE
NO IDEA HOW OLD HE IS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PET HIM YET. HE IS
QUITE A LARGE TOM CAT. BUT HE IS VERY SHY. HE WAITS TILL ALL
THE OTHER CATS EAT, THEN HE EATS WHAT'S LEFT.)
So was the life of my Friend
4 eyes.
TIGER
(MY SWEET LITTLE TIGER)
APRIL 1997 - MARCH 2000
The music world and the residents of Tigers neighborhood and his
family are saddened this day at his tragic death. His people
family
had gone on a short errand. Upon their return Tiger was found laying
next to his driveway. He had been placed there by concerned a
neighbor. It seems he had been hit by a car.
Tiger would have turned three years old this spring and was in the
very prime of his life. He is survived by his brother Violet and
Whiskers.
The whereabouts of his feline parents is unknown. His adopted Mother
will miss him very much. Every evening Tiger wanted to come inside
and visit.
He did not stay long. Then he wanted to return to HIS front yard.
He slept
in a pile of leaves near a large oak tree. Though Tiger was deaf,
he lead a
full life. He never heard the car that hit him. I am sorry there
are those who
care so little for life.
Tiger was buried in the back yard. The other cats who attended the
burial
were very quiet and seemed to know what had happened.
Sadly Missed this day. March 17, 2000
My sweet little Tiger, now you can hear all the wonderful
sounds you have missed. Listen, for one day
I will call for you and we will meet again.
KALU
Kalu is the Gujarat (INDIA) word for black.
Kalu came to live with me about 6 years ago. He has never been
a very friendly fellow. After a brief stay, he took his trip to
the vet.
He returned a little less of a man. His life here has been rather
uneventful. After a recent visit to the doctor, he was found to
have
FIV (feline aids).
UPDATE- JULY, 1998
Kalu spent three days with the vet on iv's as he would not eat or
drink. After returning
home, he did eat
for a day or so- but then he would not eat again. It was a very very hard
thing to do, but I took him back to the vet. Kalu now resides on the other
side of
Rainbow Bridge. He leaves behind all of his friends at our home
and an adopted
brother,
Izzey in Florida. Kalu and Izzey were, of all things, great internet friends.
LITTLE PATCHES
I wish I had learned, when a wild kitten gets to tame, they must
be sick. LITTLE PATCHES wandered away with her Mother .She was
found the next day. She had a proper burial.
Patches
Mama
Where abouts is unknown.
She left shortly after she learned
her children would have a good home.
LITTLE KARUPPU
MAMA" and little "KARUPPU"
Karuppu is a Tamil (south INDIA) work for black.
CALICO
? - April 13, 1998 Easter Eve
MY
POEM FOR DEAR CALICO
PRINCESS
Princess was found outside a hardware store. She smelled like fish.
We always
thought she came from a fishing
village near by. Princess lived with us on
Dauphin Island and also made the move to the city. We think she
was 19 when she
passed away. Everyday when I returned from work she would get up
and come
to great me. I miss her.
?1975 -1994
Gloria
MADE IN THE USA
December, 1998
up dated June 18, 2001
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