Year 2000 Tributes

Uebi thru Uno

"The second star to the right
Shines in the night for you,
To tell you that the dreams you plan
Really can come true.
The second star to the right
Shines with a light that's rare -
And if it's Never-Never land,
It will lead you there.
Twinkle, twinkle little star -
So I'll know where you are.
Gleaming in the skies above,
Lead me to the one who loves me.
And when you bring (her) my way
Each time we say 'Goodnight',
We'll thank the little star that shines
The second from the right."

Quiet tears leak from my eyes. I listen to music I've always associated with you, my precious Princess Übi - festive, royal music of the Baroque - especially of Händel and Purcell; Saint-Saen's Organ Symphony; music of the late Romantics and the Impressionists…and now, "Pavane pour une infante défunte" by Ravel, and the classic Disney lullaby "The Second Star to the Right", interpreted as if Thomas Tallis had composed it. Yes, you would come out of hiding on those dark snowy winter nights, to listen to music with me, when I was feeling blue - you always had good taste, my Beloved Princess.
You were just short of seven years old, my Princess. You lived longer than I had hoped; you passed over far too soon, for I desired your presence always. You were born near my pillow on my bed in my bedroom as I slept, right after I had returned from my first vacation in Germany. Your mother, Empress Phoebe, showed no sign of you coming, you know - for you were a unique gift of life, a solitary kitten…and Phoebe's first and only kitten. Hence your full name "Überraschung!" - "Surprise!" in German.
You were always a bit sickly, my precious - a bit of an invalid, always aloof. You would want affection and "pets" - but always on YOUR terms, when YOU were ready. Should I be presumptuous and give you more than you deigned were necessary, you would give me one of your "Love-Slashes", as we learned to call them. You kept counsel with yourself, and were well-practiced in the art of being invisible. How often would I not see you, until you "detached" yourself from the shadows in the house, to let me pet you - ONCE, mind you! - and you would fade again into the darkness. Did you know, my Princess, that friends accused me of "making you up", because you never showed yourself when they were over? Yes, I know…we can laugh now, over that!
As you became more and more ill, you became closer to me, allowing me to stroke and pet you more often. I cherish these memories. You would sleep under my bed, to be close to me - but not TOO close, you understand - or sleep on the big box on the dresser, your soft luminous eyes gazing down on me. I would get up on those nights, and you would allow me to stroke you lovingly.
And, my beloved Princess, you made your transition, that night, resting under my bed, to be close to me - but not TOO close, you understand. Your precious little life had come full circle.
I had no precognition you would pass that night, "sensitive" though I may be, but I did something I cannot explain. After checking on you one last time that night under my bed, petting you and assuring you how much I loved you, I turned out the lights and retired for the evening. But I arose again after a few minutes, and got a little "glow-in-the-dark" figurine - a kneeling angelic child -- stored in a cupboard, one we children had when young. It was old, battered, yellow, chipped. I held it up to the light in the living room, and when it glowed sufficiently, I turned off the light, placed the figurine on the bedstand, and went back to sleep. The figurine glowed softly in the night.
I had not had this figurine out for 40 years.
I would like to think that angels, during the night, softly carried your Lifeforce, your "kitty" soul, my beloved Princess Übi, to some "kitty" heaven, and that your sweet little light shines down on me now at night - my own little "Second Star to the Right".
My Beloved Princess Übi, since I wrote these above lines, two wondrous things have happened, to assure me we shall be reunited someday…
…the day after I arranged for your body to be cremated, so that we shall remain together on this plane, I had a "vision": I had already resolved to have your last "Love-Slash" on my right hand to be tattooed there (you know that me being a biker-type guy, it would raise few eyebrows), and it "came" to me to have a rainbow - a bridge, if you will, my Precious - added to the design, over the slash-scar, with your name under it, and two stars to the right, the Second one the brightest…
…and one week exactly after your passing, as I slept and dreamt fitfully, in a dream I saw a portal between the worlds, and a yellow tabby cat standing at the portal said to me, "It is time for me to leave". I became fearful, and black nightmarish shadows arose. But as he left, a beautiful black little kitty, with a delicate little patch of white on her throat, and soft luminous eyes, came up to the portal and said, "Don't be afraid. I will watch over and protect you." The hellish ghouls faded. I awoke, trembling, shuddering, sweating, heart pounding. It was you, my Princess Übi…it was YOU. You, along with beloved others, are my Guardians at the Gate.
You are sorely missed, Princess Übi, but we are assured we shall meet again, and never be parted…your devoted human companion, Dwight; your Mother the Empress Phoebe, your Paternal Grandmother Sable, your Uncle Spot, and your Uncles/Fathers (we will never know for sure - the Empress Phoebe is still not saying) Friskie and Whiskie.


Dwight Dirks

I was driving to work in Arlington, TX. on Monday I was on a rural road and ahead was a animal that had been run over. As I came up to the animal my heart sank and I was overcome with grief for there in front of me lie a dead baby tiger cub and what struck me was the beauty of this incredible creature and then the anger at how someone could of taken this absolutely magnificent gift from God from its mother. This beauty should of been where it belonged in the wild with its mother not in a suburb of Dallas. Little one may you now be free to roam in the wilds of heaven away from cruel, insensitive people!!!!!!!

This is for a stray that was hit by a car. A woman in a Mercedes hit her and left. I watched the entire "accident" from my rear view mirror. My 5 year old daughter and I turned around and went back, she was lying in the road, I put my jacket under her and lifted her to the sidewalk (her back was broken)and called the humane society. A very caring young man came and picked her up. She was probably hurt too badly to save, very much in pain. Even though we all have our "children" at home, there are still those that are forgotten. Maybe someday, there won't be so many. My daughter asked me, "Why did that lady just leave?". I don't know what to tell her...

Thank you.

Teresa A Terranova

I am sorry little one. I am sorry for your suffering. I am sorry that you were thrust out into the cold to wander with hunger and fear. I am sorry that you were attacked by an animal and that no one cared about you to treat your wounds until they became infected and filled with pus.

I am sorry I never knew your name.

I am glad that I got the chance to care for you these three days. When they told me you had heartworm and they were bad...I knew the kindest thing I could do was to help you over the bridge. You gave me the ultimate gift...you wagged your tail for me today when I awoke to let you out. The first emotion you had shown...So I knew that you knew..you were loved.

Deb Baranauskas

To my sweet baby I will miss you so much, I was the first and last to hold you in life, but you were really the one who held me up. I love you. Now you in heaven and your seizers will stop, please don't be scared for someday when I walk though the pearly gates I will look for you by my side.

Amy Patterson