Nothing quite brings up the question of "where do we go when we die?" than seeing a loved being disappear right in front of your eyes. This was the case Monday when we had to euthanize our old, lovable cat who had become too weak due to heart disease to stand or even, at times, to breathe properly. It was time for him to go for no other reason than because I didn't want him to suffer any more.
One second he was there, as he had been for the previous ten years, and the next moment he was gone. And we had no clue to where. But maybe we got one.
There we are right after the passing in the vet's office, looking what was left of our beautiful boy and trying to get a grip on the change and Denise's phone rings. She has specific rings for specific people on her phone, so we knew that her Dad was calling. The ring tone: "The Ride of the Valkyries."
Since Smudge had almost literally refused to die for the previous few days, it was very appropriate that he should be rung out of this plane to the archetype of the handmaidens of Odin who gather the heroic fallen in battle and take them over the Rainbow Bridge to Asgaard to live a glorious afterlife in the Halls of Valhalla.
Where did he go? I still don't know. But I like the possible answer that I was given.
well .... since I unknowingly played a role in this vignette I'll posit a thought Having lost midnite and tonto to the scene you describe there must be a SPECIAL place for beloved and _faithful_ pets at least
the few I have been fortunate enough to know and they might be keeping a seat warm for those of us who were honored to be their friend and protector
Posted by: Bill | March 14, 2010 at 11:09 AM