THE
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
OF AN EXTREMELY DISTINGUISHED CAT
I, Mr. Smith
Meyers (familiarly known as Smitty) because of the burden of my
illness, realize that the end of my life is near…and so
I hereby bury my Last Will and Testament in the heart of my Friend.
She will not know it is there until some time after my death.
Then, remembering me in her sadness, she will know of this testament.
I ask her, then, to inscribe it as a memorial to me.
I have little
in the way of material things to leave. Cats are much wiser than
men. We do not set great value upon things. I have only my love
and magic to bequeath. These I leave to all those who have loved
me, and especially to my friend, who I know will mourn me the
most. Perhaps it is vain of me to boast when I am so near to the
Gate through which we must all, one day, pass but I have always
been an extremely special and distinguished cat!
I ask my friend
to remember me always but not to grieve for me too long. In my
life I have given her comfort in time of sorrow and a reason for
added joy in her life. It is painful for me to think that even
in death I should cause her pain. Let her remember that no cat
was ever happier but I have grown ill and pained. It is time to
say “Good-bye”. It will be a great sadness to leave
her but not a sorrow to die. I accept this part of the journey
as a natural part of life…not something alien and terrible
which destroys life.
What will
come to me after death? Who knows? … But I would like to
think that I will be joined by companions I’ve known in
life. I will romp about in mice-filled fields with those who have
gone before me. Every hour is mealtime and there is always a little
brook with fresh running water. I will spend long evenings in
front of fireplaces with logs forever burning and curl up with
memories of the old days on earth and the love of my special person.
This is much
to expect but peace is certain…and a long rest for these
weakened limbs will be welcome.
One last request
I make. I ask her, for the love of me, to have another. It would
be a poor tribute to my memory not to have a cat in her life.
I have never had a narrow spirit and have always held that most
cats are good (some dogs, too!). Some cats are better than others,
of course…like me! And, so, I suggest another of similar
background but others could be suitable, too. No cat can be as
distinguished and handsome as I was but she must not ask the impossible.
He will do his best and even his inevitable defects will help
to keep my memory ever green.
To him, I’ve
left my green chaise lounge and my place in the garden window
which I loved so much and wish him long, sunny afternoons of snoozing
and bird watching.
A few last
words of farewell, Dear Heart. I have loved you completely and
no matter how deep I sleep I shall hear you. Remember always that
Angels are not allowed to show their wings on earth, but there’s
no rule against whiskers!
Barbara
Meyers
— Certified Grief Therapist —
718-720-5548
© Copyright
Barbara Meyers 1996
Revised 2002
A heartfelt
thank you to Barbara Meyers for contributing this for publication
on the Four Paws in Heaven website. Although she did not specifically
provide her biography to be published here, with her permission
it is provided in case anyone would like further information about
her and her work as a grief therapist.
About
the Author
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