Who touches your heart?

These past two weeks, I’ve seen four animals pass, or preparing to pass. I see the “knowing” in their eyes, I see the “knowing” in their mistress/master’s eyes. It is so hard, and I cry often when viewing the proofs. As a photographer, I see things that others do not. No, it’s nothing magical, I am probably far more attuned to eyes than most/many.

It’s amazing, even meeting an animal for a very short time, how connected I get. If I had a farm/remote piece of property, they would probably film some crazy ANIMAL PLANET documentary about me… “The lady with a million dogs/cats/whatever.” I’d be happy with three dogs, and 2 or three cats… I have one cat, one dog now… the cat is enamored with my husband, and only allows me to pet her in case “HE” got hit by a bus and didn’t ever come home again… She wants to make sure we’re on reasonable terms, so her supply of nasty canned cat food doesn’t end. She has no idea I would KILL to have a lap cat. Alas, I have a 95# lap dog. I am forever destined to wear clothing with dog fur on it, keep “Clorox wipes” handy, check the toilet seat because someone prefers the bowl to her DOG DISH…and when that SOMEONE drinks from the potty, she dribbles water ALL OVER THE SEAT! UGH! BLECH!
Sometimes I step on a cat hair ball in the middle of the night. Sometimes I can’t sleep because SOMEONE decides it is GRRREAT to YOWL (as only a cat can yowl) at 0200…

Would I change any of this? Nope. Those folks with the pristine homes/apartments/penthouses/condos,etc. I’d be a liar if I said I wouldn’t like to visit those places once in a while… you know, like, oh, a week without vacuuming dog fur, or a day where there wasn’t a litter box to be scooped… that sounds kinda cool. When I do leave, i miss them terribly (and all their bad habits – but they probably say the same about me…). I love my animals, and I am what I am… an animal nut. :O)

Tonight, I prepared this video in honor of some friends who have gone on, some friends who are still here, and I see regularly, and some friends who will soon cross the bridge. You all bring light to my life, a smile to my face, a twinkle to my eye. Each of you has made my life brighter by knowing you.