Tag: Heart

A Spiritual Awakening

On By mikeykjrIn Personal1 Comment

Posted on FB:

OMG, I’m freaking out right now. I’m crying all over again. I was smoking a cigarette on my front porch when I noticed something staring at me in the corner of my eye. I buried Heart on the side of my property by the river (I have yet to erect a marker). My heart literally stopped, I stopped breathing. At the same place, there was a black and white cat, exactly the same markings as Heart, staring at me. I began to walk to that place and it went back in the bushes. I’ve never had something like that happen to me.

Most of you are not aware of my spiritual beliefs, but I am a pagan, Witch, Wiccan, whatever you choose to call me. It is my belief, right now, as we come closer to Samhain / Halloween, the veil between the Otherworld (the realm of our Ancestors / the deceased) and the living is thining, until Samhain when that veil is the thinnest.

The reason I post this is sobriety taught me to BELIEVE in my own beliefs. I BELIEVED I could become and stay sober (and ten years later I still am sober). BELIEVE in a Higher Power (no matter what you call it) which I have despite the vast differences my beliefs are with those of the program. BELIEVE that no matter what, things will get better. But you have to BELIEVE and put the work into it.

This is one of those “spiritual awakenings” (as it’s my belief you just don’t have one). Let me clarify, my FB post says, “I’ve never had something like this happen to me.” I’ve always had memories of my Ancestors but nothing like this. Some may call it a coincidence. Perhaps this cliche clears things up, “Things happen for a reason?”

RIP Heart

On By mikeykjrIn Personal7 Comments

 

heart_20170709
RIP Heart 1998 – 2017

 

I had known Heart for almost ten years before I began to take care of her. Her owner, my ex-sponsor, said he couldn’t care for both his cats anymore. I was in the process of moving, so I told my ex-sponsor I would take Heart with me. I moved Heart to my house in July 2017.

It was a difficult decision because she would be taken away from her sister, Sassy. It was also a long drive to my home. Lastly, my work schedule is so erratic I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to spend a lot of time with her. Despite these difficulties, I took her home and shared the last months of her life.

She was supposedly 19 years old, according to my ex-sponsor. Her sister has a range of medical problems in the last year. We thought that Sassy would pass away first, then Heart. Instead, it was the other way around. The bond between them is strong, so we both believe now that Heart has passed, Sassy will deteriorate quickly and pass away too.

In the last month, she gave me a scare. She began not drinking and eating. Then she developed wheezing. People were saying it could be a urinary tract infection while others were telling me it could be a simple cold.  The consensus was to take to a vet.

She was 19 years old, so I chose not to do so. She got better shortly after, so I spent more time with her. I knew that her passing would be soon. She started to not eat and drink four days ago; no matter what I put in front of her, she just walked away. The wheezing returned obstructing her breathing. I knew this was the time.

The previous episode I had already given her all my love and comfort. She knew this as she continued to stay by my side until the end. Yesterday, she sat right by her bed, unable to move but would pick up her head to drink some water. It ripped my heart I had to work but I couldn’t stand to watch her pass away. I didn’t know when it would happen, I just knew this was the last day I would see her.

When I got home from work the house was completely silent. She didn’t greet me at the door. I knew what had happened. You can never be prepared.

Even now as I write this the tears continue to flow down my cheeks. I am heartbroken beyond words. The house is silent. Memories, good memories just keep coming up tearing my heart. I can hardly function. I keep rolling back to her picture above, talking to her as if she is here. I miss her deeply. A part of me went with her and forever I will be changed.

Losing a Loved One

On By mikeykjrIn Personal2 Comments

We all experience loss of those we love. Whether it’s heart_20170709a parent, grandparent or another family member even pets. Many have lived their life to the fullest, as in my case. Heart, my cat I’ve had since July, is in the final stages of her life. It’s heart-wrenching to watch but I know it’s time.

A lot of tears are flowing down my cheeks since I was awakened to her cold nose rubbing against mine. Heart, my cat, never does that in the morning. Usually, it’s a cry or howl, “Hey I want to be fed.” But as soon as I realized she had shortness of breath, I knew it wouldn’t be much longer.

She now rests near me in her final moments; her breathing is getting shallower and she hasn’t moved. I have told her how much I love her and will miss her, stroking her side lightly through the process. While this is a heart-wrenching process to watch, its not something I’m unfamilar with as a Certified Nursing Assistant. But when it’s one of your own, it is much harder.

I have chosen to stay by her side for comfort. My employer has already been called out of respect for my fellow employees (who honesty I don’t give a rats ass about right now). I want her to know how much I love her and it’s okay to go. With a little whip of her tail, I know she is comforted.

I am heart-broken right now, knowing her life is close to an end. It’s painful. But would drinking help relieve my pain? No, not at all. It would just make matters worse. I could drink myself to my own death, pass out and miss her final moments or be completely selfish and be in my own world of drunkedness.

Today, I’m grateful to be by her side – sober.