by W. Robert Reardon, 29 November 2001
In the early morning of Nov. 29, our second cat, Little Brooksie, passed away peacefully in her sleep. She had recently been failing and we had planned to take her to the vet today. She decided instead to pass away at home where she wanted to be and not in the arms of a stranger.
When Nike was put asleep last year this time, both the evening of her last night at home and the evening of her death was lit up with a beautiful bright clear full moon. How fitting that the night never took over but instead stayed lit with the light of the moon.
Late yesterday afternoon, just before sunset, there was the most magnificent rainbow in the north sky. It was the widest and most fullest that I had ever seen, coming almost full circle in splendid color. I first took that as a good omen on behalf of my eye, thinking that it would heal and all would be well. After all, I had just come from the doctor's office earlier that day with only a marginal report. But I was wrong. That rainbow was the path that Little Brooksie would be taking to heaven in less than 24 hours. It was God's way of saying her time had come and her path was secure.
She joins Nike once again as buddies. It has been a wonderful 19 years since we got Brooksie from the Humane Society in Boca Raton. It is fitting that the closest description of her big blue eyes and bright smile would be that of a rainbow.
Good bye Brooksie and may your path to heaven be as beautiful as that rainbow I saw yesterday. My life has been enriched because of your existence in it. For all you have done and been, I can only say Thank You.
Your Daddy, Robert