Phoenix a tribute to an animal that touched my soul

When I first met the Hernandez family, Phoenix was the hardest member of the family to get to know, she seemed to be judging me to see if I was worthy of her time. Over time she warmed up to me and I still remember the first time she walked over my chest while I was lying in bed, as if to say ' Your OK'

I knew very quickly that if I were only to know the Hernandez family for just 1 day, it would be an honor to do so, Phoenix has always been a very powerful part of that honor, she was no ordinary cat. We all know, weather or not we are cat people that cats are extraordinary animals, incredible athlete's, the perfect predator, but Phoenix was not like other cats in that way, she seemed to have let go of being one way or another or of even being a cat, she just was.

When she become sick she really showed her undeniable strength of just being. She was truly enlightened and a lesson for us all. She spent her days lying on her pillow a master of meditation and sleep. She was in pain and it only grew worse, but she never complained or seemed to feel sorry for herself, even with what seemed like half of her body over taken by cancer, she found the strength to go on short walks and visit her favorite place where we now lay her to rest.

I believe that this little 6 pound cats was a true sage, she could have chosen to die at any time, but she was thankful to Heather and seven and maybe even me, she waited, waited until we especially Heather was ready. Even in her last moments she held on until we told her it was time, that it was OK, it was the most remarkable feat of strength I have ever seen. And all on behave of human frailty, a moment of undeniable compassion.

In the vets room were she finally past away, I was amazed and humbled yet again by Phoenix, as the vet explained that she might whine or make some kind of noise due to the injection, but Phoenix past away in utter peace, although the room was filled with sadness, I felt a strong sense of peace emanating from her, it was like her soul was watching, waiting, making sure everything was what it should be. And then she left on a journey that none of us can imagine, to me it did not feel like death but like birth, like something out of this ordinary world that she was finally able to achieve, I have never felt such a sad time feel so peaceful and all from the power of this tiny little cat.

Her death was not easy, it was both long and painful as well as very sudden and shocking, I hope if I am ever in as difficult a place that I have half the strength to die with such dignity and peace.

We should remember that Phoenix,s body has died but Phoenix her self, her energy, will never die.
Because of this I want to finish my tribute with this quote, but before I read it, I want to say that I believe Phoenix has reached the last stage of this quote, she is beyond anything we know.

Here's to her and her family, I am honoured to have been a small part of her life.


I died from minerality and became vegetable.
And from vegetativeness I died and became animal.
I died from animality and become man.
Then why fear disappearance through death ?
Next time I shall die
Bringing forth wings and feathers like angles;
After that, soaring higher than angels -
What you cannot imagine,
I shall be that.

- Mevlana Jelalu'ddin Rumi.