Crossing Rainbow Bridge

This morning, Mr. Murphy crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.  He had been in poor health since before Christmas.  He had a cancer around his right eye area that continued to grow with additional tumors showing up in his head area. He went to sleep about 10:15 A.M. at the Westwood Animal Hospital surrounded by those he loved, Guy and Cathy.

Mr. Murph adopted us in October, 1994 when he was about 2 to 3 weeks old. He was so tiny and had a Christmas tree shaped tail.  He lived in the bathtub for a period of time.  Cathy would come home in the middle of the day while she was a junior in high school to feed him with a medicine dropper until he could fend for himself.  I remember the first Christmas that we had him.  When we went out to look at the Christmas lights, Murphy was wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a Blazer.  His two greatest friends were Miles and Bagel, our two beagles.  In fact, for a while, Mr. Murph thought he was a beagle.

Murphy was a wild child and a tough old bird.  He outlived his beagle friends and fellow brother cats,  Claw Paws and Velcro. Recently, he grew to love his new Husky friend, Kahlo. He and Cathy became best buds in recent months.  During the day, he slept under her bed, and at night he crawled up on top of her covers, snuggling against her head and snoring into her face.  

Mr. Murph, we will miss you dearly.  For almost 17 years, you've been quite a little buddy and companion.  Someday, we will meet you at the Rainbow Bridge.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

We're Off To See Picasso!

Good morning from Applejack Lane!  Tomorrow morning, Cathy and I are off to see the Pablo Picasso exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.  This exhibit contains a 176 piece collection of Picasso's favorites in ten galleries of the newly renovated VMFA.  The exhibit opened February 19 and will close on May 15 before it moves on to San Francisco.  It is remarkable that this collection is only going to be shown in seven cities worldwide, and Richmond ended up being the only one on the East Coast to have it.   The VMFA recently completed a $150 million upgrade, and this entered into the decision made in France to include Richmond on the tour. This is a once in the lifetime opportunity!                                                                  

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary," once commented Picasso. I guess we are going to have a chance to see Picasso's diary!

Do you know why this lady has two noses?