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In Loving Memory of 1^st Pacific Flyser!

 

 

 

The sunrise was beautiful, as always, and Flyser! made sure Dad was up and watching it.  He enjoyed a bit of breakfast, and then racked out on the recliner for a snooze.  He knew there was something eating Dad, but he also knew there was a change in the wind ….

 

                   *                  *                  *                  *                  *

 

          …. He stretched a paw … and then sneezed as something tickled his nose … “Huh?”  he looked up to see a butterfly retreating, and about to settle on … “GRAMPA MAX??????”  Scrambling to his paws and fully awake now … “What are YOU doing here?!”

 

          Many many times Flyser! had settled for a nap, hoping to visit Crystal Creek with his hero … and to hear more of Grampa Max’s sea stories … they were always amazing!

 

          “Uh, are you here for my birthday?!”

 

          Max stared intently at his grandson, thinking to himself what a grand man-cat  he’d grown to be.  “Yes, and no, Son”.

 

          “Oh.”  Flyser! plopped his fuzzy butt down and scrubbed a paw.  “Is it about this bothersome thing on my face?” he asked, not looking up at Max.

 

          “Yes, it is.” 

 

          “Is this it?”

 

          “Not yet, but soon.”

 

          “Will you be there?”

 

          “Yes, and your sister if you’ll give the word. I swear she’ll stow away anyway even if I tell her no. Wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it.”

 

          “Um, I think I’d like that …. “

 

          “So be it.”

 

 

                             *                  *                  *                  *

 

          Flyser! opened one eye, watching the goings on, the familiar routine of the morning.  He liked the mornings. He liked the condo. It wasn’t the Ducky Pond, but it was certainly nice.  Especially when Ole Dad didn’t bother with the air conditioner. 

 

          They’d had a long talk the night before, he and Ole Dad. “The time had come, Ole Dad had said, to talk of many things: of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings … “(with all due respect to Lewis Carroll).

 

                    *                  *                  *                  *                  *

 

          “Where are they? When are they coming? What  ...”

 

          “Now Buttsy, if you can’t control yourself I’m sending you back …” Max hated to bark at her, but really, she’d drive him up a tree at this rate.

          “Max. Give her some room, okay? After all …“  chided Andrew, perched on a cabinet, trying to soothe his two charges.  He knew this was a bitter sweet time for them.  In one respect, a great reunion, but in another, it marked the end of an era.  For other than Lady Abby’s progeny, no one knew of any other Clan kitties left. 

 

          “Shhhhhh, here they come” she said … “can they see us?” 

 

          “No, not yet …. “

 

          “Flyser! it’s time.  You’ll be all right.  You’ll always be First Kitty.  I love you”, the man said …

 

                                                                                                                                      *                  *                  *                  *

 

          …. And there they were, in the meadow, rolling and tumbling over and over in happy abandon, like kittens again. 

 

          Max chuckled as he sat next to Andrew … “I guess it hasn’t hit him yet …” 

 

          “He’ll be okay, Max, you know he will.  And so will his Dad.  He has Mama to comfort him, and the knowledge that he gave his little Pal the best gift ever.”

 

          “yeah, I suppose so … but it’s different this time.  I dunno, sadder.”

 

          “Why is that?” asked the angel, as he fondled the big cat’s ears …

 

          “Because it’s the end of an era, of sorts.  I wonder how MY Dad feels. I mean, the Earazona Clan is all here now … other than Abby’s kits, and we know nothing about them.  And Mama.  I know she’ll be a wreck too … I mean, Fletcher came earlier this year.

 

          “It almost doesn’t seem fair. I mean, we have such short journeys on earth compared to them.  I remember when Mama lost Nikki, the last of “the Pride” … and then Mouse came so much earlier than necessary ….

 

          Andrew let the big cat talk it through. He knew the ache in his heart, and he knew the aches in the hearts of those who had loved these beasts as no one else could.  His job was never an easy one, but he had a special fondness for this bunch.  They so often greeted the newcomers, went with him to get the ones who had no one.  If cats could be angels, these guys would be the first ones in line, to be sure.  Maybe they already WERE angels.  Maybe they were there to minister to HIM.  He’d never thought about it quite that way … and yet it was his job to cause pain to people he’d never met.  That took quite a toll on him. 

 

          Buttsy and Flyser! had sobered up, and were sitting at his feet, looking expectantly at him. He reached down and rubbed Buttsy’s ears, and scooped up the big tabby. 

 

          “My, you’re a handsome thing, aren’t you!  You’ve given us all a run for our money more than once, my man.  This time you stay with us.”

 

          “Um, but Ole Dad, um, can I go back to visit him?” asked Flyser!  “I mean, I know Max came to me, and I know Sis did … and he’s all alone now …”

 

          “But that’s just it, Flys!  He’s NOT alone!  You can go whenever you want! Mama tried to tell him that today already. For those who Know, for those who Believe, we’re not “gone”.  Maybe we’re not there as we were, but we’re not gone, not by a long shot. Do you think I’d have stayed here otherwise?” 

 

          Andrew had to chuckle to himself again, as he caught Max’s eye.  Buttsy had demanded within minutes of her arrival to be taught how to “visit”.  Something or other about “if I can’t go back, then I’m not staying here”, and thinking if ever anyone could stomp her paws hard enough and demand to be obeyed, it was her.  She had been a handful at first, until she settled in. Quite the character.

 

          “Ahem.  Shouldn’t we be getting along?”

         

          “All right, Max. So we should.”  As Andrew rose, Flyser! still in his arms, Max and Buttsy pressed close to the hem of the angel’s robe … and as the breezes blew, they vanished from sight ….

 

                   *                  *                  *                  *                  *

 

          “They’re HERE!  Look!” Lady Scott was beside her self, with Fletcher at her side, peering anxiously at the great rainbow shimmering in the mist.  “I see them!!”

 

          As the mists parted, Max and Buttsy lept to the ground to take their places next to the rest of the Clan.  The Pride was beside them, and gathered around them were the cats, dogs, hamsters, birds they’d known on earth … and nearby shyly watching were some baby raccoons, squirrels, and other critters …

 

          As Andrew set Flyser! down, he said “This is it, my friend, you’ve been here before but were never allowed to jump down  …. This time, you must.  In so doing, you accept the promises that were made to you and to all mankind since before recorded time.  You know them by heart already. Your Mama taught you as a young kitten, and Ole Dad spoke of these things many times.”

 

          Flyser! looked down to see everyone gathered to welcome him.  He felt young and strong, and ready to face this new life.  Already the pain of leaving Ole Dad was fading.  He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and leaped ….

 

          …. As Andrew faded from sight, he though of the reunion below him.  And of the people whose lives changed today …  they were an extraordinary group of people, people who understood the Father’s promises, and believed, and who taught their children and grandchildren, furry or human, to believe as well.  How much better it would be for the sorry world, if all believed … maybe one day they would.  But for now, it was as it should be here.  He watched Flyser! and Buttsy move apart from the others, to the edge of the meadow.

 

          “It’s okay, Dad, it’s really neat … everyone’s here, and they’re all okay, and they say I can visit and …”

 

 

 

Rest in Peace

 

**Earazona's First Pacific Flyer**

 

November 19, 1993   -    November 19, 2009

 

"Well done, good and faithful kitty!   You will always be First Kitty,

and your daddy will always love you."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patty Turbin

11/10/2009

In Cat World there is a great dicussion about things people have learned from thier cats. there are a lot of very good ones I can't post here, so I ecourage all to make a visit and read them ALL

http://www.cat-world.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=102759&st=0 

To ALWAYS poach a bit of whatever you are having - sans the onion, & garlic, cut it into cubes and leave that bit on the side of the plate for the moochers.

The cat can tell the difference between your dinner and what you set aside for her - and prefers yours.

That when the human prepares chicken (or turkey, or fish) for dinner the cat is unwilling to wait until the chicken (or turkey, or fish) is cooked.

It is unwise to leave a chicken and muskmelllon salad unantended

Husbands NEVER learn NOT to leave a chicken and muskmelon salad unatended, and WILL howl lowder that a siamese in heat when the cat snarfs his dinner.

Posessions do NOT have posessions, and anyone who shares thier living quarters with the cat is blessed to be the cat's posession

Whatever happened to annoy the cat IS YOUR fault. The rain - it's YOUR fault. The cat on the other side of the window - it's YOUR fault. The other cat that thinks they LIVE in HER house - it's YOUR fault. The paw that got stepped on while she was guiding you down the stairs - is YOUR fault. The chili flake she ate when she snarfed your husband's chicken and muskmelon salad - it's YOUR fault.

The aftermath of having eaten the chicken and muskmelon salad topped off by a bit of fresh grass must be horked up in the middle of the hall infront of the three door way of the bedroom, the bathroom and the office to emphasize that it is, after all, -YOUR fault

Mama has made more kitty (and woofie) quilts for our store. There are several styles to choose from. They range in price from 35-60 depending on how big or how detailed a quilt might be. No two are alike ... I've really gotten after her this year to make many ahead. My paws were so sore by christmas last year from all the last minute inspections I had to do. These are also suitable for lap quilts for shut ins or wheel chair folks, and for baby quilts. See our store at mistywhispurrs.etsy.com and thank you for looking!! our web page is quiltedsquirrel.com.

Wouldn't your dog or cat like his own quilt?! Ours are 100% cotton quilt shop quality fabric, made in a variety of colors and patterns.  Here are samples, no two are ever completely alike. They're approximately 36 x 42, but we can make it larger or smaller as your need dictates. You may request one for the size of your pet's carrier, or bed. They also make sweet baby quilts. They are machine washable. Each quilt reverses to a complimentary single print. There are several styles to choose from. Miss Diamond is modelling "Trip around the Backyard". We also have simple squares, uneven squares, pieced blocks, and pieced triangles
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