I'm getting sort of tired of grieving, and it feels like that's all I've done lately. Everybody deals with it differently, but I feel like I've had more than my fair share the past several months.

I'm going to get all mystical and "woo-woo" on you for just a moment here. I was reading this article late last summer and it was talking about this new energy that's coming into our plane of existence right now. Every 2,000 years we enter what's called a "new age." For instance, about the time Jesus (the Messiah, not the Hey-zues down the street) was born was the dawning of the age of Pisces. The beginning of this new millennium marked the beginning of the age of Aquarius. As with the beginning of any new age, changes are happening. Big changes. If you look through history, you'll see them at the beginning of EVERY new age. I'm not exactly sure what this new age will bring us, but I do know that it will have to do with energy. I find it kind of interesting that the Zodiac representing the ages sort of becomes the symbol representing that age. (Hello? The big fish for Jesus? Yeah, Pisces!) The sign of Aquarius looks like water. It also looks like energy waves.

Anyway, back to what I was saying. So, I read this article late last summer about all this new energy flowing in. Part of it has to do with the new age that's beginning. One of the things this article talked about was that we were going to be seeing a lot of friends, relatives and pets leaving us as this new energy flows in because they just are unable to cope with it all. Part of me thought that was interesting, part of me blew it off as hocus-pocus bogus crap. Then I lost my maternal grandfather. A few months later I lost my paternal grandmother. A day later one of my favorite cats of all time died. A month and a half later, my favorite dog nephew died. My best friend's Aunt died. People all around me had friends and relatives that were dying. Then, last Monday, my roommate's cat died.

I want to be done with death. It's starting to feel like it's personal, even though I know it isn't. I know I'm not the only one who's had to deal with it all, but grief makes you feel alone. I don't like that feeling, and I need to put it all behind me and move forward with LIFE. That doesn't mean that I'm going to forget. You can't ever forget. The people and animals in your life, they stay with you for forever. Even though they're gone, they're still a part of you. Maybe that's my lesson to learn. But I want to be done with the grief, done with the depression. Maybe you think just writing about it, or just saying that, doesn't make it go away and you'd be right. But it DOES help me move on. Everybody needs a good purge now and again, right?

So, I'm dedicating THIS blog to the animals who've really meant something to me. The odd thing I guess, is that none of them were mine, but they all had a piece of my heart. In the end, that's all that really matters in this world. It's the only thing you will always have with you and the only thing you can take to your grave, the only thing NO ONE can take away from you.

The first one was Grim. He was the coolest cat. My friend Ben had him for, I think, 18 years. That's a long life for a cat. I loved to cuddle with him, his fur was so incredibly soft, and he was such a big cat. He always sort of reminded me of a grey tiger. Maybe that was just his personality showing through.

I took this picture of him years ago. He had been sitting in my lap and I grabbed my camera and said, "Smile Grim!" as I took the picture. He looks like he's grinning. Of all the photos I've taken in my life, this is definitely one of my favorites.




This next one is my dog nephew, Doby. I've never been a dog person, me and dogs just don't understand each other usually. Then there was Doby. I think I could write an entire book on how much I loved this dog. When my sister and her husband moved in with his Gramma so they could save up to buy a house I used to dog sit during the day because Gramma was allergic to him. I'd take him with me everywhere, and in the mornings he'd crawl in bed with me and lick my face. He liked giving kisses. If I have to be honest, I think I loved this dog more than I've ever loved any other pet I've ever known or had. I think I even loved him more than I loved my cat, Spot, who had been my best friend for 13 years. Maybe you just had to know Doby. He was intelligent, more so than any dog I've ever known, and there were times I would talk to him and was so SURE he understood every word I was saying.

I think if I were to ever get a dog, I'd want one like Doby. He was a mix of Australian Sheppard and Blue Heeler. They're kind of rotten puppies, but they will grow into one of the most amazing dogs you will ever know. I miss him every day. I can't imagine how hard it's been for my sister.

Here are a few of my most favorite shots:



He loved to go out fishing on the boat.



He had the coolest ears.









Doby sitting on a chair. I honestly think he thought he was a person. He liked sleeping with a pillow under his head too.





The snow shots were taken several years ago after he'd had surgery to remove a tumor on his hip. My sister threw a chili fund raiser for the surgery and a LOT of people showed up. He was pretty damn popular for a dog. I think it was because he was so cool, you couldn't help but love the Dobester.



Chillin' out on the deck.



Watching the ducks from his most favorite place in the world.

You will be VERY missed Doby.


Lastly, we have Hobes. I didn't know him for very long, but he's been a part of my life every day for the past year and a half. I've never seen a cat so in love with his owner (my roommate).  He was possessive when he'd lay on her, "MY human!" he always seemed to say. We used to joke that he was needy, because he'd throw a fit if he couldn't cuddle.

I call this the "yin-yang cat" shot. He'd curl up in this little tiny ball when he'd sleep, if he wasn't sleeping ON you. He's actually holding his BUTT closer!!



I will always have these wonderful memories to carry with me where ever I go.

I will never forget.

But it's still hard to say Good bye.

I miss you.