Author: Aisha

Dearest Raven,

You were so very tiny when we first met! You fit into the palm of my hand and could not yet eat solid food. You picked me out to come home with. You were in a box by the front door of an animal hospital that I stopped at one day looking for a kitten. I walked in and heard your mewing, reached down to pet you and you climbed onto my shoulder, digging your tiny claws into the cloth of my jacket. No matter how hard they tried, no one could get you to let go. You picked me out to come home with. You were so very tiny when first we met.

You were so very tiny when first we met: you hardly had a voice. Yet you tried to speak to me-in a voice that croaked like a raven’s. And when I laughed at such an odd voice, you looked straight at me and croaked again. And so you were named: ‘Raven!’ And you called me “Mau”.

I have told and re-told you this story so many times over the years as you grew to be a huge fluffy Coon Cat with an amazingly loving heart. And each time I told you this story I would ask you if you remembered how small you were and how you were so determined to never let go of me. And each time I told you this story of how we met, you would purr and purr and I knew you remembered and understood every single word that came from my heart. You would wrap your huge, furry arms around my neck, rub your cheek against my cheek, marking me as yours for life.

And every August, Dearest Raven, you would disappear into the woods and fields. And each and every time I would worry and I would wonder if you would come back to me safe and sound. And after a day or two I would go out into the yard and call to you to bring you home. But you would keep me waiting just a few days longer.

And after a week I would go out into the fields and cry out to you to come home to me, with tears streaming down my face. And you would always come, thin and hungry, with burrs in your coat, smelling of sweetgrass and Summer blossoms, calling to me: “Mau!”, “Mau!” And in through the cat door you would come, calling me to you
as I had called you to me.

Each and every year this same routine repeated itself, for nine wonderful years of our life together. But this year when August came, you went off on your yearly walkabout but did not return. No matter how I called, no matter how I cried, still, you did not return.

I do not know what has happened to you, my dearest Cat Child, Raven! You have come to me in dreams since then, twice, to let me know that you are not returning, but that
you are well and that you love me still.

August is over and done with for another year. Summer has fled with the Autumn winds. King Winter now rules the land. If you have indeed crossed over the Rainbow Bridge that first brought you to me, if you have gone Beyond the Fields We Know: I pray that now you roam through the sweet green fields of the Summerland, and that one day
we will meet again in joy and love.

Blessed Be, dearest Cat-ling of my heart! I will love you always. Bright blessings be upon you for the boundless love you brought me. May you never hunger, may you never thirst, may you always be warm and always be loved.

 

Dear Cayenne-Red-Dog,
beloved Red Queen!

We miss you so very much. You were so beautiful and so very special. You were a dear friend and companion to my dear friend, Penny. You were a dear friend to me. Know that you are loved and that if one day I have a little puppy who is red like you, it will bear your name.

You honored and blessed us with your presence. You brought us joy. May you rest now, in peace and gentleness, dearly beloved dog-person.