Four Years Now

Photo copyright Wings, 2015; all rights reserved.

Four years ago last night (10:42 PM, to be exact).

This photo was taken not long before, when she was already ill past the point of no return. In the photo, though, she felt fine; she was simply snoozing, tuckered out after a long day of playing. It all happened fast, fortunately, and Dom really had only one day that was not so great, her last. I sat with her on the floor when it was clear it was imminent, and she went to sleep on my lap one final time. Her burial was actually four years ago this morning; it was bitterly cold that night, and too late to dig in the dark. So I put a little cedar on her resting place this morning.

She learned that she loved riding the ATV with Wings; she'd stretch out on the back, or on the fender in front. He had a dream early yesterday morning in which he was riding the ATV (we use it for muck duty, hauling heavy stuff, plowing snow, etc.), and in his dream, we had a cat that was demanding to be taken for a ride. Apparently Dom decided to pay him a visit, even if she took feline form. She was always a little lithe and cat-like, anyway.

Hard to believe it's been four years already. It's also a time of year when the death markers, for humans and animals alike, come thick and fast for us. Another has just been added. There'll be at least one in each of the next three months, too. 

For now, though, I'm just going to remember this little girl we love so much, simultaneously fragile and fierce, as she was when Wings took that photo: Happy, comfortable, content.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.