Double Rainbows for Allye

Almost 1am and once again tonight, I'm having trouble falling asleep. I go through phases when this happens. Not exactly sure what triggers it, but perhaps it has something to do with the millions of thoughts bouncing around my head like a pinball machine. As it turned out, it ended up being a tough day.

On my way home tonight, I was blessed with the magnificent sight of a double rainbow. It was so vibrant and awe-inspiring that I immediately said a prayer thanking God for the wonderful gift of such beauty. Little did I know that it would be a sign of what was before me this evening. It would end up being the Rainbow Bridge masterfully laid out to cross my sweet cat, Allye, home to her forever resting place.

When I got home from work and went to feed Darby and Allye, I noticed Allye was really lethargic and unresponsive. I picked her up and put her next to her food that normally she is insane about, and she jumped back down and laid down again. I knew something was wrong. She had been sick for about a year now, so I've been expecting this day to come, but it never makes it any easier. I picked her up and saw such a vacant stare, that I knew tonight was the night that I had to make the difficult decision that I had been dreading. They say that animals will let you know when it's time, and tonight was a testament to that. I ended up calling my parents (who by the way were very attached to her after she lived with them while I was in college) to let them know that I thought I needed to take her to the vet. Not wanting me to go through it alone, they offered to come over to pick me up and support me through the decision to put her down. I can't thank them enough. As independent as I am, I'm sure that I would not have been able to do it by myself. Sometimes you need someone by your side.

She's at peace now, and although tears stream down my face at her loss, I, too, have a sense of peace that she is no longer suffering, no longer sick, and no longer struggling in her old age. She was a great cat that essentially watched me grow up over the past 17 years. She met her fair share of men that I dated, while doing homework, she slept on her fair share of high school and college books, and she kept me great company after I moved into my first home all alone. She will forever hold a special place in my heart.

The Lord couldn't have created a more beautiful Rainbow for her to cross over on. Even in hindsight tonight, I continue to be thankful for His gift.