The Palace of Possibilities
When the Walls Come Tumbling Down
By Donna Tobey
Five days ago life as I knew it changed completely and forever. Actually, the past two months have been challenging with my fur-baby family. It is amazing to me how much we can love our pets and how quickly they become family and part of our daily life. And when they are no longer here, the void is deep and wide.
I have been the mama of two beautiful male Maine coon cats for the past four years. Their names were Arty and Ditey…beautiful, loving constant companions. About 7 weeks ago, one of them passed in his sleep, presumably from congestive heart failure. I was traveling for the weekend and returned to hear the news from a friend who stays with them when I am away. There was no indication of illness prior to his passing, it seemed as if he simply peacefully went to sleep.
I had the opportunity to adopt another Maine coon cat from the same litter, so I did. Her name is Athena. My other boy, Arty needed a friend and I needed to know he wasn’t alone and sad without his brother. A week after having Athena, she got loose and ran into the woods behind my home. We spent days looking for her, contacted agencies that helped spread the word. We hung posters with her picture in hopes someone had her and would return her.
Days passed and then weeks, there was no word from anyone about Athena. The weeks became a month….and then….a miracle happened! On day 31, I received a call from a lady who saw one of the posters. She recognized the cat that was showing up on her back deck for the past two days to eat, as Athena. She was very hungry, very thin and filled with ticks. Athena chose the right home to get help. Cat lovers with two cats of their own, they took her in, fed her, treated her for ticks and kept her safe until I returned. She is thriving nicely and for now, an indoor cat!
I wish this was the end of my fur-baby story, but sadly, it is not. This past Saturday night, I unexpectedly lost my beloved Arty, only 7 weeks since the passing of his brother, Ditey. My heart aches as I remember. I had both boys as kittens. They saw me through some tough and uncertain times….a divorce, 3 moves in 4 years, and new EVERYTHING!
When the walls come tumbling down I am grateful for my Palace of Possibilities and the foundation upon which it’s built. I am grateful that I ask the “tough” questions of God and that I receive answers. I am reminded that there is no death, only life and more life. ETERNAL life. I am reminded that endings are new BEGINNINGS.
This new beginning is named Athena.