Looking Down From Heaven

Liam is trying to wrap his head around death. That's what I think, anyway. Last night before bed he burst into tears saying that he misses Rita. Rita, our beloved first cat (as opposed to the only occasionally-loved current cat), has been gone now...gosh...two years or so, I think. I doubt if he has any strong memory of her. So I think maybe he is just now sorting through the idea of death. He had a million questions for me about the how and the why, and I got myself in a little too deep trying to explain how her body could have been buried (kind of...) and yet her spirit could still be in heaven. whew... not easy questions.

This morning the first thing he said when he opened his eyes was that he wanted to draw a picture of Rita. As he drew, the shape of the cat reminded me so much of another drawing of Rita done by a little boy. It was my nephew, Tyler, when he was probably a little younger than Liam. He also drew her little box body, but he included a big pink heart in the middle. Rita did have a good heart. I have saved that drawing all these years, too, and Tyler just turned 16 yesterday. I dug it out so I could show the pictures together. Rita did inspire great art.

Happy 16th birthday Tyler. Rita is sending her gentle love to you and Liam both, I'm sure.