Opening Hearts

I just read Shelly's blog on her lovely bunny friend "lucky". It was very touching story because of the many scenes of friendship, care, kindness and love gesture displayed. When we have critter companions, there exist a special bond shared between the animal and care giver. A special connection when we become familiar with each other's personalities and spaces. We can not help but love each of our quarks and can not resist the feeling of shared love and understanding as our critter friends become part of our lives whether it is in the past or present. We want the very best for them just as ourselves and hopefully, we can be together as long as our conditions allow us to be in our life journey and to the end.

It is neat to witness the bond..In the past, my companion friend was a red -ear turtle. Grandma came home with him after she made her way home from Calgary at her sister's place. The two turtles are from her older sister's daughter's son. The mom didn't want to take care of it so grandma took them home. They were so cute and I love them. They grew fast and soon, they were the size of a small melon. I vividly remembered about the last one, he was quite nosy but sweet for a turtle. Whenever there was an area of energy at our house, he would crawl there and look. He favourite thing was sun bathing on my thighs with his limbs out stretched out and his neck tall. You can't beat that. The cutest is when he yawl! Yes, turtles do yawl and it is the CUTEST. I do miss him much. Is it suprising to know that turtle form bonds? Well, they do and all animals do... even ants and animals that people call pest so have a heart and try not to harm them. Find other alternative to release him.

Animals have their tiny gesture of communication and greeting, the look in the eyes, the expressions on the face, the non verbal ways that we may overlook and for my kitty, a the soft "meow" for a hello while passing by each other in the house. Flo is part of the family and so if I do see her, of course, I will say hello. The funny part is that she understands the same. Last time Ryan forgot to say hello while crossing paths, Flo made sure he understood that it was bad manners when she turned her head and express her impression of his ways through the gesture on her face. He got the message. He just chuckled while telling it to me. I guess we all have a clear understanding of good manners hey :) We are best of buddies and we usually hang out together.

Ms. Flo is quite vocal now and we had her for about half a year already!..Time sure passed by fast. When we first met, she was a gem, her character was very strong..independent, a proactive and determined type of cat who showed us she wanted out from the cat shelter. She was alert and smart. On our meeting together chosen by the coordinator,  she quickly galloped to us..she made eye contact..communicated to us through meowing and darted right to me and Lick Me right there and then. I was surprised..it was my first lick experience by a critter friend. All I did was sit, stare, smile and announced that I got licked. She then would dashed to Ryan and would let him petted her. There was nothing to see anymore. I mean there is no need to see anymore cats, she was the one for us.

Her arrival at our place was quite memorable, she was quite active on arrival. We allowed her to wander and sniff and before long, she already mapped out the litter box after it was introduced to her . The first week she was with us, she caught the sniffles with a virus:( Her nose was plugged and there was great amount of mucous. Poor Flo, she had such difficulty breathing..I was worried just hearing her breath. I phoned the cat shelter coordinator for help a couple of times asking for advice. He recommended a humidifier and eucalyptus oil for better breathing. It really was helpful and Ryan carried her in the bathroom for a hot steam sauna. The shower was turned on hot and we just let her breath in the air. I also had a pot of boiling water with a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil in and held the pot beneath her so the steam would rise in her direction.

During her time of weakness, she was more affectionate then usual, I must admit, it was very sweet...she would cuddle with me on the crouch and rest her head on my lap and I would stoke her from head to her body. It was a safe and homey kind of feeling for us both. We are at peace with other each and our spaces. If we can provide such a feeling to another being, why not do it.

Create or produce such a state with others in this planet!! Share spaces!! Arrive in a place of harmony, peace and love for all!! It increases our capacity for compassion and opens our hearts...being mindful of our connection with each other, connection to this planet, connection to this existence, and connection to the same spaces are valuable. It is not about attachment but the opposite. It is living life and opening our hearts and cherishing differences and sameness..to see animals as same and as unique as ourselves..needing love, food, a home and comfort..

Blossom our love..our universal love to one another,  to animal friends..to strangers..to all species, beings and nature, spaces and everything that is in our presence. See the moment, know the opportunity, take the actions to share spaces, share understanding and share loving-kindness. When we embrace that, we will have no regrets but a smile in the end. If we can give, we are truly the lucky ones.