A PET'S GIFT OF THANKS TO NANCY

Our son brought home an abandoned white and gray kitty with sea-green eyes. He became an indoor/outdoor cat, and stayed within the confines of our backyard. If he went over the fence, I would tell him “No, No” and bring him back. After a few repetitions at this, he understood, and never ventured out of our backyard. We named him Gus. He took me as his mother and brought me ‘gifts’ from the yard – a cricket, a lizard, a field mouse and if he found nothing, a pinecone would be placed reverently at my feet.

When the doorbell rang, he would be the first to greet visitors. If something startled him, or there were too many people in the house, he would crawl under the covers of our bed, and stay until things quieted down. When guests walked down the hall and saw the lump move sometimes that really got their attention.

The lake back of our home was filled with wildlife: Canada geese, ducks, sea gulls, herons and egrets. He knew them all but the ducks and geese were of special interest and when nesting Gus would be chased each time he went outside. Ducks and geese co-exist on lakes but stay within their own groups. After 16 years with us Gus died. I brought him home from the veterinarian’s office, placed him in a decorated hat box my aunt had given me, sat down on a chair, crying and grieving. I became aware of a long line of ducks and geese making their way up from the lake to our porch door. They peered through the screen, one by one, swaying back and forth and honking softly, “Onk, onk. .” then stepped down to allow the next one in line to pay their respects. I looked into the back yard and saw 50 to 60 ducks and geese sitting quietly all over the yard. And there’s a sequel to Nancy Edwards story in tomorrow’s Blog: She is a Life Member of A.R.E. and a member of their Glad Helpers Prayer/Healing group, and a former teacher. Tune in tomorrow for the sequel.