Ceilidh's Ceili
On January 9, 1999, seven months after being diagnosed with incurable intestinal lymphoma, our housemate Ceilidh (say KAY-lee) Flurrydance passed peacefully on to the Rainbow Bridge. In honor of her passing and in celebration of her life, a ceili (still say KAY-lee) was held for her on rpcc (rec.pets.cats.community). The story of her battle with lymphoma is told in her Diary, and the story of her ceili is told here by
The night before Ceilidh went to the Rainbow Bridge, she spent the time sleeping quietly while all her friends kept vigil with us at Bitterroot Manor. We (Skye Silversong, her bestest frend, and Talisker Pippin, her housemate, and Sherry, her hoomin and meowmie) were all there, too, waiting till TED David from Critical Care called to let us know the latest test results. We don't thnk anykitty was surprised the next morning to learn that the tests indicated that the time had come for Ceilidh to begin her journey to the Rainbow Bridge. We don't think Ceilidh was surprised either, because clearly she'd been thinking about what she wanted to do. After she told us the news, she said that before she left she wanted to have one last ceili, a gathering of all her friends to sing and dance, play music and tell stories, eat and drink and celebrate together. She started packing and we all left to set up things at the Soomocat Cafe and Pub. When efurryfing was ready, Ceilidh went to the big Square at the middle of the rpcc Community, and made an announcement:
"Mreowowow, efurrykitty. I'd like to invite all my friends in da Community to a big ceili at dat Soomocat Cottage Cafe and Pub down da street. It'll start as soon as kitties git there and there'll be food and drink an lotza mewsic.
"As some of you know, I've been kinda sick da last six mumfs, and Meowmie and I have worked reel hard to keep me feeling gud. We've done okay, an we've had lotza time to haf fun and to say how much we love each other. But now da sickness has gotten worse and I don't feel so good as I did. So pretty soon we're gonna go see TED MaryKay and I'm gonna start for the Bridge. Meowmie and I have talked and we agree it's time, cuz if I wait I'm just gonna feel icky and bad and we wanna remember da good times instead.
"So everybody go on over to da Pub an have a pint or a wee dram and warm up da mewsical instruments and we'll meet yew there. I have to pass on da baton of da Siameze Cat Chorale to my bestest frend and Furst Assistant Conducktor, Skye Silversong, and I have a liddle somefing fur our housemate Talisker Pippin too. I can stay fur a liddle bit, but when I have to leave I want efurrykitty to stay and eat and drink and sing an have a reel fun Ceiltic ceili -- I've had some quiet time wif Meowmie and some of my friends already, so I wanna leave wif a party. See yew soon."
At the Soomocat Cottage Cafe and Pub
The
news that Ceilidh Flurrydance would soon be leaving for the Rainbow Bridge
spread quickly through the Community, and kitties began replying to Ceilidh's
invitation and converged on the Pub from all directions.
Princess Pasha and Oprah Anne, Mandy and Betsy, Shadow and Rascal, and Smudgie and Panda were all there. So were Tasha and Muffin, TopHat and his family, and Malusee and Caitlin, fellow Celtic kitties. They talked with each other as they walked toward the pub, saying how much they were going to miss Ceilidh and sniffling a little as they went. It made all of us sad and happy at the same time, to see how much so many kitties cared about Ceilidh. The Mew Yawk Citee kitties (Bootsie, Gizmo, Sassy, Whiskers, Spook and Princess HC) came along, saying, "We will be at da ceili fur ya, Ceilidh. We will be celebratin your life az you make your journey. <sssniff> We will be purrrrrin fur ya, so dat it'z a peeseful one, and we know once ya get thayr, you will feel so gud again. And you'll be able to see your hoomin Sherry from thayr, and send her spayshul dreem thoughts, lettin gher know you're still thayr fur her. <sssniff> We is all furryfurry honored to haff know you heer in dis lifetime, and we know we will be seeing you again, when you'll be showing us round da Bridj. We luvz you furry much, Ceilidh. <sssniff>"
As the kitties streamed down the road to the pub, we heard a voice from around the corner. It was Boris*, talking to his sisfur 'tash. "C'mon, 'tash. I don't care if you're anti-social you're comin to the pub for the ceili. No. This isn't the same as when the SNAKs go to the library. C'mon this is important. 'Member? I've told you all about Ceilidh -- how she formed the Siamese Cat Chorale and all. And she's been with us on rpc and rpcc since me an Ashley got winkwinked. So we have to help her continue her journey. C'mon -- hurry up!" And the two kitties joined up with the others.
Almost there, we saw a sad-eyed Balinese boykitty by the path, and he sighed and said "Ize will be dere. We will miss you furry much, and we will injoy da ceili wif you." As he started for the pub, we thought we saw a black shimmer near the place where Ceilidh had issued her invitation, an thuh shimmer seemed to be saying, "We will join your ceili, too. Den, when its time to go, you can still injoy da pardee, just from a different purrspektif." Some kitties thought it sounded a lot like Merlin da PhilosoCat, alldaway from da Rainbow Bridge.
And
so more and more kitties heard the news and hurried to the pub. Soomocat
Productions had gone all out. They had put out a terrific spread
of good things to eat, and there was an extensive selection of favorite
bevrijes, from fresh spring water to spikearitas to Irish Guinnes to Scottish
whisky (Talisker, of course!). There were quiet corners where kitties
could sit and talk quietly or, as proper at any kitty party, curl up and
take a nice nap. There was a long elegant bar, and a dance floor
with room for musicians and dancers alike. There were tall cupboards and
shelves for kitties who liked high places, cat-trees with carpet and sisal
for kitties who liked to climb and scratch, and pillows in front of a cozy
fireplace where a warm fire welcomed efurrykitty to the pub.
The kitties had been gathering a while when we finally arrived. Ceilidh looked happily around at all her friends, and walked up onto the counter by the beer pulls. Efurrykitty quieted down to hear what she had to say.
"Hello efurrykitty!" she began. "I'm glad to see yew here. This is a ceili, a party wif food and drink an mewsic an stories an gud frends being together an that's how I want to remember efurrykitty an alla gud times we've had in rpcc.
"Now, I haf a few fings to say, an then I'm gonna go sit by da fire an watch.
"Furst. As yew know, I am Mewsical Director of da Siamese Cat Club Chorale, though furry early on lots more kitties than just Siamese joined da chorus -- efurrykitty who wants to sing can sing wif us an I'm furry prowd uv da Chorale an alla gud times and pritty mewsic we've made. Now it's time to hand ofur da baton to our Furst Assistant Conducktor, and my bestest frend, Skye Silversong. She's been handling lotsa Chorale bizzness since I haven't been feelin so good, and she's done a wunderful job. She's part uv da Tuxedo Nation an not Siamese, but she has a lovely silvery singing voice an she will be a wunderful Mewsical Direktor fur da Chorale, I know." And Ceilidh handed Skye a pearl-handled conductor's baton. "Here, Skye! It's all yours. I'll be lissening fur da mewsic from da Bridge."
Then
Ceilidh reached behind the bar and brought out a bodhran, a round Celtic
hand-drum painted with an interlaced Celtic knot in blues and greens and
golds. "Now, Tally. You've played snare drums inna
McClowder
Pipe Band and you've played big dance rock band drums at parties, but
I would like you to haf this Celtic bodhran fur playing at ceili's fur
Ceiltic jigs and reels and dances. You are furry gud at drumming
an noisemaking (an hissing at me sumtimes, but I nefur let it bother me)
-- here's da drum an here's da beater. p; When it's time fur Irish an
Scottish dancin mewsic, yew go gurl!"
Ceilidh looked out over the crowd and waved to a fluffy orange kitty. "There's my mentee, Rusty the Tiger from Catnada! Hihihi, Rusty! I hope you haf a realy gud time here. I'm so prowd to have been your mentor."
Rusty waved back, but kept rubbing his eyes wif a pawkerchief. "Ceilidh," he purred, "we will all miss you. You will always be remembered."
And then Ceilidh looked fondly at another kitty, an extremely handsome brown and cream Siamese who had come to stand close beside her. "Efurrykitty," she said, "this is my furry own winkwink Rocko. He has been da bestest winkwink a kitty could have, an he sent me flowers (real flowers to my howse!) for da furst Kitty Prom, an we won da costoom contest at Kitsen's Halloween Hop when we went as Anna an da King of Siam -- we've had lotza gudgud times. I'm so lucky to have had such a wonderful winkwink." And she purred and gave Rocko a gentle headbutt and earlick.
"Oh, my luv," Rocko said, rubbing his cheek against Ceilidh's. "Ize nefur regretted becomin your winkwink. We made a veryveryvery beeyoutiful couple as da King an Anna. Your pikchur has always been near to me no matter where I went. It will remain in its honored position next ta my bed. I will meet you over on da other side of da bridge an dere we will smurgle forefur."
Ceilidh purred at the soft earwashes Rocko gave her, and then she continued. "Now, efurrykitty, you go on an party an sing an haf a gud time. I"m just going to go over here by da fireplace an rest a liddle."
A Ceili Has to Haf Mewsik
As Ceilidh settled
down by the fire, a small brown tabby hurried over, dabbing her eyes.
It was Mietze, followed by Norry and Neko. "Oh," she said, "look
at all da kitties already here!" She gave Ceilidh a gentle cheekrub
and said, "Ceilidh, you are soo beeyoutiful! And I fink you and yurhoomin
are just bowt da brafisst beeings I know! You haff fought dis battle
togeffur wiff courage and grace an humor, an I luff you bof furrymuch."
Then she turned to the guests. "I would like to sing a speshul song,
one dat Ceilidh's hoomin made just fur her. Da toon isda same as
"Beeyoutiful Dreemer." Pleeze joyn me, or just purrrrrrrrr along!
And Mietze began to sing in a soft, clear soprano:
Beeeeeeyootiful Ceilidh.
Sweet liddle gurrrl.
No eyez are blooooer
In all da wide wurrrrld.
Chocolate and creem,
So faythful an troooo!
Beeeeeyoutiful Ceilidh,
Oh how we luv yoooooo!
Bebe said to Mietze, "Alex and Cody an our hoomin Rosemary wanted me to tell you that wuz furry well sung!" And then she turned to Ceilidh, saying, "We will miss you, but know that we'll all be together again when Bast ssays. Godspeed, friend."
Mike, Charlie, and Pauline padded quietly into the pub and draped themselves over a table and began to purr. They were joined by another three -- Dudu, Manja, and Gebu, da Penang Gang -- who got their glasses for a toste to Ceilidh and then sat quietly. We didn't know it at the time, but it was almost time for Gebu to begin his own journey to the Bridge. We imagine that Ceilidh was able to help show him the way.
Punkins and Puddi Cat stopped to tell Mietze how beautifully she had sung Ceilidh's song, and Sunny, Pixel, Tribble and Galaxy climbed on the bar, listening to the lovely musik that always seemed to play whenever Ceilidh was around. "We imagine the Bridge must always haf musik like that," they said.
"Dat
it must," agreed Shamrock and Thistle, two more Celtic kitties, "wif plenty
of da bagpipes and offer instruments of gud musik produkshun! Haff
some more Guinness. On da house!" "Fangu, Thistle an Shamrock" we
heard Sunny say. "You haf da bestest drinks. So, you fink we
will hear thuh singing from on high at da Jellicle Ball this year?"
"Absooolutely!!!" exclaimed Shamrock as she pulled another pint.
"Ceilidh had sucha gudgud voice we'll prolly hear her alla time!!!"
"Woudn't that be great?" Sunny replied, lifting his glass. "Hebbenly musik fur da most solumn an uplifting occasion of da yeer? I bet there's already a chorale at thuh Rainbow Bridge" "If there's not, there will be as soon as Ceilidh gets there an gets settled," we said.
"And fink of what a great NooComers Club theyh must have up there right now," Thistle pointed out, waxing poetic and waxing the bar. And we all lifted another pint.
Three more old friends -- Jaeger, Ebony and Sheba from Singapore -- had sneaked into the pub and hugged Ceillidh silently. Then they joined Mietze and purred along with the second verse.
"We're so glad you all camed," we said. "So many kitties, from such a longlong way. Please help yourselfs to food an bevrijes an join in allda singing. That wuz so pritty, Mietze singing Ceilidh's song, an we fink dat Onyx is gonna sing Goodbye Furry Frend soon."
And so he did. As the last purrs of "Beeyoutiful Ceilidh" faded away, the big black cat sat down at the piano in the corner. Turning to where Ceilidh was curled up by the fire, Onyx said, "Ceilidh, da Siamese Cat Chorale won't be da same wifout yurownself's leedership. You kin be purrowd of what you haf done wif da bestist group of kitty singers I knows. I would like to say gudbye wif "Goodbye Furry Friend" iffn dat's okay wif yourownself. I know that you want da ceili to be happy an fun an dat GFF's a sad song, but it's da bestist way I know how to say gudbye to yourownself. <sniffle>" Well, of course we were so pleased that Onyx came to sing this song -- ever since he wrote it for da kitties on rpcc, it's been a speshul part of so many farewells as kitties have gone to the Bridge, and the SCC has been furry proud to be able to include it in their Songbuk. Efurrykitty sat silently while Onyx was singing, an we imagine they were thinking about all our friends who had so recently gone on to the Bridge and about Ceilidh, who was getting ready to begin her journey.
A Ceili Has to Haf CELTIC Mewsik!
More and more
kitties kept arriving. We saw Binkley, Opus, and Frieda, Katie and
Tripper, Tinsel Bean, Chip, Pepsi, Sierra Blue, Sapphire, Arizona, Diamond
and Barney, LisaViolet and alla Cathouse cats, all six Rankin kitties (Tyler
and Bobbie and Dylan and Samson and Jordan and Pippin, and even MuffinDog,
we fink), Spike and Stormy, Blue an her baby Smudge, Shadrach and Jezebel,
and the sixteen MooreKitties who tried to come inna door of the pub all
at once -- there was some pushing and jossling before they all got in,
but they all managed and came over to wish Ceilidh well on her journey.
Nerdy came to wish Ceilidh well, even though he'd nefur actually met her
before, and Ghengis, Allie, Lucy, Sticky, Bravehart, Marvin and Rambetta
came, saying they wanted to lift a pint wif Ceilidh.
Laura
Ann Mihstol and Ralph de Ralph entered the pub, carrying small balloons
filled with dancing, multi-colored sparkles. "Hail an fairwell, brave
Ceilidh," they said. "We will remember yew wif love. Pleeze
take dees liddle peeces uv our hartz wif yew to da Bridge. We haf
tried to make dem as lite as possible, so we filled dem wif song."
We all got a liddle misty-eyed then.
The seven Koster kitties were all there and when they looked through the jam-packed pub and found Ceilidh, sitting by the fire, they all went up to her and gave her hugs. Munchkin, their eldest, stepped forward and said, "What a wonderful send-off this is! We know that you have fought long and hard, and it is your time. We will all miss you, but we will know that you are happy and watching over us. We will remember you every time the Siamese Cat Chorale sings, and think of you smiling on us." All seven kitties lefted their glasses and joined in a proper Celtic blessing to see her on her way:
May the road rise to meet you;
May the wind be always at your back;
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
May the rain fall soft upon your fields, and
Until we meet again,
May Bast hold you in the palm of her hand.
Ceilidh gave headbutts to each of the Koster kitties, and replied, "What a lovely toste, Munchkin. Fangu, Koster kitties, for coming to da ceili. I'm so glad to see alla my friends here. I'll carry yer werds wif me to help me onna way to da Bridge." (We didn't know it then, but Munchkin was shortly to take her own journey to the Bridge. She was one of the favorite members of the Siamese Cat Chorale, and we imagine Ceilidh signed her up for the Rainbow Bridge Chorale as soon as she arrived.)
That
Irish toast musta put efurrykitty inna mood, because fings livened up right
about then. Furst fing we knew, six cats, two dogs and Aunti Kate
HC (Honorary Cat) stepped up and gived another blessing: "May yewz be at
da Bridge befur TED efun knows." And then we saw that Paddy (da d*g)
was carrying the Uillean pipes, Josie had a bodhran, and Aunti Kate had
a fiddul. All the kitties were dressed in tradishunal Irish dance
dress, the boys in kilts and the gurls in dresses finely designed wif patterns
owta thuh Buk uv Kells. They all bowed and curtsied to Ceilidh and
the musicians struck a toon and the kitties started dancing. It was
a reel speshully correacatted fur Ceilidh! They pounced, jumped,
and streched again and again, and then finished in a roll, taking the snooze
pawsishun before standing and bowing and curtsying to Ceilidh again.
Then Aunti Kate brought out a fine Beleek bowl fulla Finns Spayshullist Nip an a hyooge Waterford cut crystal bowl filled wif the finiest Irish cream and offered it to Ceilidh. She put down boxes of linen hankies embroydfurred with Ceilidh's name an thuh date an place of da ceili, just in case ennykitty or HC needed them. There were efun speshul ones just for Ceilidh, Skye, Tally an Sherry our Hoomin. Given alla sniffles we kept hearin, we thought lotza kitties wud need to use da hankies before da ceili was ofur.
Well, Ceilidh sat there through that whole spectacular dance, and when it was all over, she said, "That was wonderful! Fangu so much fur such an exciting purrformance. I used to dance lots when I wuz a kitten an yung cat, an that realy takes me back. You know, I fink I will haf some of that cream an just a liddle of Finn's nip before I go. I'll be sure to tell Finn how much his nip is appreeshiated when I see him atta Bridge. Fangu, Aunti Kate an Kids." An Ceilidh sat back contentedly, sipping the creem and basking in the warmth of the fire.
More guests
came up to say their farewells. Animal, MomCat, Ripple an Sugar Magnolia
had been our Sekrit Santas this yeer, an we had had a gudgud time playing
wif alla toys an eeting alla treets they sent. We didn't find out
till way after Kissamouse that they were our Santas, an they were so prowd
they'd fooled us an our meowmie, even though their meowmie werks
atta furry same place! Liddle Sugar Magnolia had been one uv da Ballard
Babycats who lived in our Out this past summer, so we were speshully
glad they were there to purrr Ceilidh on her way.
And there were Ernie an Frass an Caffy, too. We had been their Sekrit Santas this yeer. When they came to say hello an gudbye to Ceilidh, they told her that they had sent a messij to their Bridget Flynn an Bonnie Kellswater to welcome her when she got to the Bridge. They were Celtic kitties too an were named after old Irish folk songs, an we knew Ceilidh wud get a gud Celtic welcome from them. (And Caffy was on his way to the Bridge, too, though he didn't tell ennycat right then. We were glad to know he'd had fun playing wif da nip pillow we sended him fur Kissamouse an we imagine Ceilidh found sumfing just like it to give to him when he joined alla kitties atta Bridge.)
And then it wuz a liddle quiet inna pub, an we all heard a new sound outside. Somewhere a lone piper -- maybe sumkitty from da McClowder Pipe Band -- wuz playing da Great Pipes in a slow, stately pibroch, da speshul classical mewsic uv da pipes. We all lissened to da solemn sound, an then da kitties looked ofur to da fire. They saw Skye, meatloafed there, looking quietly at the pearl-handled baton in front of her. Tally gently tapped the design on her bodhran. The pillow by the fire was empty. Ceilidh had begun her journey.
Efurrykitty
was quiet for a minute as the sound of the pipes died away. Then
Tally picked up her bodhran and went ofur to the other musicians. "Well,
Ceilidh said she wanted a ceili -- who knows a gud dance toon? I
should break in this drum. Ennycat wanna join me?"
"My meowmie's got a rekordur. It mite sound nice wif thuh drum," offered Caitlin.
"How's dis fur a bakground?" asked da Mew Yawk Cittee Kitties, nodding their heads up and down in rhythm. "Tooo-awree-aay tooo-awreee-aay"
"Dat's just fine," said the musicians. "Here -- haf a Guinness! Helps da vocal cords!"
"An we've brought our mewsikal instroomints to play wif da rest of da McClowder Kitty Pipe Band. We know some jigs an reels," announced Thistle an Shamrock. "An we brought food too -- Irish soda bread an lotza Guinness."
"Weeds!
We knew we could count on yew!" exclaimed Tally, pulling the two torties
ofur to the musicians' table. "We've gotta whole case uv Talisker
whisky. Gotta have some Scottish drinks to go wif dat Guinness!
An luk! There's Pandy! That's my winkwink! Luk, Pandy!
See da kewl drum Ceilidh gaved me! Anna beater to beat it wif! <barumpadiddle
barumpadiddle barumpaddiddlebaRUMP!> Isn't dis neet? Wanna
dance? Here -- haf a pint furst. Gotta haf a pint to celebrate
like Ceilidh wanted!"
"Attagirl," the tabby-an-white girlcat at the edge of the dance floor answered. "Dat's my Tally!"
The musicians all took a drink of Guinness stout or Talisker whisky. "Now, how bout that toon," said Tally. "Whut shud we play?"
"How about Phil thuh Flewters Bawl?" Aunti Kate HC, suggested. "Here's how it goes."
Have you heard of Phil the Fluter, of the town of Ballymuck?
The times were going hard with him, in fact the man was broke.
So he just sent out a notice to his negibours, one and all
As to how he'd like their company that evening at a ball.
And when writin' out he was careful to suggest to them,
That if they found a hat of his convenient to the door
The more they put in, whenever he requestted them,
The better would the music be for batterin' the flute.
And the musicians jumped right in with whistles and drums an pipes and fidduls and the mewsic filled the pub.
Pandy and the other kitties from the Jesse Memorial Cat Complex stood by the fireplace lissening to the song, and Pandy sat down by Skye, still sitting there looking at the baton Ceilidh had left her. "I know how sad you must be, Skye," she said. But remember, Ceilidh wants you to be happy and she's not so far away. Tally an I is gonna try to keep you company lots, rite Tally? C'mon now, let's sing dis song."
"Fangu, Pandora," Skye said (but muttered a liddle under her breath -- Tally an Skye had nefur been bestest freends after all). Still, Pandy meant well, we know, and as Skye watched Tally beating the rhythm of the reel on her new bodhran, she continued "I'll be fine. Don't yew an Tally wurry. Yew go on an have a dance now. I fink I'll sit here by the fire a while longer." We knew it wud take Skye lots longer than Tally to get used to Ceilidh not being around our howse enny more.
The kitties began to fill the dance floor, and still more kitties kept arriving. Even though they'd missed seeing Ceilidh leave on her journey, they still wanted to celebrate with all her friends, and we tried our best to make them welcome. Since there was lotza fud an lotza bevrijes an thuh singin an dancin were still goin on, it wuzn't hard. We saw Patches, Britches and Cheyenne, an some noo kitties inna Community: Dobbin, Midnight, Shibui, an Bogey. Oz an Voodoo an Kissa an Willow camed, an sed it wuz a wunnerful farewell an a furree nice idea to haf a git-together before leaving fur da Bridge.
Leo came over and pulled Skye aside. "Yew know whut," he said. "My meowmie -- yew know, Aunti Maryanne HH -- well, when we heard da nooze about Ceilidh, she went an got sum gud Irish mewsic onna CD an she played it an did a furry fun, joyful dance fur Ceilidh! She's been feelin kinda down herownself, an da dancing made her feel lots bedder. We hope yew'll be feelin bedder soon too." Well, we'd nefur imagined a hoomin doing a dance fur Ceilidh! We all were furry pleezed an told Leo to be shur to say Fangu! frum us to Maryanne HH.
Shahna came up to da bar where Tally anna musicians were taking a break and Skye was sitting quietly sipping some Irish cream. "I'm sorry I didn't git to say gudbye to Ceilidh before she left, but I hope her journey was peaceful an dat she's playing happily rite now. Cud I pleeze haf a Guinnes Stout? Fangu. I wud like to make a toste to Ceilidh: Here's to a good frend an kitty! May you be offur da Rainbow Bridge a haff howr before da devil knows yer there (to parafraze an Irish saying)!" And efurrykitty lifted their tankards in da toste. There were lots more kitties who had been there da whole time, but da pub was so crowded we didn't haf a chance to see them or say hello -- we shudda kept a gestbuk, but we didn't fink of that in time. Still, efurrykitty who was there had come to celebrate wif Ceilidh, an we fink they all had a gudgud time, which is whut Ceilidh wanted.
Mike an Charlie an Pauline were still sitting around a table, when an orange cat sat down with them, putting a paw around Mikey and lifting a glass. "In remembrance of bloo eyes an a loving heart!" said Ember, signing himself Ember McIsland in honor uv da day. "Shine on, Ceilidh! Another star inna skye! We hold you close in our hearts!" And he held on tight to the pawkerchief embroidered with Ceilidh's name, then stood to join in the dancing.
"Ember!" Skye said, seeing Ember stand up. "We're so glad to see you! What a beeyoutiful image -- I'm sure Ceilidh is shingin down on us rite now. Remember da ski trip? That's where we first met, we fink -- yew borrowed our snowboard an we had a gudgud time. Luk -- Tally an da Weeds an Ceitlin an Aunti Kate HC an her kids are just about to play another reel. Yew be shure to pick up a Guinness or some uv dat gud Irish creem that Aunti Kate brot after da dance -- yew'll be thirsty. " And Skye sat back to enjoy more mewsic while Ember made his way to the bar by the dance floor.
About that time Mike an Charlie an Pauline felt they had to make an announcement. Grabbing a fresh pint and standing up onna table, they called for efurrykitty's attention. "We want efurrykitty to know that in Ceilidh's honor Pauline is developing a line of Celtic spandex. She's gonna name it CeilidhWear, an it will be worn only by Preestuss kitties an singin kitties an kitties inclined to howwwwl at thuh moon. It will be playful yet mysterious. Like Ceilidh. Like cats." An they passed around another round.
Tally pricked up her ears at that, yew better believe. "That sounds wonderful! I hope drummerkitties are inclooded in that groop! I can't wait till Pandy sees me in Celtic spandex!"
"Well," mused Skye, rolling her eyes just a liddle. "Ceilidh did say she was gonna keep her eye frum da Bridge on alla fashun statements Pauline wud be making. I gess Celtic spandex is some kinda fashun statement!"
"Drummers, too, indeed!" exclaimed Pauline, with bolts of spandex tumbling from her paws. "I'm off to the drawing board!" We fink she maybe hadda liddle nap inna corner before she left da pub, though. There'd been a lotta Guinness an Talisker flowing at that table.
Singing Herself on Her Way
As the crowd
at the pub began to disperse, kitties saying their goodbyes and going their
separate ways, we all (Skye, Tally, and Sherry our Hoomin) went out to
the back porch where we stood looking at the pear tree in the yard under
which Ceilidh's memorial stone had been set. While we were there,
several kitties came back to pay their private respects and we were especially
touched by those who offered special purrayers and chants, sacred words
from many traditions to help Ceilidh on her way. The power of that
kind of love is furry great, and we know that she had a swift peaceful
trip because of it. We all got kinda misty-eyed as we watched and
listened to each one.
Makana
Earlier we had seen a large black and white kitty hesitantly slinking into da pub. "Is dis da ceili fur Ceilidh?" she asked. "Ize come heer to show mineown respeck an luff for dis kitty!" It wuz Makana alldaway from Hawaii, and she crouched down by the wall, cautiously eyeing the huge crowd of cats. "Ize too skared to try an' find you, Ceilidh, in dis big gatherin. So many kitties dat luff you and respeck you and heer to help you on your journey to da Bridge! Maybe I get my courage up later. But da best kine ting I can do for you is give you wun Hawaiian kittychant to give you strength!" And she slowly rose, right there in the corner, lifted her head, looked upward and reverently whispered her chant:
E pi'i ana o lalo
(That which is below shall be lifted up);
E hui ana ka Honua
(The world shall be united);
E ku ana ka paia
(The walls shal stand upright);
I mua ka lahui na po'e popoki
(Move forward together, all cats).
Bless you, Ceilidh. Your journey will be quick and comfortable. Go with our warmest aloha!
When Makana had finished her chant, Skye walked over and sat down a little ways away from her, being careful not to look at her directly or scare her too much. "Don't worry, Makana. I'm furry shy myownself and Ceilidh's my bestest frend, an she understands shy kitties. That was a powerful and awesome chant you sang. I know it's gonna help her on her journey."
Laura and Ralph
As we walked out to the porch, we saw Laura and Ralph standing by
Ceilidh's memorial stone, and then leave two small tears in remembrance:
a gold one for joy, a silver for sorrow.
Sigmund
The guests began to leave, and as the pub became quieter, Sigmund THE Cat, an immaculately groomed, handsome older Brown Tabby, approached the pear tree in the backyard where Ceilidh's memorial stone had been set. "Farewell, deer Ceilidh," he said. "We shall rememfur yew wif luv." And in the ancient tongue of his Hebrew forebears he murmured,
O-se sho-lom bim-ro mov, hu ya-a se sho-lom
O-lay-nu v'al kol yis-ro-ayl -v'im ru
O-mayn.
(May He (She) who establisheth Peace in the Heavens grant
Peace unto Us (Ceilidh) and unto all Israel (the world) and say
ye -- Amen.)
Sigmund trotted over to the memorial stone and placed a small pebble
on top. 
"I wuz heer," he sed,
and got into his 1957 Classic 2-door Chevrolet Bel Air and drove home.
Kitsen
A
quiet white and brown cat sat quietly, watching as most of the guests began
to leave. She got up and slowly walked over to the stone under the
pear tree where Sigmund had just stood. "I guess it's time to go
now," Kitsen (for that's who it was of course) said. "But before
I leave, I have a song I ... I'd like to sing. It's called "Fly"
by Celine Dion." She took a deep breath and started to sing, her
voice barely above a whisper.
Fly, fly little wing
Fly beyond imagining
The softest cloud, the whistest dove
Upon the wind of heaven's love
Past the planets and the stars
Leave this lonely world of ours
Escape the sorrow and the pain
And fly again.
Fly, fly precious one
Your endless journey has begun
Take your gentle happiness
Far too beautiful for this
Cross over to the other shore
There is peace forever more
But hold this memory bittersweet
Until we meet.
Fly, fly, do not fear
Don't waste your breath, don't shed a tear
Your heart is pure, your soul is free
Be on your way, don't wait for me.
Above the universe you'll climb,
On beyond the hands of time
The moon will rise, the sun will set
But I won't forget.
Fly, fly little wing
Fly where only angels sing
Fly away, the time is right
Go now, figh the light.
Kitsen took one last look at the stone and whispered, "Good-bye, Ceilidh. We love you." And then she sighed and turned away, walking out of the yard.
Da Mew Yawk Citee Furkids
Five kitties -- Bootsie, Gizmo, Sassy, Whiskers, an liddle Spook
-- an a dog (Princess, HC) frum Mew Yawk Ciitee walked up to the pear tree
then, and wiped their eyes. "Our hoomin also has da Misty Monitor
Syndrome after hearin dis song. We will keep you in our hearts, Ceilidh.
<sssniffff> And like Sigmund, they each left a pebble on Ceilidh's
stone. We were furry honored to see Ceilidh remembered with dis ancient
Jewish custom. 
Boogie
A
largish longhaired tuxedo cat arrived from Florriduh, just as Sigmund drove
off. He watched while Kitsen sang, and then walked towards the pear
tree, taking a cat-sized Celtic harp from its case. He sat down and
began to play. The silvery notes of Amazing Grace rose from
his claws as he plucked a tribute to Ceilidh.
"Ceilidh, dis is fur you, cuz grace is what you had, in abundance. Efun though Ize mostly lurked in rpcc, I'll miss you."
Boogie finished his song, packed hizown harp, and put a small gold harp charm with the pebbles on the stone, and slowly walked away from the tree, head down.
Rusty
Finally
we saw Rusty, Ceilidh's mentee, walking over to the pear tree. He
stood quietly, then placed a single yellow rose on the stone, and walked
away. The pub and the garden were quiet, and we stood quietly too,
listening for the mewsic we were sure would come soon from Ceilidh at the
Rainbow Bridge. Sherry her Hoomin sang her song for her, one last
time.
Beeyoutiful Ceilidh,
Sweet little girl.
No eyes are bluer in all the wide world
Chocolate and cream,
So faithful and true...
Beeeyoutiful Ceilidh,
Oh how I love you.
You make a love tail,
Your fur is all fluffed.
You've spots on your whiskers,
On each ear a tuft.
You lie down beside me,
Your tummy I rub.
Beeeyoutiful Ceilidh,
Sweet party of love.
But our background came from Clipart Castle. Fangu too!
[Ceilidh's Diary] [Bitterroot Manor Homepage] [Our Scrapbuk]
