I have come to believe that when a being leaves our earth they leave
an energy behind or visit us in some way that sometimes we are lucky enough to feel.
Years ago we fostered a wonderful elderly pug named Max after his owner passed away and the owner’s elderly friend could no longer care for him. Max was already about 12 years old so we knew we would have him for the rest of his days on earth as no one would want to adopt a dog of that age. He was a dignified, sweet Pug who remained a bit aloof from our other dogs. After we had Max about 6 weeks he became ill and was diagnosed with pneumonia. Despite treatment he did not improve and on an x-ray was diagnosed with a tumor around his heart. We sadly let Max go. We knew it was time for him to go find his real owner — we had only had him on loan until he was ready to go. That afternoon after he left this earth I took one of my Labs tracking. As I pulled into the parking lot where my track was laid it began raining. “Great” I thought, “just how my day is going”…….and then I looked up at the sky and this beautiful rainbow suddenly appeared. I realized it was Max saying good-bye and telling me he was reunited with his precious owner. Through my tears I also felt a sense of peace.
Then when Lily suddenly died 2 years ago, the next a.m. I went outside and 7 sand hill cranes suddenly landed on the hillside near our house. We had never seen sand hlls there although we’ve heard them on occasion in the woods about a half mile away. They have never landed on that hillside since. I feel they were sent by Lily to check up on me. Everytime I hear a sand hill crane now I feel Lily has been here to check on me and send me her love.
Fast forward to March 16th, 2008. As I wrote previously my good friend, Karen, passed away that day. Sunday a.m. when I got up the first thought I had was of Karen as I knew she wasn’t doing well and her time to leave was near. It was a spring-like day so after I let my horses out I just stood in the sun watching them and thinking about her and her family. A huge flock of geese flew over and then I heard sand hill cranes and knew in my heart she was gone. The next day, I was walking back to work by Hilldale Mall in Madison when 2 sand hill cranes flew over (I have two co-workers as witnesses). Very unusual to hear sand hills in the city and this has never happened there before — I believe it was Karen’s energy in the area making sure her family is okay.
