The sweetest beings often make the shortest trips to earth........
Sharon wrote this in her email in response to the news that Monkey Gurl was killed by a car. “It feels as if she didn't miss a beat...just sailed right through to the Land of Amitaba.”
Besides being one of the sweetest beings I have ever known, Monkey was relatively uncomplicated. She was, as a friend said, “so herself.” She showed respect for all of us, including herself.
For a few days before she disappeared, she renewed her interest in the Monkey Mouse game. A little gray and pink catnip mouse was her favorite toy. She would bring it to me, I would toss, and she would retrieve it to me. She hadn’t been interested in the game for some weeks, so when she took it up again, I gladly spent a lot time playing with her. She also became more talkative, a voice half purr, half meow.
She had gotten more affectionate, too, rubbing against my legs, even tolerating with some pleasure head rubs.
On Tuesday, she didn’t return for supper. Monkey was not one to miss a meal, but I didn’t get really concerned until she didn’t show up for breakfast on Wednesday.
This morning, Thursday, I printed out some photos of her and another missing cat, Whiskas, and took them to the animal shelter to file a missing cat report. Whiskas is more shy and has been gone longer. I fear we may not see her again.
In the afternoon, I made up flyers with photos to take to neighbors. When a neighbor to the north got home, he called. He had a cat’s body, picked up off the street on Tuesday. He had put it in a bag in the garbage, but still had it. Indeed, it was our dear Monkey Gurl. A clean hit to the head, a swift good-bye, and off to the Pure Land.
Another neighbor came to help me lay out the body. She had Tibetan medicine to anoint the body, and I had anointment oil from Sharon. I found silk I had dyed yellow, and I got out gold papers to lay the body on. We cut orange and yellow roses from a bush she spent a lot of time under. Her mouse, which also disappeared for a few days, appeared again and I placed it with the body. A pearl and bodhi tree leaf from my neighbor completed the material. A small hand-woven rug she favored will go to the cremation with her too.
I have a candle burning and music playing, but she didn’t seem to want the chants so much as the dance music. Indeed, I sense that it was clean break.
I don’t regret my brief time with her, although I feel heart-broken. In the last days of not-knowing, I had come to celebrating the time we had. I don’t understand this coming and going business, but I do trust Monkey’s choices. I also trust that this time of cats-as-teachers is precious.
As Sharon says, 'She certainly came clothed in one of the most glorious cat costumes I have ever seen...." She was a delight, inside and out.
Dear beloved Monkey Gurl, may you fly free. Thank you.
Besides being one of the sweetest beings I have ever known, Monkey was relatively uncomplicated. She was, as a friend said, “so herself.” She showed respect for all of us, including herself.
For a few days before she disappeared, she renewed her interest in the Monkey Mouse game. A little gray and pink catnip mouse was her favorite toy. She would bring it to me, I would toss, and she would retrieve it to me. She hadn’t been interested in the game for some weeks, so when she took it up again, I gladly spent a lot time playing with her. She also became more talkative, a voice half purr, half meow.
She had gotten more affectionate, too, rubbing against my legs, even tolerating with some pleasure head rubs.
On Tuesday, she didn’t return for supper. Monkey was not one to miss a meal, but I didn’t get really concerned until she didn’t show up for breakfast on Wednesday.
This morning, Thursday, I printed out some photos of her and another missing cat, Whiskas, and took them to the animal shelter to file a missing cat report. Whiskas is more shy and has been gone longer. I fear we may not see her again.
In the afternoon, I made up flyers with photos to take to neighbors. When a neighbor to the north got home, he called. He had a cat’s body, picked up off the street on Tuesday. He had put it in a bag in the garbage, but still had it. Indeed, it was our dear Monkey Gurl. A clean hit to the head, a swift good-bye, and off to the Pure Land.
Another neighbor came to help me lay out the body. She had Tibetan medicine to anoint the body, and I had anointment oil from Sharon. I found silk I had dyed yellow, and I got out gold papers to lay the body on. We cut orange and yellow roses from a bush she spent a lot of time under. Her mouse, which also disappeared for a few days, appeared again and I placed it with the body. A pearl and bodhi tree leaf from my neighbor completed the material. A small hand-woven rug she favored will go to the cremation with her too.
I have a candle burning and music playing, but she didn’t seem to want the chants so much as the dance music. Indeed, I sense that it was clean break.
I don’t regret my brief time with her, although I feel heart-broken. In the last days of not-knowing, I had come to celebrating the time we had. I don’t understand this coming and going business, but I do trust Monkey’s choices. I also trust that this time of cats-as-teachers is precious.
As Sharon says, 'She certainly came clothed in one of the most glorious cat costumes I have ever seen...." She was a delight, inside and out.
Dear beloved Monkey Gurl, may you fly free. Thank you.
posted by Forgive the Dream at 9:27 PM
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