Cali's Final Mission

 

When my good friend Cali got sworn in at the Bridge, it was at another district miles from mine.  After Cali made the long trip to our village, I investigated why the pup didn’t arrive where she should have.  I am surprised by what I found and more aware of why Cali is a spectacular dog and angel.

 

When any soul passes, they have to go directly to the River of Life to begin the trip to the Immortal Side.   If they don’t, it is akin to missing a flight and taking another one with many connections and layovers.  When a river wave goes by, it is impossible to determine when the angel will catch the next one, reach the Bridge, and cross.

 

But, Cali had something more important than to arrive at the Bridge immediately and be directly brought to us.  Cali knew her mom was going to be devastated by her passing.  There was only one path out of the nightmare Miss Nancy would face after Cali shed her mortal coil, and that would be the distraction another pup in the house would bring.

 

You can only enter a human’s dreams as an angel, and Cali needed to do it herself  Miss Nancy would not be accessible when Cali went to the Bridge, but Cali’s skin sister, Vicki, might be.  Cali had a plan:  She would become an angel, slip into Vicki’s mind, tell her what her mom needed, and then catch a later wave on the River.

 

Cali departed the mortal world in her mom’s arms.  Her spirit flew above Miss Nancy, holding the body that the pup had shed like an old suit of clothes.  Cali found herself pulled towards the river, and the pup had to fight against it, like a small fish trying to swim upstream.  She freed herself and found Vicki, who was awake, but susceptible to a daydream.   When one started, Cali snuck into her mind and told Vicki when and where to find a new pup for her mom. Vicki snapped back to reality and told her mom to go for a ride with her.  Vicki drove her mom to the shelter.  

 

Cali had to go to the shelter before her mom and sister arrived and quickly interviewed the dogs. It can take weeks for an angel to find the correct pup for their mom but Cali had less than an hour.  Luckily, she met the right dog immediately.  Cali told this pup how to do the little things that her mother would surely notice.  When she saw her sister and mom enter the shelter Cali caught a wave and left for the Bridge.

 

The dog, who would soon be named Casey Jr, did as she was told.  Miss Nancy didn’t know why she was drawn to this dog.  She was still in a daze Before she was certain what was happening, she was filling out paperwork, then Casey Jr. was in the car, and after that home..  Even though Cali was lost at the Bridge, with no one who knew her, she was happy she accomplished her goal.

 

Casey Jr. had not made their mom forget Cali, not by any stretch, but she has helped her deal with the heartbreaking loss, and given her a reason not to wallow in her sorrow. Cali was absolutely right.  Without another dog in the house to rebuild her mom’s heart Miss Nancy may have slipped into a depression for months.  Cali, Casey Jr., and their brother Hurley have saved her from that fate.

 

Casey Jr. the family just before the shutdown hit so she got to bond with the pack immediately.  She has proven to be a beautiful, crazy puppy, who is just shy of nine months old.  Casey is a true hit at the dog park where she is earning quite a reputation.  Most of all, each day, she is healing her mom’s heart.

 

Now, Cali is home with us, after making a big sacrifice for her mom even after passing.  The world may not be right, but it might be bearable 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Beat This Caption

Oh sweet testicle, reunited at last.

Monday Question

 

If there was a chip you could put in your pet(s) to make them talk would you? Or would you rather pretend to know what we are saying?

Friends For Life

No matter when dogs come into their parents’ lives, they love their human unconditionally. But, there is no closer relationship than between pups and people who grow up together. It is natural for dogs to be unaware of a life without their parents. They are dogs’ constant throughout their existence. But, when a person doesn’t know life without their little, furry friend, once their beloved does go to the Bridge, the parting is exceedingly sorrowful.

 

I enjoy my work as a Judge at Rainow Bridge District Four. I greet all dogs who cross over the River of Life and get assigned to my district. Many of these dogs I, or my family, have met in person or on social media, but I also meet hundreds of new dogs. One of them is a beautiful little pug who goes by the name of Otis.

 

All dogs have the same duty assigned to them before they are born. They must protect, enlighten, and improve the lives of the members of their families. But, Otis’ instructions came with a particular caveat. His destiny was to share his life with a darling little girl named Kylie. Young ladies can be as fragile as a porcelain doll. Keeping her safe, happy, content, and free of trouble would be daunting. Only special dogs get assigned this vital task. The angels who manage the pre-born puppies saw unique qualities in Otis and determined he would be the perfect best friend for a little girl.

 

Once Kylie saw Otis, she knew the cute little pug would be her best friend for life. On his part, while there were other people in the family, Otis pledged his life. From that day forward, Otis was there for his little mom. He watched her leave for her first day of school and welcomed her home after graduation. In between, Otis was her constant through every rung of the ladder; she climbed from young girl to adulthood. When Kylie triumphed, Otis was Kylie’s biggest champion, and when she failed, Otis was there to assure her that everything would be fine, because he was there, and nothing could beat them when they were together.

 

For 18 years, Otis never strayed far from Kylie’s side. He pledged to be with his little mom through her college years. Every soul receives a limited amount of heartbeats, so Otis had to meter each one out and not do anything too strenuous so Otis could stay with her from childhood to womanhood. Once Otis had given her every ounce of devotion to prepare her for being an adult, he departed, leaving her broken-hearted, but mature and a better person than she would have been if Otis never crossed her threshold.

 

While Otis was not well-known throughout social media, he had become a legend at the Bridge. We first learned of him when his siblings arrived and told the tale of the teenaged dog who would not leave his mom until he was sure she was emotionally ready. After Otis carefully and meticulously used his last heartbeat, the pug arrived at Rainbow Bridge. He not only saw the pups from his pack who preceded him, but dogs he did not know, lining the Bridge, the path to the stairs, and then up to Hobo’s Landing where I proudly awaited to swear such an accomplished dog into the Immortal World. When the pledge concluded, the howls of appreciation continued for 15 minutes. That was followed by the rain clouds filled with the tears shed for him, that poured down on us. It was the best kind of wet.

 

We have been working hard with Otis teaching him how to visit his mom in her dreams and the way to switch bodies with birds and butterflies, who can travel back and forth across the River to visit their parents. Kylie is in the stage of grief where you cannot stand seeing anyone else happy, something we are familiar with because all our parents have been through it. Since the pain a parent feels at a pup’s passing equals the love she had for the new angel, Kylie is going to travel a very long route to escape from the forest of grief. I am one of the few angels who can communicate between both worlds. Otis wants me to tell Kylie he is always with her: In her dreams, like a ghost, that Kylie might see out of the corner of her eye, or as a bird, butterfly, or other winged creature who seems to be looking at her converting something only she would know. Otis encourages Kylie to when she is ready, give her heart to another dog, because many in shelters need love, and she is one of the best dog moms in the world.

 

Today, Otis lives like a king in a palace with everyone Kylie has ever loved and has passed, which is what he deserves. Someday, far in the future, Otis will be waiting for her when she crosses the Bridge. Until then, he will always be an angel on her shoulder.

Foley Finds Another Dog Who Communicates from the Bridge

 

I am agitated.  When I arrived at the Bridge, the BIg Guy granted me the ability to communicate with humans on the mortal side.  I explained to the heartbroken people that, when their babies ran out of heartbeats and left them, they were not gone, but actually with me at the Bridge, where they are young again, happy, and waiting for their parents.  Being allowed to share their tails is a privilege.  It has allowed me to keep one paw in the mortal world, share my stories, and become Rainbow Bridge’s best selling author.

    Recently, I have become privy to information that someone else was sending people letters that are supposedly from their dogs at Rainbow Bridge.  I investigated.  I quickly learned that no angels were communicating their stories to humans.  The bipeds were creating these letters from their twisted imaginations. Who has ever heard anything so outrageous?

    These stories need to be composed delicately.  When a human loses their dogs, they are at one of their most vulnerable states.  It requires an angel’s touch.  Humans cannot convey the sympathy and understanding I do.

    I traced the origins of the communications to a man in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The source of the letters was Todd Belcher.  He is a painter who specializes in pet portraits.  I guess he believes that gives him some insight into the pup’s soul.  I know it takes much more than that to send letters supposedly written by angels.  

    I prepared myself to lay the smackdown on this fool when an angel name Jimmy requested to meet with me.  In 1990 Jimmy was a sad stray with no hope of a home.  Only one human showed him love, Todd Belcher.  He adopted the desperate pup and, for years, provided a Jimmy with a happy family.  Todd became inspired by Jimmy and started to paint portraits of dogs.    

    Todd began a blog to make people aware of his pet portrait business.  While he was a good man with a camera, he had trouble with words, so he hired Julie to do the blog’s text.

    The time arrived for Jimmy to pass to the Bridge.  Julie and Todd’s wife Stephanie could tell how hard Todd took Jimmy’s passing.  They discussed a way they could lessen his burden.  Stephanie suggested she write a letter from Jimmy to Todd explaining that his pup was at the Bridge and thriving.  The missive meant a tremendous amount to Todd.  It inspired Julie and Stephanie to create a website where they would write, as Jimmy, to tell grieving parents how well their dogs were doing as angels.

    It was a compelling story.  But I didn’t believe it.  “First it was Todd writing these letters, and then it was Stephanie.  In truth, it has been you all along, hasn’t it?”

    Jimmy hemmed and hawed.  I assured him he would be in no trouble; I just wanted to make sure that the letters to these broken-hearted parents weree from an actual angel.  

    Jimmy admitted the entire scheme.  When he first passed, he saw how distraught his dad was.  He entered Stephanie’s dreams and dictated a letter.  It had such a positive effect on his dad, Jimmy talked to Stephanie about doing more letters for newly arrived angels.  She agreed, and a little cottage industry was created.

    I promised Jimmy I would not betray his secret.  I cannot reach every parent who loses a pup, and I could certainly use the assistance.  I told him I would file a report concerning the incident stating that the content of the letters was purely from Stephanie’s imagination.  The matter would be closed.  And Jimmy’s secret is save.  

    I left Jimmy to continue with his excellent work.  Truthfully, we need more angels comforting distraught parents, even if they did not go through the proper procedure to do so.  My main goal is to try to mend broken-hearted people.  I am happy to have assistance in doing so.

Pocket Gives Pro Tips About How to Beg for Food at the Table

 

We all have different ways of getting treats from our parents.  I was lucky enough to learn at the paws of judge Foley Monster.  She taught me that dogs are the superior species when measured against humans, and we should never beg them for food.  Such actions give people power over us.   We cannot have that.  I will say I never saw Foley beg at the table.  She would stand on her back legs, bark repeatedly, and turned her head back and forth.  It wasn’t begging.  It was demanding.  

    I was not born with the steel nerves that Foley was.  She was fearless.  When there are two pack members, and one has that trait, the other becomes a worrier, watching the daring adventures of our partner.  Two courageous dogs are rare in small packs.  One member of the relationship has to be grounded, and that was me.

    I have strived to teach River in the manner  Foley taught me, but either she is not as good a student as I am, or Foley was a better teacher.  Regardless, River entered the house begging, and no manner of teaching could curb her behavior.  Worse than that, my parents turn giving food to her into a game. 

    When my parents eat, we only get what they have if it is chicken, without any seasoning.  I think it is the most fabulous tasting food I have ever eaten, and I have tasted Foley’s poop, which she swore was golden.  We only get a few nibbles of chicken.  The rest of the meal, we receive what we eat every other time, kibble.  

    I am kindly respectfully handed the kibble.  My parents know this is the only way I will accept the treat.  But, River will do anything for food, and my parents push the envelope to see how far she will go. They throw kibble down the hallway and watch River scamper after it.  Her pursuit is immensely entertaining because my sister suffers from a touch of nose blindness.  If she loses sight of her target, she tries to detect it through scent, but her smushed in the face has jammed all her sensors together, and she has more trouble picking up the smell and finding her food than the Jets offense has finding the end zone.  Often, I will casually stroll over as she is desperately surging and crunch down on the kibble if I want it or not.

    They also place a kibble on the arm of Daddy’s captain’s chair.   When standing, the top of River’s head is at the same level as the arm.  River lifts her right front leg and tries to find the kibble, which, once located, she knocks off and attempts to catch it in her mouth.  She is successful half the time.   My parents get quite excited when she succeeds.  I guess the virus and lockdown have made everyone desperate for entertainment.    

    I have taken a different route, having been plagued by stomach issues my entire life.  I don’t eat when I am not feeling well, and this always worries my parents because, like a person living on a fault line, they are afraid this is the Big One.  That is why they feel better when I eat and worry when I don’t. I have learned to use this to my advantage.  

    I don’t eat the first kibble offered me.  My not eating makes my parents worry that I have an upset stomach.  For some reason, they think eating will cure the problem.  So they begin to dip the kibble into their food:  mashed potatoes, meat, soup, whatever.  They offer it to me.  I sniff it, and sometimes I take it, and other times I say no, so they add more.  River gets just plain kibble, but I get kibble dipped in human food, without having to chase it, or swipe at it.

When it comes to getting food from our parents, patience is best.