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Last Update: Aug. 18, 2008 Many emails to this page are not printed because readers forget to mention the name of the columnist their message is about. Please remember to include that vital information.

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THE SPIRITS OF CATS

Lynn Perrier's column on the spirits of cats (The Spirit of A Cat: July 7, 2008) continues to attract emails, like this one from Heather Decausemaker:

I just read your column, and I do believe cat spirits can come back to visit. Three weeks ago, I lost my 18 year old "heart pet" to diabetes. It absolutely tore me apart. She and I were so close, and I've had her so long that losing her made me feel like a part of me had died. I cried for hours at a time, almost every day. The whole thing felt surreal, and I had to keep convincing myself that she was actually gone. (Even though I was with her when she passed.) I'm not a largely religious person, but I could not bring myself to believe that she was gone. I kept looking for signs that her soul might still be here with me, but until a week ago, I wasn't convinced.

When she passed, I had the veterinarian cremate her. They told me that her remains would take 7-10 days to come back. A week later, they called to say that her remains were in. I cried all the way to the vet, knowing that what I was going to pick up would in no way resemble the faithful companion I loved so much for so long. When I walked in, teary-eyed, and claimed her remains, I was greeted by a small black kitten who was inside a cage. He was up for adoption. He looked at me, sat down, and yeowled in EXACTLY the same way my Chi Chi used to when she wanted to be picked up. I felt instantly like she had picked him out for me.

The first time his eyes met mine, I felt her all around me. Needless to say, I adopted him and brought him home. Since I have done so, he has not meowed at me the way he did when I first saw him. He has his own very distinctive, lovable personality, separate from my recently lost companion. Perhaps it was wishful thinking, or perhaps not. However, since then, my new baby has adopted behaviors my old Chi Chi used to have. He had never met her. He jumps onto the bathroom counter in exactly the same way, and sips water from the faucet sitting in the exact same position and in the exact same place where my Chi Chi used to
sit.

Call me crazy, but I then started to talk to Chi Chi in the evening times, telling her how much I missed her, and how thankful I was to have had her in my life. This morning, after my husband left for work, I awakened from sleep. I could have sworn there was a cat sleeping on my back, purring, as I laid snoring on my belly in the bed. I felt the weight of a full grown cat, in exactly the same place she used to sleep. And I felt and heard purring. I rolled over and instantly the feeling was gone. I also noticed that none of my cats were on the bed. I truly believe it was my sweet Chi Chi paying me a visit from beyond. Yet, the loss of her is still too fresh for me to be truly rational about it. I went about my day, but could not get her out of my mind. Then, I sat down at my computer and found your article.

It brings me great comfort to know that I'm not the only one who believes this could be possible. At the very least, sharing my experience with you has helped to ease the pain.

LYNN'\S REPLY: Heather, thank you for writing to me. I am always happy to know a new reader enjoyed my writing but more so if I have helped in some way, especially where pet loss is concerned.

Lynn Perrier

PRAISES OLYMPIC BOXERS COLUMN

Reader Pat Harrington had this to say about Ron Miller's column about the three greatest boxers in Olympic history (Three Olympic Boxing Immortals: Aug. 4, 2008):

Thought I'd quickly say that I enjoyed the column by Ron on the greatest amateur Olympic boxers. Good historical insight into these three who were from Communist or totalitarian countries. Interesting to think about their desire to compete and to succeed. (My) Husband was a boxer, so this is of interest to me.

PRAISES ISAACS' OLYMPICS COLUMN

Reader Martin Bregman sent this message to Talkback about Stan Isaacs' column critical of the modern Olympic Games (The Skeptics' Primer For the Olympic Games: Aug. 4, 2008):

In his latest column in thecolumnists.com, Stan lays out for us the
tarnished history of the modern Olympics, showing once again that human
enterprise is often flawed when it comes to relations among men and
nations.

RELATED TO LIEBERMAN

Reader Jose Lieberman sent this email after discovering Stan Isaacs 2007 column about tennis player Anthony Lieberman (The Saga of Lieberman's Leap: Jan. 1, 2007) in our archives:

My name is Jose Lieberman and Anthony Lieberman (was) my father, who unfortunately passed away in 1995. I never knew of this article and it brought (a) smile to my face. Maybe if you have a few minutes one of these days we can talk about him. Take care.

ABOUT THOSE 'EASTENDERS'

Reader Marion Maidens sent TV critic Donna J. Plesh this message about the British program "Eastenders" and its trend away from realism:

For many of the beginning years of the program, there was much more
realism about the lives of ordinary people. More recently the bizarre
twists and turns, convoluted plots, and unbelievable situations have
turned me off. Last night I saw the shocking part about Little Moe's
return from prison, Kat and Antony in bed (while bickering about Zoe's
disappearance, and Ian's attempt to conceal his vasectomy. Real life does not usually permit such permutations in ordinary families and the writers might want to re-think their focus. I'll keep watching, though, but I must admit that I am not unhappy about having it removed from BBC-America. It's the only way I can rid myself of the addiction.

PRAISE FOR OUR 'CAT LADY'

Reader Karen Lewellen had this reaction to Lynn Perrier's column about the difficulty she had trying to get a book published (So Near and Yet So Far: July 21, 2008):

Well, I certainly know why you are here, Ms. Lynn: Because your writing is magnificently wonderfully terrifically fantabbulous!! I say we collect all of your pieces from thecolumnists.com, put them in a little book thingy and get them to Oprah and fast! Far too rich not to be treasured by those 777 billion viewers. if you ask me.

After all she is still depressed by that whole million little pieces
mayhem, so a great comeback tale like "Toby's Tail" would really rock her socks! ,,, What a treat!...Oh, do keep up the writing magic. Your pieces are simply the richest things I have ever read.

LYNN'S REPLY: From your lips to God's ears. Thank you for such a wonderful review.

And reader Jai Jai had this comment about her earlier column (The Spirit of A Cat: July 7, 2008):

I just read "Spirit of A Cat" and actually have not a shred of a doubt that you (and Bonnie) really saw Bijou. I think we are able to 'see' more when we are distracted by something as that is when our mind can put aside the teachings we learned from parents or whomever that it is not possible for us to see anyone/anything not in a physical body. So, we then *can* see....at least until we remember that we were told we cannot see such.....

LYNN'S REPLY: I think you are totally correct. It is unfortunate that so many believe what they are told to believe and don't open their minds to what might be. Cats are very spiritual beings and we can learn a lot from them if we allow ourselves to be taught.

 

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