Dolce's Story Chair: The Ones-Who-Came-Before

Dad: Well, Dolce, I am home so you don't have to teleport to be with me.
Dolce: I so happy you're home.
Dad: It was a very sad day.
Dolce: It was furry, furry sad.
Dad: So here is the story I promised you.
Dolce: Thanks Dad. I love you.
Dad: And I love you, Dolce.

Elbereth stood in the meadow next to the Rainbow Bridge and watched with a broad smile as a small band of cats chased after a ball that had been thrown by one of the many Cherubim that walked amongst the animals. The ball disappeared in a rolling tumbling mass of fur. All pain and illness had been forgotten. A small tug at her being reminded Elbereth of her True Purpose.

She walked to the Boundary of the vast heavenly meadow and prepared to cross over to Earth. She felt a strange pressure on her ankles. She looked down and saw two cats sitting primly and properly next to her on either side. One was a sleek tuxedo female and the other was a rather plump ginger male. Elbereth spoke to the two cats at her feet in the langauge of cats.

"What are you two doing?" Elbereth asked.

"We feel a tug." the ginger male said.

"It's more like a pull." the tuxedo female corrected.

"No." the ginger male replied. "This is definitely a tug. A pull is softer, less keen."

"I didn't like your attitude on Earth and I find it just as annoying now." The female snapped.

"No fighting is permitted here." Elbereth commanded. "Now I must go. A beloved one is about to come home."

"We know." the ginger male said somberly. "It is my litter brother. I left him many, many years ago when we were both young."

"You know the one I go to find?" Elbereth was taken aback.

"He is tied to us as much as he is tied to the human that loved us." the tuxedo stated. “I was his foster mom when his own mom didn’t want to take care of him.”

"Can we come with you?" the ginger male asked. "He was always the more skittish one of the two of us. I worried about him when I had to leave,"

"It is not permitted for you to leave Heaven." Elbereth stated.

"We don't want to leave." the female said. "We want to help you bring our brother home."

Elbereth regarded the two cats sitting at her feet. What marvelous creatures God has created. Willing to return to the Earth to bring a beloved brother and foster-son. Elbereth pulled two feathers from her wings. She knelt done and held the feathers out to each cat. The ginger and the tuxedo took the feathers in their mouths

“You must not lose these feathers.” Elbereth warned. “Without them you will not be able to find your way back the Rainbow Bridge.”

The ginger and the tuxedo nodded. They both looked up as the tug became stronger. Elbereth felt it too. She picked up the two cats and held them in her robe. The two cats held the feathers in their mouths as tightly as they could.

Elbereth was pulled to a quiet sterile room. There, sitting next to a clean white wall, were two humans stroking and nuzzling the still form of long haired ginger cat with white mits and a thick, ruffled bib. The astral form of the cat was sitting on the floor watching its human comfort its old body.

“Hello, Beloved One.” Elbereth smiled as she picked up the mitted ginger cat. “It is time for you to come home.”

“But I don’t want to leave.” The mitted ginger cat replied. “I want to stay with them.”

“Don’t be scared, brother.” The ginger male wiggled his way out of the folds of Elbereth’s robe and talked around the feather he held in his mouth. “Where we go there is no pain or sorrow.”

“My little boy, you’ve grown so large.” The tuxedo gushed through her feather. “Elbereth is going to help our humans find us. But it is going to hurt them.”

“No, please don’t hurt them.” The mitted ginger cried.

“It is the price.” Elbereth said softly and sadly.

Elbereth reached out her hand and drew a thin tendril from each of the humans. She was shocked to find other tendrils appearing in the air in front of her. Unmistakably, these were from other humans who had felt a deep connection to the mitted ginger cat. How special of a cat to have touched so many humans so strongly. Elbereth took each wisp of energy and cast it about the mitted ginger cat. The humans clutching their beloved pet felt the hollowness form next to their hearts.

The tuxedo suddenly jumped from the folds of Elbereth’s robe and walked towards the humans.

“No.” Elbereth commanded. “It is not permitted.”

“The humans have to know.” The tuxedo replied past the feather in her mouth.

The tuxedo tried to brush her head against the female human’s arm to let her that her once beloved pet was also nearby. The tuxedo’s head simply passed through the human’s arm. Dejected, the tuxedo brushed her head against the human male’s hand, but this time the feather that allowed her to return from Heaven touched his hand. The human male gave a bit of a start as he felt something faint and soft brush against his hand.

“We are the Ones-Who-Came-Before.” The tuxedo tried to explain, but the humans could not hear her. “Our brother is going to come home with us and we will wait at the Rainbow Bridge for you.”

The tuxedo walked patiently back to Elbereth and stretched herself up to be picked up. Elbereth smiled as she tucked the tuxedo in next to the ginger male and the mitted ginger. Elbereth looked at the release that human male seemed to carry in his eyes. Somehow he knew they were there and that his beloved cat was in good hands.

Elbereth pulled a feather from her wing and crushed it to a fine powder in her hands. She blew the powder into the air and watched as it drifted out on unseen gusts of air.

“Now all cats who are Ones-Who-Came-Before will know what you have shown me, beloved Tuxedo.” Elbereth said, “The knowledge of feathers is now known to all catkind. As all cats grow, they will practice this and learn how to carry the feathers in their mouths. And when the time comes for them to return with me to Earth and bring their beloved friends, they will know how to tell their humans that they are loved and safe.”

For Buzzerbee and Chatham and Suzanne:

Con te Partiro

A Prelude to a Tale

Dolce (teleporting into Dad's hotel room): Dad!
Dad: Dolce, what are you doing here?
Dolce: Dad, I'm losing a furriend tommorow.
Dad: I know Dolce.
Dolce: It's not fair. I just lost Chatham and now Buzzerbee is going to leave us.
Dad: You know that Buzzerbee was sick, and that his purrsons were trying to make him better.
Dolce: Yes, but...
Baci (teleports into the hotel room and careens into Dolce's butt.): Dad!
Dad: Yes, Baci?
Baci: Dolce says a furriend of ours is leaving.
Dad: Yes, Baci. A beloved furriend is leaving us tomorrow.
Baci: Why? Why does he want to leave?
Dolce: He doesn't want to leave. He is very sick.
Dad: That's right Dolce. Buzzerbee is very sick and his purrsons don't want to cause him anymore discomfort.
Baci: It makes me sad.
Dolce: It makes us all sad.
Dad: It even makes me sad, Baci. I have never petted Buzzerbee or held him in my arms but he feels like I knew him as much as I know you and Dolce.
Dolce: Don't be sad. We're still here.
Dad: I know Dolce. But...
Dolce: But what?
Dad: Time has a different plan for each of us. For you and Baci and Magoo and Bella, the plan is different than it is for your Mom and me.
Baci: I don't want a different plan. I want the same plan as you.
Dolce: Ya. The same plan.
Dad: I wish you could have the same plan too. But that is not what is in store for us. Do you remember the story of Elbereth?
Dolce: Yes...
Baci: Kind of. I fell asleep and dreamed of Chick-hen. I love Chick-hen.
Dad: In time, I will give you each a small piece of me and we will use that to find each other.
Dolce: I can find you now. I just say "Take me to Dad!" seven times and I teleport to you.
Dad: Maybe that's because you already have that small piece of me and your mom that let's you find us whenever you want to teleport over.
Dolce: Can this help us find you whenever we want? Even if we have to leave like Buzzerbee?
Dad: Maybe I have one more story for you about the Angels at the Rainbow Bridge.
Dolce: I could use a story.
Dad: It will probably both sad and happy at the same time.
Dolce: You always make me happy, Dad. I love you.
Baci: I love you too. Almost as much as Chick-hen!
Dad: Baci, you are incorrigible.
Dolce: Don't worry, Baci. That means cute.
Dad: I won't open your Story Chair until tomorrow night. It will be after Elbereth comes for Buzzerbee and takes him to the Rainbow Bridge.
Dolce: Maybe some of my furriends might come by.
Dad: Even if they don't, we will spend the time and we will remember Buzzerbee.

For Buzzerbee (Wordless Wednesday)

The Camping Adventure

A picture tells a thousand words, so I will let the first 6,000 words come from the furkids themselves.

Baci can't wait for camping to begin

Dolce investigates the new smells

Baci looks out the window at the rain

It's crappy outside, so lets enjoy this sunbeam

Except for the weather, I approve of camping

We are very tired now.

Docle and Baci were very well behaved on our little excursion last weekend. It was a dry run for another trip we are planning later on this summer. Docle was so good on our last camping trip, it was a given that we would be taking her this year. But then Baci came into the picture. Since he and Dolce have bonded so well and the other cats really are not that crazy about the little guy, it seemed natural that we would need to get Baci used to the trailer too.

I think I read it on a blog or someother place about you can tell how well a kitten/cat is adjusting to a place by how fast they adapt/find the litterbox. Using that as a measure of how well Baci took to camping, he loves it. It took him less than ten minutes to find the litterbox. It took over thirty minutes for the stink to dissipate from the air. I guess it is partially my fault; I let the little goofball lick some of the sour cream off my peroghies the night before. Let's just say, he is very lactose-intolerant. The worst part is that is was a little loose and stuck to his fur. So we have a stinky little cat following us around trailing this pungent cloud of poo-stink.

They both played in the trailer with the toys Mom brought with her and looked out every single window in the trailer. Baci got to go for a bit of a walk but he started to try and squirm his way out of his collar. That earned him an immediate timeout in the trailer.

Dolce was pretty much an angel. She sat in my lap during the short drive to the campground. There was some front lap driving on her behalf, but I tend to ignore her since she can't see over the dashboard anyways. Then she was pretty content just look out the windows and sleep in the sunbeam and cuddle with her Dad.

So that was the camping adventure. It was lot more fun than it sounds. By the way, this is also my 200th post. Who would have thought I would have that much to say about my furchildren and our adventures together.

We's Home!

We're Home!

Click to biggify

While Mom was in the Campground Registration office, Baci and I sat with, or more accurately on, Dad in the Rumbly Truck.

We had so much fun in the House-With-Wheels. Dad said that he will post some more picture over the next couple of days. He has to go away for work again. But I made sure I got lots of snuggles and cuddles while we were camping, so I think I will be okay for a couple of days.

Dolce

PS. I think Baci wants to say something...


I gots salmon and steak and a new toy and I got to chase some butterflies and I gots to sleep on the bed and I made a big stinky poop.

Baci

Dolce and Baci's Big Adventure

Dolce: Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
Baci: Why you dancing around, Dolce?
Dolce: We's going camping!
Baci: What's Camping!
Dolce: You get to go in the Rumbly-Truck and you gets to sleep in the House-That-Has-Wheels.
Baci: That sounds kind of scary.
Dolce: It can be, but I learned last time to ensure safety you have to give Dad instructions on his driving. Like he's going to slow or too fast. Or that you really need to stop at the Garden Centre and check out the catnip plants.
Baci: Is that why Mom put this stupid collar on me? I know its blue to match my eyes, but it binds.
Dolce: You has to wear that if you goes camping. That's what Dad said last year. He said it can keep the bears, coyotes and wolves away. Not to mention the Vishus Deer.
Baci (shudders): Not Vishus Deer!
Dolce: I am not worried.
Baci: Why not?
Dolce: Cause I can run faster than you.
Baci: What does that mean?
Dolce: Ask Dad.

PS. Dad promises to bring back pictures.

Dolce's Story Chair - Elbereth's Task

Dolce: Dad!
Dad: Yes, Dolce.
Dolce: I lost some more friends.
Dad: I know, Dolce. Some of them we barely had a chance to know.
Dolce: I don't feel so happy.
Dad: How about a story? Would that make you feel a little better?
Dolce: The story not as much as being able to cuddle up with you.
Dad: Well, you hop up onto my lap and I will tell you the Last Story I have about the Angels of the Rainbow Bridge.

Elbereth stood at the threshold of the Rainbow Bridge. Across it's glimmering span, she could see her angelic sister, Dulcinea. Elbereth saw the joy in Dulcinea face as each creature crossed into Heaven accompanied by their humanly companion. All of the Angelic Host knew of Dulcinea's sacrifice to build this simple bridge between the earthly meadow and the vastness of heaven. Everything had a price. Dulcinea's price for the happiness and health of all the creatures who waited for their earthly friends had been her wings and the ability to ever cross from Heaven to Earth. Even the meadow she laid on angelic feathers was forever banned to her. Elbereth knew that Dulcinea drew all the joy she wanted from the knowledge that every creature that crossed the bridge had waited in peace and comfort in her meadow. Elbereth often found herself talking with Dulcinea or in the meadow amongst the multitude of creatures. She had even spent many millenium with Antonius travelling between Heaven and Earth.

Antonius had chosen as his True Purpose to bring the souls of all the kittens to Earth and to return those who humans had abandoned or ignored. Without forethought, Elbereth's True Purpose had become entwined with that of Antonius and Dulcinea. As she stood and watched over the Rainbow Bridge, she suddenly felt an Earthly tug at the center of her being. She nodded her head towards Dulcinea and she flew towards Earth.

Elbereth found herself hovering over two forms in a small cozy room. One form was human and one was a old frail feline. Elbereth knew why she had felt the pull to this location; a Beloved One was about to say goodbye to it's human companion. Elbereth felt the sorrow radiating from the human as it patiently and lovingly waited for its feline friend to pass from the earthly world. She watched the human gently craddle the feline and lovingly stroke its fur. Elbereth felt the human's sorrow and wished it was within her True Purpose to ease its pain. Elbereth knew that she did not bring release for the human. She was here to forever bind the human to the slowly fading creature in its lap.

Elbereth watched as the feline's body shimmered. The physical body stopped as the feline's angelic form separated. Elbereth knew that the human understood that it's beloved friend had finally left the Earthly Plane. It did not take angelic insight to understand the tears that coursed down the human's face. She turned her attention to the bewildered feline spirit that seemed confused and lost.

"Beloved One." Elbereth spoke to the feline spirit in its own language. "I have come to take you home."

"But I don't want to leave." the feline spirit replied. "I want to stay here with her. "

"Your time on Earth has ended." Elbereth stated with a smile. "I am here to guide you to where you can wait for your friend. There you will be restored to the Beloved Friend that your human remembers. There will be no pain or sorrow for you."

"But what about my friend?" The feline asked.

"For her." Elbereth respondly sadly. "There is a price to pay."

"I will pay it." the feline said quickly. "She has given me a home and all the love I needed for the last fifteen years. Ever since I was a Kitten, I can remember feeling her love and affection."

"That is what brought me here." Elbereth said. "The Ending of a human's Earthly Love is what calls me from Heaven."

"Then what is the price she has to pay?" the feline asked.

"Watch and you shall understand." Elbereth replied.

Elbereth held an outstretched palm towards the human female. A thin silvery blue tendril began to drift from the human towards Elbereth's outstretched hand. Elbereth pulled the ethereal wisp and slowly formed a small sphere from the energy. The feline saw that a small void had formed near it's human's heart. Even the feline could sense the hollowness and pain that the void was causing the human female.

"What have you done to her!" The feline's back arched and its fur bristled. "Whatever you have done, I demand that you undo it now!"

"This is the price she must pay." Elbereth took the small sphere and laid it on the forehead of the cat.

The silvery blue energy sparked along the feline's angelic form. Elbereth smiled as the feline suddenly understood what had happened.

"For as long as this human female lives, she will feel the loss of this small piece of her essense." Elbereth explained."In time, she will be able to bear the loss with greater ease than she does right now. But forever, she will know of its loss. In times of reflection and melancoly, she will once again feel the strength of this moment and she will remember you."

"Does it hurt her?"

"For this moment, it will feel as though her breath has been stolen from her body." Elbereth replied, "In time it will become merely an echo."

"But why."

"It may take many years for you and her to be reunited in Heaven." Elbereth stated. "Without this small piece of her essense, the two of you may never meet in the vastness of Heaven. Now you shall wait in a vast Meadow next to a Rainbow Bridge. When she crosses to Heaven in her time, you will feel her presense. You will feel the tug of her spirit and you will come running. Then you will cross the Rainbow Bridge to be together for the rest of time."

"So this is the price?" the feline asked.

"Yes." Elbereth smiled. "The pain and emptiness she feels now is to secure the eternity of happiness she wants for the two of you later. It was a contract she made the minute she decided to give you her love. In time, the void will lessen, but it will never fully heal. She may even open her heart many more times before she joins you. And each time, I will return and bind her to those she has made Beloved Ones."

"With her love." Elbereth continued, "She has asked for you to wait for her. The small pearl of her essense I have given to you is not so that she remembers you, but so that you remember her."

"I will never forget her." the feline said defiantly. "Take me to the Bridge. I am ready to wait forever for her."

Elbereth lifted the feline and placed it within the folds of her robe. She cast one more glance at the human clutching the still form of her beloved friend. Have faith, Elbereth thought, One day you will be together again.

Dolce's Tummy Tuesday

Here is Dolce rolling in the catnip garden my Wife replanted for the cats. The previous one had been overtaken by weeds and had been peed on several times by Magoo, Smudge, and some of the other neighborhood cats. I personally don't want my cats rolling in their own pee let alone another cats.

We are hoping the plants will survive long enough to grow larger. As you can see Dolce has quite the catnip addiction, so we are not holding our breath for the plants to make it past June. I think Dolce wants to add something...


Scout,
Wanna come roll in the catnip with me?
Dolce

Baci Shows His Fierce Side - Mancat Monday

Dad,

I am tired of you chasing me around the backyard with the camera thingy. I know I am cute and extremely photogenic, but I came out here to run and play and chase. You continually pestering me with the snapping and clicking of the camera is scaring all the good bugs away.

So I am showing you my mean, mad, angry face. Magoo says that it works well to do this once in a awhile to remind you who is really in charge.

Da-Mancat Baci