Ren Blackcat

12-01-1992- 04-18-04

Grieve not,

nor speak of me with tears,

but laugh and talk of me

as if I was beside you

I loved you so

Twas Heaven here with you

I look into your eyes and see a sprit and a soul who loved me more then anyone could.

They are waiting for you my pretty one, Nothing and no one to fear, and I will follow to hold you my dear. Awake to renewal, contentment, and joy. Stretch in the sun, pretty one!

Farewell piece of my heart You will always be just a heartbeat from me. If there was a road I could follow, I would bring you home to me.

“for Ren” 05.01.04
by L. E. Shaffer © 2004 L. E. Shaffer

Brightly the night sky
Spirit finally takes flight
Streaking across the stars
Like a brilliant comet

And alone we become
But we must let go
The heavens must
Have their loving due

Brightly the night sky
As the life spent so well
Comes a new beginning
And eternal hope to come

O, but we can’t go
Where our love goes
We must wait and
Hold what we have

Spirit in flight
Never looking back
The pain gone
Memories failing

Across the stars
We return to light
Only a thought
Remains, all life in

A second of time
The love sent us
On our way
To home forever

© 2004 L. E. Shaffer

I will love you, as long as I can dream, as long as I can think and as long as I have a memory.

I will love you, as long as I have eyes to see and ears to hear and lips to speak.

I will love you as long as I have a heart to feel, a soul stirring within me, an imagination to hold you.

I will love you as long as there is time, as long as there is love, as long as there is you.

I will love you because I love you more then anything in all the world

God has you in his keeping.

I have you in my heart.

Reflections of Ren

Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo

"A star shines at the hour of our meeting"

If I could take this moment forever, turn the pages of my life to another place and time, we would never say goodbye. If I could find the words, I would speak them. Then I wouldn't be tongue tied, when I looked into your eyes, and we would never say goodbye.

It seems like yesterday when I adopted Ren from the Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter. I was walking past the cages when I felt something grab at my arm. Ren went home with me that very day.

When I brought Ren into my life, I began a journey. A journey that brought me more love and devotion then I have ever known, yet at the same time, was a test to my strength and courage. The journey taught me many things about life, about myself, and most of all, about love. I have been changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark.

I learned much about savoring life's simple pleasures-jumping in leaves, attacking anything that moves, snoozing in the sun and a good scratch behind the ears.

I recall when the landlady found out I brought another cat home, she said that I had to get rid of Ren. Well, I didn't listen to her and Ren got really good at hiding so she never saw him again.

Ren used to talk to me all the time. He would always let me know how he felt about things. We had many good conversations. Ren was such a good listener and he never seemed to mind my telling him my troubles. He would really put me in my place however if dinner was late. I used to sing to him all the time, mostly just silly nonsense but he didn't seem to mind. Every night he would sleep by my head on my pillow. If one of the other cats came around, he would smack then upside the head. This was his pillow and no way no how were they going to get to lay on it.

Through all the years, Ren was always there for me, through many changes, during good times and not so good. Ren was my strength and my courage. Ren was everything that made me feel happy inside.

An animal companions time on earth is far too short, especially for those who love them. We borrow them, really, just for a while and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day, there is nothing left. The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. 

Deep down I somehow always knew that if I gave my heart, it would be broken. But gave it I did, for it is all Ren asked for in return. So when the time came for Ren to go where I could not follow, I gave him one final gift and let him go on ahead, to be young and whole once more. " God speed, good friend, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.

On Sunday April 18th, I lost the pieces of my heart. Ren after a  short and unexpected illness, came to journeys end. As he lay his sweet and weary head in my hands, I saw in his eyes a sprit and a soul who loved me like no one else could. His ashes now sit in his favorite resting place. I hear his voice on the wind. I see him wondering in the hallways of my mind and I smile through my tears.

A special thanks to all the very kind and compassionate people at Care Emergency and Whites Pet Hospital in Santa Barbara for going above and beyond the call of duty to give Ren the best chance he could have. Dr McFarlin, Thank you for helping me in the end to let Ren leave this world in peace and with dignity

On December 14th, 2005, I received a very precouis gift. A beautiul scrapbook full of memories of Ren. Thank you Diane Shea for giving me something wonderful beyond measure. I will treasure it always.