Happy Birthday... Patches

by Viki Gentilman
(Bryceville, Florida)

Today Patches turns 7. The perfect number, according to the ancients. The number of God some people say. Fitting then that she is spending her 7th birthday in Heaven, with God!

How do I know this? All religions use animals as the way to either act like or not act like. In the three major religions, Christianity, Muslim and Jewish, the story of an ark full of animals with a few humans to care for them is told. The animals are said to have no soul -- but I disagree. If you have ever had an animal love you, you have looked into their eyes and SAW the soul. They however do not have a soul that needs redemption. That is the difference between us and the beasts...we are capable of evil, we know right from wrong and we do need someone or something to redeem us. It is our chore in this life to care for the animals, the earth and each other while we find that redemption!

In each creation story of the major religions, animals are made first - then humans. We are told to take care of all that was created.

I miss Patches so much my heart at times feels as if it will explode from the pain of seperation. I lock myself in the bathroom and cry until I can no longer breathe because the pain is so great. This being her birthday is especially hard, since she went too young! But I don't wish her back to a place that pain can creep in at any time, where insects bother and where there is wet grass in the mornings (Patches, being a large breed, was a canidate for joint problems and cancer...hated deer flies and bees...and wet grass? Forget about it!). I would have loved more time -- forever! But forever will have to wait until it is my time to join her.

And when that time comes, I will be running to her for doggie kisses and hugs!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BIG GIRL! Your "sisters", Hannah and Mildred Isabella miss you, and so do "Dad" and I!