LIFE
What if we only looked back?
A long time ago in early April 2017, I was planning a quick trip to Ireland to see my family. It was spring break and the children and dad had already left for Florida. I was alone in the house, with only our two cats and three dogs. I savored this time to go for a long walk with the dogs and enjoy the warm weather outside. The next day I would leave for Ireland and our new pet sitter would come and look after the animals. Everything was going according to plan. There was a small storm expected in Atlanta but nothing to worry about. I called a taxi and went to the airport as expected.
My time at the Atlanta airport was uneventful until I arrived at the gate. I found out pretty quickly my flight to Ireland was way over sold and the airline crew seemed desperate to get people to book another flight. I sat there talking to a lady, who said to me, “well you are traveling alone you might as well see if you can just go tomorrow”. I remember her encouragement very well! An elderly lady from Ireland who I had struck up a conversation with. I went over and was told they could rebook my flight for the same time tomorrow night. i thought about it for a second and took it. I would go home and spend an extra night with the cats and dogs. Perfect!
Or so I thought!
I didn’t even unpack. I left the suitcase in the hallway, let the dogs out and headed to the bathroom to clean my teeth and promptly go to bed. While in the bathroom, the bedroom door was open to my son’s room. I peeked in and saw our cat “Sprite” sprawled with legs in the air on the chair fast asleep. I stood there all alone in the silhouette of the light looking at him. He looked so happy! That’s when I heard this sweet musical sound and felt a ping in my heart. Something told me this moment was important so I tip toed back to the bedroom to grab my phone. I promptly returned to see Sprite still asleep in the exact same position and took a photo. I stood there again, with hands to face, thinking gosh he is such a beautiful cat.
Sprite meaning Elf, Fairy, Ghost or Soul.
This beautiful grey and white cat, our children Aishling and Sean had picked from a handful of kittens “free to good home” box. He was barely 1 year old, fast asleep with not a care in the world. Living a great LIFE! He was so beautiful, I really wanted to go over and rub his belly but he was fast asleep. I just stood there and watched after taking a few photos. I then left and went to bed.
The next day I prepared for my journey to Ireland yet again. This time I was definitely getting on the plane. I walked the dogs in the morning, answered my emails and closed down the house to leave. I was quickly met by my handsome cat in the hallway looking straight at the front door. Sprite was a typical indoor outdoor cat. Still young, he liked his active lifestyle outside the home only to join us every night for food and bed. He began to meow and make sounds that only a cat feeling the captive restraints of its owner would make. I stood there and literally said to myself with my hand already on the door handle. “do I allow him to live his life or do I keep him in”. In that moment, I opened the door and stood there watching Sprite run out as fast as he could. I closed the door behind him, left a message for the pet sitter and went to the airport.
Two days later, Jon would be returning with the children from Florida, surely everything would be alright? It’s just two days!
Our flight left on time even though thunder storms were expected that night in Atlanta. I arrived in Ireland the next morning tired. That first night in Ireland, I had the strangest dream. I saw what looked like a nun standing at the doorway of my old childhood bedroom. I worried this was Saint Therese who I had only seen the year before when our dearly beloved Lucky had passed away. The nun didn’t look happy and walked down the hallway. I didn’t sleep after that and called Jon the next morning. They were on their way home. Later that day, Jon would call me again after he reached the house and checked on all the animals. He could not find Sprite. He asked me if I knew where he was. I told him I let him out the night I left and left a message for the pet sitter. Jon went out searching for Sprite only to find his collar in the backyard but no Sprite. He talked to the neighbors and put up posters. The storms that night in Atlanta were long and fierce. Could Sprite be hiding somewhere scared? None of our neighbors remembered seeing him at all!
What had I done?
The days would turn into weeks, flyers were put up everywhere, on trees, on neighborhood websites and in vet office’s but nothing. That particular year, Easter was late and I agreed to do a phone reading for a person on Good Friday! I sat in my office looking at the missing poster for Sprite and went into meditation. It was Good Friday and I began to cry. I went deep into meditation and saw as clear as day something come flying down to me from above, all clear with a white hue. As it got closer, I began to see it was a cat. It reached my arms, purring from brim to brim and sat down in my lap. I was overcome. I heard the words say gently as can be
“I am sorry, will you forgive me”. I began to cry uncontrollably. I knew in my heart of souls it was Sprite! I could feel him, hear him and smell him like he was truly alive right there in my lap. It was a heavenly moment I will remember for the rest of my LIFE. I was inconsolable.
I got my answer on Good Friday 2017!
Sprite was now with God across the Rainbow Bridge. Just thinking about this, has me in tears again.
Needless to say, I was late for my reading but the person kindly understood as I shared the story at the very end. We both cried, two cat lovers, from phone to phone, on this caring and memorable Good Friday! We were both moved to tears.
Sprite went missing on April 7th, 2017 or 777
He was our friend for only one year but he lived his LIFE exactly as he was “ALIVE”.
Here are some photos of Sprite’s relationship with our pets!
We love you Sprite and miss you still today as we think about Good Friday tomorrow in 2025!
Above: Sprite on the left, Kiwi on the right. They were best friends. We still have Kiwi who is eight years old now.
Above: Buddy and Sprite. They were the best of pals and wrestled and played like this all the time. Buddy sadly passed away on September 26th, 2024. Hopefully, they are both wrestling again and having a good time in Heaven!
Wishing all of you a Wonderful Easter and Passover Holiday!
May all of your Prayers be answered during this Very Special Time!
