Chance

Chance was one of mom's cats. She found us several years ago.
One winter mom and I noticed she had been hanging around our house. Her and I being cat lovers couldn't just leave her out in the cold to fend for herself. So, mom and I fed her, secretly, in the garage. After a few days of doing this mom agreed we could keep her IF the vet said she was healthy, and if I wanted to keep her I would have to pay for her initial vet visit.

So I did. I was maybe 16 or so and scrounged enough to pay for her vet visit.

The vet cleared her so she came home with us.

The last little while she had been losing weight. She was getting older so we figured this was part of her getting older.

Mom always brings the cats in at night. We live in an area where its not unheard of for a coyote, a racoon, or an owl to grab a cat. The other night when she left for work for an all night shift she told dad to call her in so she wasn't out all night. Of course, he didn't. Mom came home and there was the cat sitting on the front step drenched. Mom brought her in and fed her. She spent most of the day sleeping.

That night Chancey passed away.

Her getting older and losing weight coupled with her getting wet and cold that night she just didn't recover. She is now resting, buried in my parents' yard with our other furbabes that have passed on.

She was a tempermental, moody feline. But we loved her. She only liked to be pet on her terms, when she was good and ready. She was above playing with anything. She was just too good for such things. She wouldn't eat unless you touched her food dish for her first. Forget drinking out of the dish, the fish bowl was so much better. And she was a hunter extraordinaire. That cat could take down anything she wanted to. And she was quite pleased with herself when she left her prize on the front door step for you to find.

She wasn't a cuddley cat. I was the only one whose lap she would curl up on. When ever I was home she would glue herself to me. I'd sit with a cushion from the sofa on my lap and she'd sleep for hours on me.

And purr. That cat could purr. She'd rival a Mack truck any time. You couldn't sleep with her on the bed, you'd never be able to tune her out.

She was a fabulous cat and I'll miss her terribly. I know she wasn't mine, perse, but I footed the bill for her to stay with us. I've always considered her to be mine.

~*~

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 vigor; 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...