Ok, so I told several people (via bulletin and email) that on Nov. 9th, our almost 19 yr old cat died.  It was an accidental death - I think she would have lived to 25 because she still acted like a kitten. 

So, I got a ton of emails, comments, and messages with condolences, and I thank you all so much.  Plus I heard some great pet stories and some about loss, so in return, I shared a story with a few people that someone said I should post.  So here it is.

This happened several years ago.

I had heard people talk about how animals could be SEEN as spirits, but I always wondered if that was a little much.  Well, while visiting my Mom one evening, maybe a month or so after her cat had died, I was sitting in my usual place in her kitchen - with my back to the pocket door to the living room.  He would always slowly strut through the door towards me with his tail straight up in the air, and come brush around my ankles and I would pet his head and back. 

Well, I was looking AT my Mom, and we were busy yapping away in what I'm sure was a loud conversation, and out of my peripheral vision, I saw him strut up to my leg, and I was so busy chatting, I didn't think anything of it ... and as I chatted, I put my hand down to do what I always did, scratch his head.  And when I didn't FEEL anything, I looked down and GASPED, because I realized I had SEEN him and he really wasn't there physically ... and when I GASPED, I said OMG ...  and my Mother said, you saw him, TOO?  She THOUGHT she saw him but  ... when she realized that I saw him TOO, well, we freaked out.  My sister was sitting opposite me and had NO clue what we were getting so excited about.    

Needless to say, my Mom was SO happy because she knew he was still somehow around.  I wouldn't have believed it, but - we both SAW him!  

Bottom line is ... its nice to know that their little souls DO go on, and come back to visit us, whether we are aware of it or not!   So, if you've lost a pet, are not thinking of him or her, and suddenly your head is filled with thoughts of your pet, chances are, they are somewhere around you and just popping by to visit.  No one can tell me this is not true .... I KNOW what we both saw!

I'd be very interested to know if anyone else has had any experiences with their pets.  Or anything else for that matter.  I go way beyond just pets, but lets comment on just pets for now!  Please feel free to share your story by way of a comment!  Or just comment on what you think of my TRUE story.

- Anne