Where Are You?

Ginger.  Has anybody seen her?

While at work today, I talked to Tricia and sensed some sadness in her voice.  "Ginger's missing," she said.  Ginger is our cat.  She's mainly an outside cat, but there are times that she spends time indoors, sleeping on her favorite chairs.  "The last time I saw her was yesterday afternoon," she told me.  "She was sleeping on the trampoline.  Then she didn't come in for supper, nor breakfast, and I haven't seen her all day."

I got home at around 6 pm and there was still no sign of her.  There was a heaviness in our home.  Finally, Benjamin drove in from work and we regretfully told him the news.  Ginger is primarily Benjamin's cat, but he loves all the animals.  He was very quiet - just sitting in silence on the stairs for a while.  We went out and picked blueberries together and talked.  I explained to him that loving someone or something makes you vulnerable.  You love them and then they are gone.  There is an emptiness.  It hurts.  A big part of you wants to wall yourself off to protect yourself and never wants to ever feel that loss again.  But you must.  Loss is a part of life.  You have great memories and there is great sadness, but you must go on.  Benjamin understands.

Have you ever lost an animal?  It's tough.  Pets can be a good companion.  Ginger hunted rats and has been known to catch the occasional squirrel or bird for a snack.  We've had a bad streak going with our pets.  First, Russ' cat disappeared and then both of our dogs died earlier this year to sickness within a month of each other.  Whew.  Time to lighten the mood with a little humor from "Dumb and Dumber." 

Ginger is wearing a pink collar with our phone number on it.  We have been hoping and praying that Ginger shows up soon.  Come on home, Ginger!