Memories on Pet Memorial Sunday

September 14, 2025 Bernadette

Today is Pet Memorial Sunday. I spent a part of the past week preparing Custom Pet Memorial Suncatchers for Deb to give to each who will attend this year to take with them as a gift to remember their beloved animal companion and the ceremony.

I’ll be remembering so many when I go there today, but I did not make a suncatcher for Mr. Max, or Basil, or any of the others. Nor did I write a 50-word tribute to any of them. I’ve never been able to do that for any of my cats in all the years Deb and I have worked together, and all the cats. That’s okay. I love the ceremony that she organized and being able to make the gifts she gives, then follow up with the tribute scroll each year for all those who’ve attended. For me, I have this website and many other opportunities to memorialize them and I feel a need to reach out, not draw in.

For almost a decade I made a presentation when we made those live in the tent at the event. In 2020 so that we could gather safely we recorded the three presentations from a veterinarian about the euthanasia decision, a therapist about the nature of grief, and me about loving and welcoming an animal again after a loss, and we no longer use the tent, but we still gather. Our visitors tomorrow will have received a presentation each day this week leading up to Sunday. After the event people recognize me and come to talk to me, and I get to talk to them, and we share our stories. I find that offers a great amount of healing and I’m looking forward to it.

Because of the suncatchers and a couple of house paintings earlier this week, I didn’t get a chance to start either of the ideas for paintings of Mr. Max. I’m also not ready yet to work in that room with just Morty, and I know I need to get there before I do these. I’m getting closer, but am taking my time with it.

If you are remembering a precious animal companion this Sunday, or any day, I am thinking of you too. We who share the love of an animal companion know that unless they are exotic birds or turtles we’re going to outlive them, and we’re going to be working to understand and accept the loss of their physical presence, but know that a part of their soul is always a part of us, and a part of our soul a part of them. And what an experience we had, sharing a life with a member of another species.

Thanks for following Mr. Max’s journey here, and mine. It’s been a long two years of loss.

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