Sammie, Part II

By Bob Connor

You may recall my story in the January issue about a certain Siamese cat known as “Sammie” and the bond of love that formed among him, me, and my wife. The story recalled the many happy times but ended in the telling of our struggle with the terrible decision to end his suffering

at his advanced age. The story is archived at http://newsnet713.com/Article141.htm.

Apparently, the story touched a lot of people since there were some responses to it. (Responses to my articles are more than welcome.) As believers in the afterlife, we can all look forward to the day when we are reunited with our loved ones and relish their touches.

A fellow parishioner at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Twila Rogers, took time to eloquently express it this way.

Too soon it seems the time has come to say our last good-byes;

To kiss once more that velvet brow and close those beautiful blue eyes.

We will keep within our hearts, so pain of parting cannot erase,

Those memories of mornings with your gentle paws upon our face.

From the first when you came into our life,

You felt it was your duty to awaken us each dawn;

Always urging us to hurry lest the morning should be gone.

Mornings will not be the same now you’re no longer here;

But when we see that morning star, we’ll know somehow you’re near.

And on some far away tomorrow in a different time and place,

We will awaken on that morning to your gentle paws upon our face.

Twila even took the time to compose a “farewell letter” from us to Sammie as follows:

To a very special Pet Cat who made us smile, made life worthwhile.

Gorgeous eyes, soft sighs, and your kiss we’ll always miss.

Our Sweetheart you’ll always be; and we know you’re up there waiting for us.

You were always there for us; now that you’re gone, tears we see. Always and Forever,

Good-bye SAMMIE! – We’ll always love you with all our hearts.

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We all recognize the necessity of “reaching out” to persons or pets, thus taking the chance that we may well have to deal with the sense of loss should that loved one pass into the next life before we do. But reach we must – bond we must - for that is the only way to enjoy the love that that person or pet has to offer.

Twila said it in this way:

We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached.

Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way.

We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan.

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The world does not have enough people in it who care and who take the time and effort to express that care. The world needs more Twilas.

Excerpted From “An Inspirational Poem
Live….laugh…and Love”
By John McLeod

Bob Connor is a continuing education teacher at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. You can reach him at bobconn@earthlink.com

(The Banner, March10, 2009)