My Rainbow Bridge

My blog has a lot of....commemorating.

Commemorating Tyler's birthday, or Tiger's birthday.  Commemorating Jackson's crossing of the Rainbow Bridge.

Why do I do all of this commemorating?  Well, it's kind of the point behind this blog.  In it's original form, I wanted to tell the life story of Tyler, my first and still best cat.  Over the nearly three years since I started blogging, the purpose of this blog evolved from just a progression of Tyler's life to the lives of all the cats I have owned and currently own.  From a collection of stories of what was in the past to an ongoing diatribe of the past, present, and future of the cats that have entered my life.

Got me?

This time of year involves a lot of commemorating, what with the anniversary of Jackson's passing and what would have been his birthday less than one month apart.

Correction: Jackson did not pass,  Jackson crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

A few days ago, in a quiet moment of reflection, I got to thinking: what is the Rainbow Bridge?  There are plenty of websites about the Rainbow Bridge.  Even plenty of groups on Facebook with Rainbow Bridge in the title, where cat lovers the world over share stories of their beloved lost cats.

Myself included.  No Russian bots in those groups I hope, just cats.

So what exactly is the Rainbow Bridge?

Let's start with the Rainbow Bridge poem, how I and most likely every animal lover/pet owner first got the know the Rainbow Bridge:

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...

That's the "official" version anyway.  The Rainbow Bridge is this mythical place, apparently outdoorsy, where your beloved pet hangs out and plays all day, with food as far as the eye can see.  

Kind of reminds me of a Bob Ross painting, filled with cats.

Sounds nice, but....I grew up in Brooklyn and have spent the past 22 years on Long Island, 15 of which as an apartment dweller.  I've never been the outdoorsy type.  

I prefer my own version of the Rainbow Bridge.  

To me.....the Rainbow Bridge is a blissfully perfect day.  72 degrees, low humidity, not a cloud in the sky, allergy free of course. 

A Saturday afternoon.  

In my single days, when Tyler and Tiger were with me and we lived together in my small apartment in Glen Cove, I tended to adore those Saturday afternoons together.  

All my chores were done.  Very few cares in the world.  

Just me, Tyler, Tiger, and later Jackson.  

Relaxing together.  

Tiger or Jackson in my lap.  Tyler asleep in one of his favorite spots, or stretched out on the window-sill, soaking in the sun.

Me in my favorite chair, watching whatever movie I felt like watching that day.  Sometimes I would play music, usually a movie score or Miles Davis, and we would all relax while I read.  I cannot tell you how many awesome days like that made me cancel whatever plans I had, or whatever god-awful date I had planned with some yenta, just because I preferred to spend the evening with my cats.  

No stress, nothing but....R & R.  Cats happen to excel at R & R as any cat owner doubtless knows.

Remember the end of A.I. where those skinny aliens granted David's wish of one full perfect day with his mother?

That's my version of the Rainbow Bridge.  Minus my mother, any day spent with my mother usually made me nervous and stressed about why I hadn't married that yenta I cancelled on. 

The perfect day. 

Years from now, when I cross the human version of the Rainbow Bridge,  Tyler, Tiger, Jackson and all the other cats I will own in my life will meet me there, and we will all have that perfect day.  

Knowing that kind of day awaits me gives me more comfort than I can adequately express. 

What's your version of the Rainbow Bridge?