Today we are honoring our pets that have left our homes but not our hearts. It is Rainbow Remembrance Day hosted by Zee & Zoey. This is also the last Friday of the month which means it is Fractured Fryday Hairy Tails or #FFHT hosted by Murphy and Stanley. Of course, every Friday is our Pet Parade hop so I am offering a three for one today. Enjoy our Rainbow Remembrance and watch for the FFHT sentence of the month; “It would be really embarrassing if everyone knew…”
This past June I participated in my friend Oz the Terrier’s blog hop, “Bravo for Special Moments.” I chose to write about our first puppy, Madison the German Shepherd. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 1997. As often happens when I start writing, I lost myself in her story. It started out happy and as I went through the years, it eventually came to the time she had to leave us.
I ended up changing the original copy because it made me cry. We are talking an ugly sobbing kind of cry. As you know, I try to keep you laughing or at least, smiling when you visit Barking from the Bayou. As I was copying and pasting the revised post, the weirdest thing happened. It’s taken a couple of months to decide whether to share this story with you. It would be really embarrassing if everyone knew that I had visitors from the Rainbow Bridge.
Let me set the stage for you. It was around 11:00 p.m. and I was putting the finishing touches on my post. I had my coffee, my phone charging, the dogs are asleep, and the house was quiet. This is the time that I do my best work. Sure, it’d be great to tell you that I have posts written weeks in advance, but it would not be the truth. There are a few rant blogs that I have saved, but they will most likely never see the light of day.
I’d decided to share the story of Madison and her best friend, Miss Gitty. The bond between our German Shepherd and this petite tabby was remarkable. I rescued Miss Gitty when I was eighteen and she was six weeks old. We grew into adulthood together. She ruled the roost around our home when I got married and when the new puppy joined our family, she felt the need to teach Madison the rules. It didn’t take long before the pair became inseparable.
They made an odd couple, but the love they shared was very real. Humans could learn so much about judging others that are different from themselves by watching our pets. Anyway, the two enjoyed their lives together for fifteen years. Madison was no longer able to stand and the decision was made. It was a devastating decision as most of you know. Miss Gitty was lost without her best friend. Two weeks after Madison left us; Miss Gitty suffered a massive stroke. At least, that is what the veterinarian said. It was obvious to me that she had a broken heart. I was once again forced to make the hardest choice a pet parent ever has to make. Those were two of the darkest weeks in my life.
That was the story that I wrote, but as you can see it is very sad. Even after all of these years, it still breaks my heart. I decided to change the story to one that was more uplifting about Madison’s life.
*This is something that you need to know in order to understand the weirdness that occurred. When I began writing my book series, Miss Gitty became a central character. She is the wise mentor to not only the Guardian Angel Faith Fullilove but to all of the other Returns. The second book introduces Madison into the story. In one chapter, the gang goes to New York to track down the bad guys. Miss Gitty recalls her days on the stage in the musical Cats. She sings the song ‘Memory’ and melts the hearts of The Returns.
Something that you may not know about me is that I love show tunes. I had been listening to the soundtrack of Cats on my iPhone earlier on this particular day. It was about 11:30 p.m. when I was wiping my tears and erasing the sad portion of the post, that ‘Memory’ began playing on my iPhone. I almost jumped out of my chair. My husband turned around from his desk to see what happened. I had my hand over my mouth and couldn’t speak. He said, “You look like you’ve seen a ghost!” When I finally told him that my phone started playing the song without me even touching it, I completely lost it. Major big ugly crying! Now, I know there is probably a perfectly logical explanation for what happened. I don’t want to know it. I felt then and I will always believe that Madison and Miss Gitty saw how their memories were making me sad. Somehow, they had a paw in sharing that special song with me at that exact moment. There is no question to me that I will someday see all of my beloved pets again.
Have you ever experienced a “sign” from the Rainbow Bridge?
Enjoy more Fractured Fryday Hairy Tails by visiting our hosts,
Murphy & Stanley.
Be sure to join us for this week's Pet Parade!
Sometimes my momma still "sees" the bassets in da backyard. And she dreams bout em too sometimes, and our kitties dat have passed.
ReplyDeleteNo I haven't but I would love it! I miss our old puppy Cocoa.
ReplyDeleteThe loss is unbearable. Forever broken heart. However, we love again in memory of them all.
ReplyDeleteBig luffs and hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteLoves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
Aw. Hugs to you. It can't be easy, and I can only imagine the pain. Earl and Ethel are my 1st and 2nd dogs!
ReplyDeleteIt sometimes feels as if we would get a sign or a hello from rainbbowbridge, I agree.... hugs to you and many thanks for a wonderful post about the friends we have always in our heart...
ReplyDeleteSo glad I had tissues handy. I don't doubt for a second that was a message from Madison and Miss Gitty.
ReplyDeleteOh yes.....And from my mother in Heaven too. The story is just too long to share in this comment section. But it happened just as it is written on my web site. Many folks have told me reading the story of my mother and her beloved dog, Gypsy, leaves them with goosepimples.
ReplyDeletewww.allthedogsinmylife.com/Gypsy
I believe we have been visited by family but not any of the family pets. Maybe they are just too happy playing at the Bridge. We have had some eerie experiences like you when "someone" comes a-visiting.
ReplyDeleteOz
What a touching story. Although it makes you sad that they are gone, it so wonderful that they are still with you. I believe Rocket visits me at times too, as well as some others who will be at the Rainbow Bridge. Who's to say what is true? I believe.
ReplyDeleteAhh so sweet. It's a good day to remember all those in our hearts
ReplyDeleteSnorts,
Lily & Edward
Madison the GS was a beautiful girl...my full name is Madison D. Cat....Miss Gitty and Madison surely shared a wonderful friendship that teaches us all to look past the exterior into the heart of a friend.
ReplyDeleteYep Mom had a visit from the Rainbow bridge...too. Our first family pet was Toto the might Dachshund...they still tell stories about Toto 37 years later. The next pet was Milky-Way the first feline. He looked a lot like Miss Gitty
Mom tells me MW was her soul cat, he was always in her lap and followed her around like a puppy. He was never sick in his 14.5 years....then one day he fainted...no prior signs. It was his heart...His box was upstairs over the family room. When he was in it he dug to China. About a week after he went to the rainbow bridge...mom was home alone...no noise in the house...she distinctly heard MW digging in his box....a few days after that they were watching TV...when Dad saw a kitty shadow in the foyer...the shadow had MW's signature tail pose as he passed thru...with just a nanosecond of a pause. My peeps say they were sure it was MW' coming to back to let them know he was ok and thank them for loving him. I say a great big thank you to MW for paving the path to my peeps heart so that I could walk into it too.
Hugs madi...
Oh my gosh - what an incredible story. I am so glad you decided to share it with us for Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day. For those that have read my book, Purr Prints of the Heart, they know that I firmly believe in signs and visits from the afterlife, because I have been blessed to have them with Mr. Jazz on numerous occasions. Jazz also had strong bonds with his feline and canine counterparts and when I had to help cross him to the Bridge, he was greatly missed by all.
ReplyDeleteThank you again for participating in Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day - xoxo from Mr. Jazz, Deb, Purr Prints of the Heart and the Zee/Zoey Gang
What a beautiful story abt your fur family! You brought tears to my eyes as well as the smiles and both are good. For any of us who are close to our pets and have lost them it resonates! I can't wait to see them again!
ReplyDeleteWhat a special story and special love that those two shared. I love Miss Gitty's character in your books. And that song "Memory" never fails to make me a sobbing mess...even during the two times I've been fortunate enough to see Cats live!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid I had a dog and cat with an incredible bond too. Both Miss Gitty and Madison were quite the beauties!
ReplyDelete-Jessica from Beagles & Bargains
Mom says her past pets live on in us current ones. Don't know if it is true or not, but she thinks it is.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Mabel is definately her own girl, with a different personality, there are times when she does something that Greta would have done. I always ask her - is Greta whispering in your ear? I feel it is Greta's way of saying Hi.
ReplyDeletehugs
Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel
Wow, I almost cried reading this you butt!!
ReplyDeleteI know you have such amazing memories.
xoxooxoxoxoxoxox
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
That was such an amazin' story! I thinks I'm with the Idaho Pugs...when I was a pup, Ma used to see things that Angel Annie (my predecessor) used to do, and say that Annie told her to do that! Ma sees odd traits that all her other doggies had almost always show up in our current doggie. I guess this means after I go to the Bridge (in like 87 YEARS), my successor will loves margaritas!! ☺
ReplyDeleteKisses,
Ruby ♥
Thank you for sharing about your angels with us. They never ever really leave us, do they? I still "see" two of our angel cats, Graphite and Sammy, around every now and then.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful story! Although it made you cry, and it would have made me cry too, I do love those "hellos", which I have experienced as well!
ReplyDeleteOh my you gave me chills!!!!! I agree that Madison and Miss Gitty had a paw in it for sure!!! Knowing your heart like I think I do, I am convinced of it. This was a most touching post and I am so happy you put it up (even with a little sadness), the ending made me smile! Oh and I ADORE show tunes!! I always wished that we burst out in song in real life (((hugs))))
ReplyDeleteDakotasDen
Sometimes those things stay in a special place and something like that will release them.
ReplyDeleteYour Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Now you've got me crying! Just a few days after our Lab mix Maggie died in a tragic accident, she came to me in a dream. I got to hug her and hold her one last time, and that was the most real dream I have ever had in my life...it was like she was really there with me and I believe she was.
ReplyDeleteJan, Wag 'n Woof Pets
Beautiful post even if you made me cry. I love stories that give us hope that there really is something beyond this life.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet story. The mom thinks Scooter, the one that came before us, visits her. Sometimes when she's in bed, before she falls asleep, she can feel him walking across the bed.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story. Our mom believes that our Angel Sister Steffi has possessed Millie a little. Millie is the first dog since Steffi lived in our home that does some of the same peculiar things that Steffi did such as the way she messes up the bed and likes to lick our mom's feet.
ReplyDeletewow that is one great sign. I believe in signs, fate and everything else.
ReplyDeletethey say there is always a reason for everything and we are sure they were letting you know they were okay over the bridge
ReplyDeleteA wonderful story of wonderful friends. We can learn so much from those who walk on four. I have had visitors in the night walking across me in the dark and laying against my side and when I reach to pet my hand feels nothing but air. Some day we shall all meet again and it will be wonderful
ReplyDeleteDad Pete and Timmy
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story of Madison and Miss Gitty.
ReplyDeleteOnly several weeks after losing Abby while outside one day this black butterfly kept following me, encircling me all over the yard. To this day I believe that was Abby in another form. (She was a black kitty too) One other day I was having an ugly cry outside and I looked up and there was a cloud formation in the shape of a heart. (I took photos of it, I had my camera in my hand). I stopped crying immediately. I knew it was a sign from Abby. Then I felt fur at my ankles in the kitchen and I thought it was one of my other cats, I looked down and no cat anywhere. That was the last time I felt her...I don't know if she felt she had to move on to where she is now, or she thought I was doing well enough in her eyes to let me find my own path. But i miss those moments.
About the time Butler (2011-2012) crossed, I dreamt I saw him sitting nicely on a hill with a cat I later recognized as Sandy (1983-2004).
ReplyDeleteOMD OMD OMD I have goosebumps again. That is unreal and so incredible and of course she was communicating with you, Melissa. Beautiful - our pets know how to find us. And I totally agree with you when you say, "Humans could learn so much about judging others that are different from themselves by watching our pets"
ReplyDeleteSpot on! I love show tunes, too!
Wow...M.K. you have me crying, now. Thank you SO much for sharing this with me on my post about Gibson. I know that exact feeling...and I, too, as you know, believe in signs. November saw the loss of my amazing mother and my heart dog, Gibson. And both have sent me clear, definitive signs that I know can not be a coincidence. I'm not really a "sensitive" so my loved ones would have to send a very, loud, clear message to get my attention! And I have had them - one from my father, and already in this short two months, several from my Mom and Gibson. Maybe (I don't think so) there might be an additional reason it happened, but our loved ones - I believe - caused it to happen so we would get their message. Okay...I need to go get a Kleenex now!
ReplyDeleteI stumbled across this tonight as I began searching for some sort of comfort as I realize my beloved Madigan is slowly slipping away from me... My heart is broken and I am having a very difficult time...but trying so hard to be strong for him and make the most of the time we have left... I wanted to share something related to messages from Rainbow bridge, however..
ReplyDeleteI had to have my dear Puppa put to rest on 8/15/15 and Madigan was depressed for several months afterward... Slowly as time passed his spirit began to lift once again....thankfully..
But, this past June, one night ...for some reason I had the notion to take a picture of a picture I have of Puppa.. as I held my phone up to her picture to take the picture, a tiny blue light appeared on her picture... it surprised me because I couldn't figure out what it was, I moved the phone to the wall and other things around where I stood to see if the light appeared on anything else I focused the camera on, but it didn't...it only appeared when I held it up to her picture... So I snapped the picture and to my amazement, when I magnified the picture, my puppa's facial features came into view. It is unmistakable and it is amazing and beautiful!! What a wonderful feeling that was..it does ease my grief a little, knowing puppa will be there to greet Madigan the day he makes his journey to Rainbow bridge.