Midnight Patrol…

This has been the most hellacious week in forever. I’ve know for weeks that the time was drawing near that I would have to make a gut wrenching decision, but hoped that perhaps it was premature to think it. I was wrong and Mother Nature was right.

My poor darling Patrol was declining in health at a very rapid pace. I knew it but didn’t want to face it. For the past week, in particular the last 72 hours, I have had little to no sleep. Closing my eyes only and listening to our poor little pet pacing relentlessly around the house non stop. Resting only for minutes at a time she would then continue, yowling and pacing and it made it worse that I had to bar her from the bedroom where until now she has slept with us, at the end of the bed on her lambskin. During the day it was in and out of the house, the door just simply left open because she couldn’t stop.

This morning I called the vet and said it was time. I am eternally grateful to have such a caring and compassionate vet as Sue McTaggart. She told me she could come in 15 mins. or it would have to be tomorrow. Today it is and with that, I wrapped Patrol in her towel to say goodbye. Sue arrived it was gentle quiet and pain free. My little darling just simply went to sleep. During the first stage in sedating her, Sue heard the music on the tv and it was a version of Rock a Bye Baby, pure synchronicity. After the procedure was finished, she gently folded Patrol’s legs into a sleeping position, tilted her head down and finished wrapping her in the towel.

Tonight we buried her in the garden in her towel. It’s the towel I would use to wrap her up when she would come in from the rain. We would sit together on the sofa and I would cuddle her until the wetness was soaked up by the towel. She’s now at rest and I’m whipped.

She was coming up to her 19th year with us, and she was a feral cat to begin with, so what a journey she has had. She came to live with us in 1992, the very day we moved into this house. She was the neighbours cat but was determined to be here with us. Her name was Midnight, but her prime objective being with us, was to rid our new property of the rodents that had become to comfortable in various places in the yard. In no time, she had totally rid the place of them, hence her name was extended to Midnight Patrol. What a warrior she was.

These aren’t the most current pictures, but some of my favourites. Here is what she would do when it was time for us to go to bed. Simply stand in the way and that’s that.

I’m sure it was a bird she was watching.

How is it that cats can look so darn comfortable when they sleep.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
 
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigour. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... 

Author unknown...

I’m sure that she’s on her way now over the Rainbow Bridge, and somehow I think she’ll always be watching over us. Forever loyal and loving to us. My heart aches for her but I know she’s out of her pain and stress and her spirit is soaring.