The strangest thing has been happening over the last few weeks and I can't quite explain it, but I have the feeling Ping is still with me and roaming the condo. I thought at first I was imagining things, but periodically I would see a catlike figure moving in my peripheral vision. I would, of course, assume it was Cooper and look to see what he was up to, but every time I would do so it would turn out not to be him and nothing was there. I would find Cooper either at my feet or curled up on the back of the couch sleeping. Sometimes I would also find Cooper sitting and staring at places Ping used to hide himself, watching intently as if he was seeing something that wasn't there. Sometimes Coop will start to get vocal but it's not directed at me. I felt confident that I was making these occurrences out to be something they weren't. Then yesterday JK was over and we were playing Canasta when she made an out of the blue comment that she thought she saw a cat but it wasn't Cooper since he was curled up by her arm. Is it possible that Ping is still with me and that, even though our time together was short and he suffered such isolation, he was indeed happy here and is letting me know? While I believe in the possibility of supernatural phenomena, I've rarely experienced anything like this. It's not anything frightening or upsetting at all, but rather just a presence making itself known somehow. Even though we never truly bonded, I can't help but wonder if this is the way Ping is letting me know he loved me and was grateful I brought him home. Perhaps he truly appreciated my efforts to make him comfortable and care for him as best I could under the circumstances. Maybe me staying with him to the end was our final bonding opportunity and even after his earthly life ended he considers his home to be with me.
This whole experience brought back memories of when I lived with my friend Sue and her family in Ohio. We'd all be curled up in the living room eating popcorn and watching something interesting on TV or a movie we'd rented and there would be scratching at the door. Sue would get up and go open the front door, close it again and return to the couch as if it was no big deal. There wasn't any visible animal that came in, but it appeared from her response that it was a regular occurrence. When questioned, she explained that it was a dog they had and lost that still scratched at the door when it wanted in. I admit I was a little creeped out by it, and the house itself I'm sure was haunted having been a historic stagecoach stop among other things in past lives. They seemed to enjoy terrorizing me with tales of things that went on there and I remember many a sleepless night waiting to meet my ultimate demise at the hands of some nineteenth century ghost that never quite made it onto the next stagecoach. Those were the days indeed, so much fun I had being an adopted member of that family! There was never a dull moment, that's for sure! Recalling those times and experiencing what's been going on here the past few weeks causes me to think about how animals touch our lives and stay with us long after they're gone. As stated earlier, I have no fear of these occurrences at all, but rather choose to think it is Ping which can't help but make me feel blessed that we truly did connect and that we meant a lot to each other. Sentimental? Yes, but I suppose it's much better to think those warm thoughts over being scared out of my wits not knowing what's been going on. I truly believe there's an afterlife, even for our loved animal family members that are so near and dear to us. They say there's a rainbow bridge where they wait for us on the other side. Maybe Ping just wasn't ready to go and needed more time here now that he's no longer suffering before he goes on to wait for me there. And maybe he won't ever go, but will be with me until I'm ready to join him so we can venture forth together. Who knows? Whatever the explanation, I'm not complaining!
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