The Adventures Continue!
Today is the fourth Saturday since Galan Siki Cota Portugal Chihuahua died. Over the years, this superlative example of a dog and a Chihuahua had gone on many adventures with me. We had a connection that is rare even among dog owners. When Galan was hit by a car some years ago, a well-meaning friend told me that he was "just a dog". That comment spurred me to write an entire article about the uniqueness of animals, especially pets, in this adventure that we call Life.
For years, I have written stories about Heaven and the afterlife. Recently, I have also included thoughts on our pets and what happens after they cross rainbow bridge. While I have written from a Christian perspective, it is very clear from many religious and spiritual avenues that humans and animals had paths into eternity. The Christian saints like Francis of Assisi, Martin Luther, John Paul II and Billy Graham believed this, along with many others. The Bible talks about animals in Heaven and also in the New Heaven and the New Earth of the book of Revelation.
For several years, when a friend has lost their canine companion, I've sent them a great graphic of a dog sitting by the water. It that includes this quote from Will Rogers: "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." In one quote, Mr. Rogers reached deep into the heart of every dog owner, as well as anyone who has had a great relationship with a pet.
One of the awesome friendships of my life has been with a wonderful Christian mystic. She comes from many generations of women that had special gifts. These gifts include seeing colors around people, having dreams that were highly accurate and also the ability to see and talk with spirits. She is also an empath and has contacted me many times out of the blue when she thought I was weighed down with life's burdens. She was always correct. But, very few people know my friend has these gifts and I would never allow anyone to invade her privacy. While she has not seen the spirits of her pets, she has felt them over the years. Immediately after Sikiboy died, my friend told me that not only was my beloved companion close by, he was also hanging out sometimes with my brother Chris, who died in October, 2020. While I was surprised by her comment, I was also comforted by it.
Another close friend shared some examples of how her pets that had crossed rainbow bridge had touched her life afterwards. She told me that a neighbor called her once and said that she saw her dog scratching at the door to come into the house the night before. The neighbor didn't know that her dog had recently died. In the weeks after Sikiboy died, others shared stories with me too.
But as I mentioned earlier, this is the fourth Saturday since Sikiboy crossed into eternity. Even so, the bond is still strong between us. Consider these proofs:
-- Sikiboy had three favorite blankets in Dallas. Two of them were upstairs and one was downstairs. In fact, the golden one downstairs was used to accompany his body to its appointment with aguamation. This is the process that offers the same result as cremation but uses alkaline hydrolysis, which is far better for the environment.
With the blankets upstairs, I folded each and set them into the chair that Sikiboy enjoyed sitting in. The next morning, there was a distinct impression of a curled up, sleeping dog in the upper left hand corner of the top blanket. In fact, it was the perfect size of my Sikiboy.
-- Whenever Sikiboy went on his long walks with me through the woods or after his time with his Yorkie friend Izzy, he would have a distinct odor around him for a while until it dissipated. Over the past month, I have smelled this unique aroma in my bedroom and several other locations in the house. At times however, the smell has been in the car and in my office at work.
When we were in the car together, Galan loved being perched on my arm so that he could look out the window. He was a Chihuahua after all. Several weeks ago, during a drive home after work, this very strong and unique odor, concentrated this time, invaded my nostrils. It was almost like I smelled the top of a bottle of very expensive perfume. There was no mistaking it, Galan's spirit was perched on my arm as I was driving home from work. Since I did a lot of work with Sikiboy curled on my lap, that also explains why the odor has been in my office.
-- But there have been a few other unique incidents. Since Galan is a Chihuahua, he had the cutest, tiny paws. But, like all dogs, he liked to scratch at the door once in a while. He didn't do it very often, but when he did, a person needed excellent hearing to catch the sound. I've heard his unique scratch several times in the room while I was doing other things. He has also messed up a throw rug like he enjoyed doing when he was alive.
The point of all of this is Galan Siki Cota Portugal Chihuahua, a unique force of nature when he was alive, has definitely made his presence known from the other side. This has been a great comfort to me.
A friend from Uganda told me that in their belief system, departed pets stayed with them for approximately a month before they permanently passed on into eternity. Fat chance that is going to happen with Sikiboy. Well, today is the fourth Saturday since he died. While my greatest desire is that my wonderful bestie is always happy, I have a feeling that we may be hanging out together in one form or another for years to come!
Until next time!
Anthony Cota
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