Mimi's Signs of Love

Mimi has been pretty busy for the entire last week sending me messages from beyond this world. They could all be coincidences, but the rate at which they've moved in and out of my days since August 10 makes me think otherwise.
As you've already seen, on August 11, the dancing lights with me on the deck, then in my lap, was a sure sign for me. I've shared most of what I mention below in this video, but I have more notes and observations in this post on The Creative Cat: wp.me/p2snop-nln
On August 12 I felt peace in the garden as I walked around where she and I had been, and up the steps to the deck where I watched her progress each day. But on the deck, walking around the yoga mat I sensed Mimi there but felt a sudden deep sadness, tears, self-doubt. Eventually I cried it out, but then the doubts were gone. That day and the next I did not feel her presence at all and the back yard was silent. Perhaps the sadness was that her spirit had been lingering, but now had to leave.
But on August 14 when I went out for my morning walk and memories around the garden I found a tiny gray feather from a dove floating in her bird bath, right in the center. I had been cleaning the bird bath daily, but stopped the day she left us. It was messy and the water was shallow, so I gently cleaned the bottom and added new water, giving the feather something to float on. It stayed in the center area for that day and the next, then moved off to float around the outside edge (and is still there today, August 19, after some rains replenished it).
Feathers signify that an “angel” is near or has visited, and left a message from a loved one in the form of a feather. The fact it was floating so prominently in Mimi's bird bath demanding attention after a day when I hadn't felt her presence was, again, a little too much coincidence. I immediately thought of her stopping back for a visit in one of her favorite places after her spirit had let go of this physical place.
Later that same day I carried things out to my car from the back yard, thinking of how much Mimi loved the driveway because it was often sunny and she could roll around, and the shed was there, it was oddly one of her favorite places. As I remembered her strolling along ahead of me on similar errands a red-spotted purple butterfly flew over me, circled around a few things and found a stand of jewelweed in the side yard.
Butterflies are considered the spirit of a loved one come for a visit, and this particular species happens to be black with mahogany highlights where the sun shines through her wings, with several rows of blue or turquoise spots along the lower edge of her hind wing like a black cat's eyes contrasting with her dark fur, very much like Mimi herself; this butterfly also happened to be female. I will write more about this as well.
These visits fill me with joy...and also with sadness, ...that she is so close, and yet I can't touch her.
There was no way I could fit everything here, and I've been blogging on The Creative Cat since 2009 and have followers, and those who loved Mimi, there too. I have more notes and observations in this post on The Creative Cat: wp.me/p2snop-nln
Thank you again for loving Mimi, and for following me in this journey.
A note for this week: I have an art exhibit at a small festival for my local trail this weekend, and I'm also on the trail committee and I'm the vendor coordinator, so I'll probably not be around too much this week. Sunday, September 8 is Pet Memorial Sunday and I'm part of a ceremony to honor pets on that day. After this weekend I'll share some of the festival and my artwork too. The other kitties in my feline family have been changing and rearranging and it's been interesting to watch, I'll be sharing that. And I'm sure Mimi will be visiting, possibly some of the others too.

[@Acronyte]

I'm glad that Mimi lives on in the garden she loved so much. I'm sorry that it is painful she is out of reach, but she is with you nonetheless. Thinking of you both.

[@BernadetteKazmarski]

You are exactly right. Thank you so much for stopping in to watch the video and comment. Despite the fact Mimi has been reassuring me that she's okay, and I know she'll always be a part of this garden, I still have a big sadness but knowing others have seen her videos really gives me a lift.

[@Tirana44]

Hi Bernadette. I hope that you’re as well as you can be under the circumstances. It was lovely to see this video. I know I’ve said it before, Mimi is so much like Bella was. I shed a tear for them both. It’s wonderful that you have found that feather, and had that interaction with the butterfly. As you said, it’s wonderful that our furry loved ones are so near, but I agree when you say that it’s sad we can’t touch them. Oh I so wish we could. Please keep Mimi’s videos coming, as and when you feel like it. You’re in my prayers. Doug.

[@BernadetteKazmarski]

Yes, she's been quite busy letting me know she's okay and she still loves me. I haven't had a visit in a few days, but when I walk the garden in the morning I know she's there. I remember your Bella too when I feel Mimi near. I know your Bella is there with you. I remember when I lost my first black cat, and for the first time realized things I'd perceived in the past weren't my imagination. I almost dreaded his visits because they magnified my grief because I could practically see him there, but I couldn't touch him.

[@Tirana44]

I think it’s one of the worst things is that however much we wish, we cannot touch them anymore. But I do really believe they’re with us. BTW, I’ve just subscribed to your Creative Cat newsletter, I’m looking forward to reading it, so is Bella.