A gathering of Eagles

Bella, Sept 07

The Rivrdog family grieves today, and maybe longer. Our sweet feline companion, Bella, has gone on to her greater reward. She joins Snowflake, our previous feline, in cat Heaven, where coats are always shiny, disease is unknown, and the cat treats flow like water from mountain springs.

Bella got cancer in her gut, and as the weeks went on, it got harder for her to perform her daily functions of even eating and sleeping.

She hungered, but could not eat, at the end, and even stopped drinking yesterday. Interventions were useless with the ever-growing cancer eating her ration before she digested it, and her weight fell from a high of 11# to half of that.

We euthanized her today, and I'm here to tell you, my friends, that such duty is likely the most difficult I've ever performed.

I do believe that those with souls, and Bella had a soul, never die, they re-establish their soul in another body or form. You can't kill a soul.

Today as I walked the last steps with Bella, up from the parking lot to the vet's office where my daughter waited for us, a sound broke through my black outlook. I looked to the heavens, from whence the sound came.

A gathering of Eagles.

10 miles away, at Portland Air National Guard Base, a multi-ship flight of F-15 Eagles had launched, and the first two to launch gate-climbed to Angels 10 or so, then circled to wait for the others held down by Air Traffic Control.

The Eagles gathered overhead, as if to salute Bella and speed her on her journey. I watched them fly two tight circles, then went inside to fulfill Bella's change of soul-mode.

The next half-hour was heart-wrenching, and I left quickly afterward to return home and comfort my wife, beside herself with the loss. We held each other tight for a long time. My poor daughter had to go to work in that shape. She will have called on ALL her ER doc's training in dealing with death by now.

These things are never easy, but I am secure in the knowledge of where Bella's soul went.

Today, a future warrior was born, one to fly the "footless halls", one to "reach out and touch the face of God". The human child born today will be a fighter pilot in the year 2035, and she will be there to protect us lesser mortals who can only dream that dream.

Grow, fly and fight well, Baby Bella. The world is already a safer place.

Comments

[Yabu]

Bella...RIP

[mostly cajun]

I am so very sorry.

These little lives tangle up in our hearts in mighty ways...

MC

[Chuck Kuecker]

My deepest sympathies. I had to take cae of my special Shelly cat a couple of months back, and I still see her in the corner of my eye sometimes.

[Jim]

'Dawg, my heartfelt condolences. She was not only wonderful and beautiful, but one helluva shipmate besides.

Some thing special about those seaworthy cats, isn't there?

You know I lost my beloved Harley only last month. First and only thing I've posted on Smoke on the Water in nigh onto two years. You met Harley, you got a feel for his mellow vibe.

I'm sure he and Bella will swap tales of their very well trained and obedient "owners", till our time comes to join them. And I'll tell you this; I'm not going to any so called "heaven" without Harley in it!

We were blessed, amigo. We were so very richly blessed. To have been loved so devotedly and deeply from a place only cats know, is a joy and honor beyond words.

Please give your lovely Gudwife an extra hug from Iris and myself. We still grieve, and we grieve now for and with you both.

Rest in peace, sweet Bella.

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

[Justthisguy]

Eyes a bit wet, here. I send my most earnest condolences, and prayers, for all of y'all there. Just checked on my furry "roommate", 15 yrs and 14 lbs, somewhat Mainely Coonish. (He's been feelin' a bit old-fashioned lately, too.)

All the above detail of my kitty to try to assure you that I have some idea of your feelings, Sir.

Again, my most earnest sympathy and condolences.

[olga]

I am so sorry... (((hugs)))

[Davidwhitewolf]

So sorry to hear this. Euthanizing our first cat ten years ago is still one of the most gutwrenching experiences of my life. Our heartfelt condolences.