Animals and the Afterlife (4 page)
One of our favorite childhood pastimes was to turn the garage into a “haunted house” and then charge a nickel for neighbors to walk through it. I suppose it was our version of a lemonade stand. This was especially popular around Halloween; but in our world, haunted houses happened year round. In the summers, our Texas cousins often joined us in turning Grandmother and Grandaddy’s Ranch house into a haunted one; and during holiday visits to Grandma and Pop Pop’s house in New Jersey, our East Coast cousins joined us in haunting the spooky cellar and then inviting the grown-ups for a tour. My favorite rides at Disneyland were the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, both of which revolve around ghosts. I just loved the idea of ghosts having a good time even though they had died.
My other great delight was performing séances for family members. These séances took place at home and also when visiting The Ranch. Early on, my parents and brother had grown accustomed to my unusual endeavors. My grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, however, probably thought of me as “the crazy kid from California”; but I think they found my antics genuinely entertaining. I didn’t feel that I ever actually made contact with the dead, but I had a lot of fun trying and pretending.
I determined that when I grew up I wanted to be either a veterinarian (or
something
having to do with animals) or a paranormal investigator (a “ghost buster”)—ideally, both. However, it would be decades before I finally merged these two interests.
Meanwhile, I grew up and pursued a career in health and nutrition, spurred by some interesting courses I took during my first year in college. I initially took health and nutrition courses out of personal interest and never intended to turn health into a career, but sometimes life just happens and we forget that we had other plans. I did make an attempt at pursuing my two primary childhood interests, but neither one worked out quite as I had planned.
I was fortunate to attend a college that offered several courses in parapsychology (the study of psychic phenomena), and they were by far my favorite classes. However, they were merely electives offered by the psychology department. So, I pursued general psychology for a while but soon grew tired of watching films of people putting rats through endless experiments in hopes of understanding
human
psychology. I did learn some valuable information (from the studies that actually involved humans) and went on to earn a degree in psychology; but by then I had already decided it wasn’t the career path for me. Meanwhile, I had become fascinated with the topic of hypnotherapy, so I went on to become a certified clinical hypnotherapist; but I soon decided that a career in hypnotherapy wasn’t my calling either.
My interest in veterinary medicine was quickly abandoned when I mourned over a bucket of dead baby pigs slated for dissection in my first college biology class. Interestingly, the name of the course was Human Physiology, so I wasn’t quite sure where the pigs fit in, or the other lifeless animals that I was told would be joining us later in the semester. I didn’t stay around long enough to find out.
So, nutrition it was. The more I learned, the more passionate I became about all things health related. When I wasn’t in class or doing homework, I was attending seminars and workshops—or reading piles of books—on all aspects of health. I majored in both health education and nutrition, and I left all of my other interests behind, at least for the time being.
A
FTER COLLEGE
, I
MET MY FUTURE HUSBAND
, Jameth (pronounced “JAY- meth”), at a health conference on the East Coast. I flew cross-country to attend that conference specifically because I somehow just
knew
that the young man who was to be my husband would be there. And he was. The moment our eyes met, we both knew. He later told me that he, too, had a feeling that he would meet his future wife there. Neither of us could afford the price of the conference or the transportation to get there, but we both borrowed the money to make the trip because we
knew
we had to be there. It was an event that, for me, unfolded just like the rerun of a movie, because all of the very specific details of our meeting—right down to his name and where he sat in the conference hall—had already occurred many years prior, in a childhood dream. So, our magical first meeting was literally a dream come true.
I soon discovered that Jameth was pursuing identical career goals to my own in the field of health and nutrition, and we simultaneously became business partners and, more importantly, life partners. Our connection was immediate, and we’ve been together ever since. We both went on to earn degrees in naturopathy as well as certification in myriad health and healing modalities, and we pursued busy careers in the health field. We gave regular classes, lectures, and workshops; jointly authored a recipe/nutrition book (
Uncooking with Jameth and Kim
); saw clients in our private practice; conducted and compiled research on multiple aspects of health and nutrition; and dealt with the 24/7 lifestyle and headaches of small business ownership as we founded and grew our own company, HealthForce Nutritionals.
Periodically, I felt stirrings that pulled me in other directions. I felt that I was supposed to be doing
something else,
but I wasn’t entirely clear on
what
. So, in my “spare time” (which really amounted to reducing my already scarce daily sleep quota), I briefly pursued the arts. I took some assorted art and music courses at a local community college, which soon spurred a brief career as a “starving artist.”
For several months, I drew socks and shirts for an organic clothing company, and then I began a series of drawings called “Ratworks,” the subject matter of which was, of course, rats. I made the first two editions of “Ratworks” into note cards and began distributing them through various rat-friendly organizations. However, as HealthForce slowly grew larger and my time rapidly grew more scarce, I soon abandoned my part-time art career altogether. It had been time well spent, and I actually felt quite complete with it because, although it had been a very short-lived career, it had become one less “what if” in my life.
I knew there were plenty of other “what ifs” left unpursued, but I was too busy to give them any more thought. Although my years in the field of health and nutrition greatly benefited my own health and enabled me to help others, my other interests remained, for the most part, unfulfilled. For a long time, I didn’t even have any animals in my life.
Jameth and I talked of having companion animals
someday
, when our lives settled down. Meanwhile, our only exposure to animals involved rushing injured or neglected animals—who, for some strange reason, regularly crossed our path—to a vet or a shelter for emergency care. Many of these trips were in vain, and I realized that I was now losing animals without even having a chance to love them first.
Despite the pain of losing them, I missed having animal companions and longed for the day when things in my life would be settled enough to let animals back in. Things never did settle down, but thankfully, an animal crept back in anyway.
-
C
HAPTER
2
-
Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.
— A
NATOLE
F
RANCE
O
NE DAY IN THE MONTH OF
M
AY
, a pet rat was tossed out of an open window by humans who didn’t want her anymore. They were aggravated that she went to the bathroom on the floor (although they did not potty-train her, nor did they even supply her with a cage or litter box), so they figured the best solution was simply to discard her.
One night in the month of June, a man found the rat searching for food. He trapped her in a pot, put the lid on, and left her in a closet. He happened to be the housing manager of a dormitory building where a young woman named Michelle lived.
“Hey, Michelle, look what I found,” he said when he next saw her, two days later, as he knew she loved rats. Michelle took the lid off the pot, and the rat gratefully climbed right up her arm.
Michelle was horrified that this poor rat had been kept in a pot in a closet for two days, and that the man hadn’t contacted her
immediately
. After all, she was known as the “rat girl”—
how could he forget?
He told her he thought the rat was “wild.” Michelle had known and loved rats before, so she was well aware that this was no wild animal. Rather, this was an animal who had been born in captivity and then abandoned (which Michelle later was able to confirm), who was simply looking for food and shelter and didn’t know how to fend for herself. She had been seen foraging and begging for food for quite some time before she was trapped. Because of the time of year, and the fact that this rat was a female, Michelle named her “June.”
There was something special about June. She seemed so ancient and wise, so sure of herself and her path on this earth. She had climbed Michelle’s arm very deliberately and made it clear that she had no intention of leaving. She was a grayish-black beauty with a wise expression, an adorable white underbelly, and a powerful impact on those around her. Michelle and June formed an instant bond.
Michelle devoted all of her time to June that first day and night. The next day, she had to go to work. Afterward, she ran home as fast as possible. She couldn’t wait for another evening with June. Since June was new, Michelle left her in a large cage while she was gone. Michelle didn’t like keeping animals in cages, so she was in a hurry to get June out of it.
When she came home, much to Michelle’s surprise, June gave birth to a single baby. Rats usually give birth to multiple babies, but in her depleted state, June only had one. Sadly, the baby died. Michelle assured June that she would never again have to suffer due to human negligence.
June soon became Michelle’s best friend and roommate, and a very popular resident of the building, where everyone adored her. Each evening, Michelle announced that June would be making her rounds, and the other residents opened their hallway doors in hopes of a visit from the adorable, personable June. June ran up and down the hallways, with everyone calling to her. She ran in and out of their rooms, visiting her friendly neighbors; and whenever Michelle called out her name, she always came running. After her nightly rounds, she headed back to share a warm bed with her devoted human companion.
Whenever possible, June joined Michelle on her outings around town. People often asked about the cute little animal riding around on Michelle’s shoulder, and June clearly enjoyed the attention, acting as a little ambassador for ratkind.
Michelle had previously applied for a job she really wanted and had been anxiously awaiting news about her prospective new career, which would take her on the road leading bus tours for international travelers. She’d had high hopes of landing this position, but when she then received the news that she indeed had the job, she was both excited and heartbroken. She was filled with regret and sadness, as she wouldn’t be able to take June with her.
She realized that, although her neighbors loved June’s visits, none of them was able to provide a permanent home for her, so Michelle began desperately looking for a new home for her little companion. She dreaded the forthcoming separation and was willing to settle for nothing less than an ideal home for June. Michelle posted flyers all around town in hopes of finding such a home, but she worried that she’d
never
be able to find a home good enough for June.
“Don’t worry,” a friend reassured her. “I just
know
that the perfect home is out there somewhere, and we’ll find it.”
M
EANWHILE
, J
AMETH AND
I found ourselves working all the time, never taking weekends or holidays off, wondering where we had gone wrong. There was no time for “down time,” and most of our friends had stopped even inviting us anywhere because we never had the time to go anyway. After many years of this, we were experiencing burnout and wondering when we’d be able to start really living; but we had a growing company that needed us, and customers that counted on us, so we didn’t know what else to do. We almost felt as if we were waiting for something to rescue us, but we weren’t quite sure what.
We were caught quite by surprise upon hearing a message on our overloaded answering machine. Our good friend Coral shared the news that she had just met a young woman named Michelle who was looking for a good home for a rat, and we were the first ones that came to mind. She left Michelle’s number.
I felt an excitement I hadn’t felt since childhood as I called Michelle and we arranged to meet in person. Jameth joined me on that first trip to meet Michelle and June.
For me, the first encounter with June was very exciting and significant; it felt like she was opening up a part of my life that had been closed for too long. It was almost as if I were a mere child meeting an elder, not quite sure what to say or do, and feeling a bit inadequate. Jameth had never met a rat before and wasn’t quite sure what to make of it all. While Michelle and I were busily discussing all things rat-related, June climbed right up to Jameth and began grooming his fingernails, as rats often do.
“I need some attention here,” Jameth said nervously. “I think she’s trying to eat my fingers.” Michelle and I laughed and assured him that June was doing no such thing; rather, she was mothering him and showering him with affection. June rapidly stole Jameth’s heart, and we all had a great time.
By the end of our visit, Michelle felt confident that we were just the people she’d been looking for, and although she’d miss June tremendously, she knew we’d take good care of her. So, arrangements were made for June to move in with us shortly thereafter. As we were leaving, Jameth turned to Michelle.
“June will be my first rat!” he exclaimed, sounding excited at the idea.
“Yes,” Michelle replied with a smile, “but I guarantee, she won’t be your last.” How true those words would turn out to be.
As I prepared for June’s arrival, I felt like the child I had been so long ago. I was truly excited for the first time in ages as I cleared a spot for June’s cage and “rat-proofed” our home, covering electrical cords and eliminating any other potential safety hazards for a rat. Rats like to explore and they like to chew, which can be dangerous if provisions aren’t made. We had no intention of leaving June in her cage all the time, and we wanted to be sure we were providing a good, safe home for her.
I could hardly contain my excitement the day June came to stay. Michelle arrived with June and all of her favorite things. She handed me a bag filled with organic fruits and vegetables, reminding me that “June only eats organic vegan
*
food.” Not a problem, I assured her, as Jameth and I eat only organic vegan food ourselves. I promised her that June would receive the best of care.
I admired June’s beautiful dark gray—almost black—coat, and for the first time, I noticed her soft white underbelly, not yet realizing what a comfort such bellies would become in my life. I then set June free to fully explore her new home. Michelle tried to leave before the tears began to flow, promising that she’d come back to visit during her breaks. I assured her that we would give June a wonderful life. And June became part of our family.
At long last, I had an animal to love and care for, and I grew to love June perhaps more than any animal I had known before. It seemed that the older I got, the more I was able to love and the harder it was to lose my loved ones when they died. I had always thought it would be the opposite; that it would get easier. June was already old for a rat when I became her guardian, so I tried not to even think about the eventual outcome.
When June entered my life, my whole world changed. I hadn’t had a rat companion since my school days, and June brought with her all of the wide-eyed joy of youth that I had almost forgotten. I was delighted that Jameth had warmed up to her immediately. Then again, who wouldn’t? She was a very charming and affectionate little lady. She ate with us, played with us, worked with us, and slept with us. She amused us, comforted us, and taught us.
June helped us get our priorities in order, and she reminded us of the meaning of life, which we had almost forgotten. She was truly our little angel all wrapped up in fur. Friends often asked about her and came to visit her, and Jameth and I soon became known around town as “June’s parents.” She quickly won the hearts of friends and customers, and most of all, of her new human companions.
Early on, it was June who decided she would sleep with us. Worried that we might roll over on her, we tightened the sheets around our necks and refused to let her under the covers with us. However, June was persistent, and before long, ours was a bed for three. Each night, the scene was the same: two humans and one rat all in a row, lying on our backs in identical positions. When Jameth rolled over on his side, I rolled over on my side and snuggled up to him. And June, without fail, rolled over on
her
side and snuggled up to me. It was a scene straight out of a Disney movie that we looked forward to every night.
Somehow, I felt that taking care of June was the most important responsibility I had ever been entrusted with, so I took my role as June’s primary caretaker very seriously. Although I was well versed in vegan nutrition for
humans,
I was unsure of the nutritional requirements for rats and wanted to be sure June received the best of care. So I did my homework and saw to it that June was eating a balanced vegan diet.
To further bolster her health, Jameth and I began mixing various herbs and other nutritious plant foods into a green mush. June absolutely loved the green mush and could hardly contain herself as I mixed a fresh batch for her each morning.
Over time, we experimented and added other herbal ingredients—known for extending lifespan—to the formula. June thrived, and her coat soon grew in thicker, darker (more black and less gray), shinier and healthier than ever before. She became more muscular and strong, and it seemed that she was having a “second youth.”
People began to comment on June’s amazingly healthy appearance, asking what we were doing to keep her so healthy. They wanted some of this green mush for their own animal companions; so, before long, we were bottling Green Mush
TM
, delivering it to friends, and shipping it nationwide. June tested each new version of the mush to make sure it passed the taste test. We began receiving amazing testimonials from people whose rats, dogs, cats, and other companion animals were thriving on the formula. When they thanked us, we told them we owed it all to June.
I must admit I loved her soft coat, her pretty ears, and her delicate pink hands and feet. But there was a lot more to admire about June than her appearance. She had such
presence
. People could sense it right away. Even those who thought they didn’t like rats. Upon hearing that she was a rat, people often initially responded negatively, but upon actually meeting her, they came to know and love her as simply June. She seemed like such a wise old soul, filled with unconditional love for all people, regardless of their initial reaction to her. Once you looked into her shiny, round, soulful eyes, you just knew someone important was looking back at you.
People often commented that June seemed incredibly evolved and spiritual, and they found her presence very healing. When they came by to visit or to pick up health products, many friends and customers seemed more excited to see June than to see
us
. When they called, they often asked about her, and our good friend Aden (a grown man, I might add) always ended each phone conversation with, “Give my love to June.”