SECTION III - STORY-TIME

7. CatCorner - The Rainbow Bridge 
8. Fiona & Julian - Selene SilverWind
9. Meagan's Beltane - Kat Dyer

Today I want to share a story that brings tears to my eyes every time I encounter it somewhere on the web. Numerous sites have grown around the theme of petloss, and about not grieving alone. Any search engine will give you several sites to choose from. They all list the Rainbow Bridge, and although there are variations of it by now, no one knows the original gifted author. Yet not a soul who has ever lost a four footed friend remains untouched by these words of love. Read today:

The RainBow Bridge

The Rainbow bridge is what all cats and catpeople believe in. It gives us hope, and comfort, for we know, catlove is forever.

Just this side of heaven is a place called the Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies, one who has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends where they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they each miss someone who was very special to them, someone they had to leave behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. The eyes are bright and intent, the eager little body begins to quiver all over! Suddenly that lucky one breaks away from the group, and flies over the green grass, little legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. Happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands once again caress that beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together. . . .


Author Unknown

Handfasted Bliss
By Selene Silverwind
Slvrwind@aol.com

Fiona opened her eyes slowly as daylight streamed in through the bedroom window. She rolled over in bed and glanced at the clock next to her. It read 8:30. A smile of recognition crossed her face and she leaped out of bed, gleefully throwing back the covers and startling Julian awake. "We're getting married today!" she cried as she tackled him. Julian smiled and kissed her good morning. "I know. In a few hours you'll be my wife." "And you'll be my husband.""I never knew I could be this happy," Julian murmured. "I knew, but I was waiting for you to come along and share it with me," Fiona replied happily. She climbed off the bed and headed out of the bedroom, calling over her shoulder, "Mom will be here in an hour. You'd better get a moving before she sees you and launches into her no-seeing-the-bride-on-her-wedding-day lecture."Julian laughed and hopped out of bed to shower and hightail it out of the apartment before Vyviane descended. Fiona unconsciously hummed a wedding march as she fixed herself a cup of tea. She carried the steaming mug over to the window and stared out at the mountains as she sipped her tea, letting the calming herbs keep her anxiety about everything being perfect for the ceremony from taking hold. She heard the water from the shower turn off and a few minutes later she felt Julian's arms wrap around her waist. "I'm leaving now. I'll see you in a few hours."Fiona turned in his arms. "Give me one last kiss as a fiancé before you go."Julian smiled and lowered his lips to hers for a sweet kiss. They parted and gazed into each other's eyes, feeling more in love than they ever had before. Julian pulled her into his arms for a long hug. "I love you," he murmured into her hair. "I love you," Fiona replied. "Now get out of here," she said, playfully shoving him toward the door. Julian pulled away and made his way out of the apartment as Fiona went into the kitchen to set out another cup of tea for her mother. A few minutes later, Vyviane and Gregory arrived, right on time. "I saw Julian leaving. He wasn't supposed to see you this morning." Fiona smiled at her mom's predictability. "Don't worry, Mom. We have more than enough good luck on our side. I made tea. It's in the kitchen." Vyviane kissed her daughter. "Thank you. Now, go get showered, we have to do your hair!" Fiona laughed, hugged her, and scurried off toward the bathroom. She spent a long time in the shower, grounding and centering herself before the excitement of the day ahead. She stepped out of the steaming spray and applied a special lotion she had prepared to bring the blessings of joy and love to their handfasting day. She went out to the bedroom and unzipped the dress bag that held her stunning Victorian era gown. She stopped and stared at it in wonder, amazed that the day she had dreamed of for years finally arrived. Vyviane came into the room and helped her step into the beautiful pool of deep blue silk. The dress accentuated Fiona's curves perfectly with its high empire waist and a Celtic runner edging the bottom of the A-line skirt. Vyviane laid the matching cape carefully on the bed and combed her daughter's hair as she had when Fiona was a child. Gregory came into the room to watch and to admire his beautiful daughter who was about to give him a son-in-law. Vyviane and Gregory offered Fiona their blessings on the union and they hugged warmly for the last time as a family of three. Over at his parents' apartment, Julian was making preparations of his own. He spent a long while meditating on how much he loved Fiona and the personal metamorphasis he'd experienced since meeting her. He also thought about everything he wanted to manifest for them during their life together. After several moments of quiet thought, Julian stood and walked over to the suit bag he had dropped off the day before in his parent's guest bedroom. He carefully opened it and removed the light gray Victorian summer suit he had chosen. He dressed slowly, taking care not to wrinkle the fine fabric. He smiled as he tucked the white gloves Fiona had insisted he wear into the pocket of the jacket and called his parents in to help him with his tie. Julian's parents helped him with the antiquated ligature and gave him their blessings for a good marriage before they set out for the train that would take them to the park where the ceremony was being held. Fiona and her parents arrived first and met Lady Celeste at the gazebo, which had been adorned with garlands of the same violet petunias Fiona had worn the day she and Julian had met. The petunias were interwoven with other bright spring blossoms of all shades and ribbons of bright silk. Chairs decorated with nosegays favors for the guests were arranged in front of the gazebo. At the end of the white carpet running down the center aisle was a table with a guest book and basket of small scrolls at the end of the aisle. After quickly exchanging greetings with her parents and helping them hang Fiona's cape, Lady Celeste showed Fiona's parents out of the waiting room. Julian arrived shortly thereafter and was shown into the same room. He carefully placed Fiona's wreath of white irises on her head and attached her cape at her shoulders, then slid on his white gloves. They heard the music start up outside and linked hands as a touch of nervousness descended on both of them. "Ready?" Fiona asked with a slight tremor in her voice as the magnitude of the day hit her. "I've never been more ready," Julian replied and squeezed her hand as they stood and followed Lady Celeste out to the edge of the white carpet. "Then let's do this!" Fiona exclaimed with renewed confidence. They stayed a few steps behind Lady Celeste as she cast a circle around the guests and the gazebo, establishing the sacred boundary of the ceremony. Lady Celeste stepped up to the gazebo and Fiona and Julian waited at the end of the aisle while she welcomed the guests and blessed the proceedings. Fiona and Julian glided down the aisle and mounted the steps to the platform of the gazebo. Lady Celeste called the quarters to bear witness to the ceremony, then invited the God and Goddess to come bless the happy couple. One of Fiona's friends read the Charge of the Goddess, followed by one of Julian's friends reading the Charge of the God. Lady Celeste turned back to Fiona and Julian. "Do you both come here today of your own free will to be joined before the Gods and all who are present here today?" Fiona and Julian gazed lovingly at each other and answered, "Yes," with surety. Lady Celeste asked Fiona to speak her vows first. Fiona looked deep into Julian's eyes. "Julian, I come here today to join myself with you in front of all of our friends and families. I thank the Goddess every day for bringing you into my life and for the myriad ways you have added to it. I have come to know true joy and peace with you. And I have experienced a love that I have never known before. I love you and promise to honor our love for as long as we are together. I promise to support you. I promise to be honest with you. And I promise to always be true to myself, you, and our relationship." A tear fell from Julian's eye and he took a deep breath as he prepared to speak, "Fiona, I have never before met a woman like you. You fill my life with love and joy. Everyday, I thank the Goddess for blessing my life with yours. I promise to stand beside you and support you in whatever way you need. I promise to be honest with you and myself. I promise to love you in every way I can. And I promise to continue to share our joy." Fiona felt a warm flutter roll through her and impulsively hugged Julian. Lady Celeste turned to their guests, holding aloft their rings. "These rings symbolize the circle of life and the circle of love. By wearing them, Fiona and Julian recognize that love and life have their ups and downs, but they always come back to the beginning." She turned to Fiona, "Fiona, place this ring on Julian's finger as a symbol of your dedication to your relationship with him." Julian removed his gloves while Fiona took the ring from Lady Celeste and gently slipped the gold band onto his ring finger. Lady Celeste turned to Julian and said, "Julian, place this ring on Fiona's finger as a symbol of your dedication to your relationship with her." Julian slowly slid the matching gold ring onto Fiona's finger, gazing at her with deep love. They turned back to face Lady Celeste who handed Fiona the ale horn. Fiona held it out to Julian saying, "May you never thirst." Julian took a sip and offered the same wish to Fiona who took a sip and set the ale horn back on its stand. Lady Celeste handed Julian a small bite of cake, which he placed between Fiona's lips as he said, "May you never hunger." Fiona consumed the morsel and then offered him one as well. Lady Celeste then removed a woven cord from around her neck. She held the cord before their guests and explained that Fiona and Julian had chosen cords in red to bring them passionate love, blue to bring them good fortune, and green to bring their relationship continued growth. Fiona and Julian reached out and took each other's hands as Lady Celeste bound them together. She bade them to solidify the union with a kiss. Fiona and Julian tipped their heads forward and kissed slowly and sweetly for the first time as a handfasted couple. After a moment they parted and stepped back. They slipped their hands out of the cord, but left it tied as a symbol of their promises. One of the coven members laid a broom at the top of the stairs and Fiona and Julian stepped over it hand in hand, thereby assuring them a fertile marriage. They reached the bottom of the steps and stood facing their guests as Lady Celeste announced, "These two stand before you today joined as one. They now ask for your blessing." The guests unrolled their scrolls and read aloud the words printed inside, "Fiona and Julian, we served today as witnesses on your blessed union. Now we offer you this wish: may you be healthy, wealthy, and joyous for all the days of your lives." "I declare before the Gods that you are joined in a sacred union as husband and wife," Lady Celeste pronounced, concluding the ceremony. Fiona and Julian turned and kissed one more time and walked giddily back down the aisle, as husband and wife. After the ceremony, the guests adjourned to the small private garden where the reception was being held and Lady Celeste showed Fiona and Julian back to the waiting room to sign their marriage certificate. They entered the small chamber and sat at the table. Lady Celeste laid the embossed certificate on the table and handed Fiona a decorative pen to sign it with. She did so happily and watched as Julian signed and Lady Celeste witnessed it, making their marriage official in the eyes of the City. "Now, there is just one more thing. I have a gift for you." She turned and left the room as Fiona and Julian stared after her, wondering what she had in store for them. They surprised to see her re-enter with by a woman in her early sixties.Lady Celeste introduced her to Fiona and Julian. "This my High Priestess, Lady Morgana. She is here to offer you her blessing and give you hint of your future as her High Priestess did for me after my handfasting." Lady Celeste excused herself as Fiona and Julian sat down with Lady Morgana. They reached out and took each other's hands under the table, a little nervous about what might be coming. Lady Morgana looked at them solidly for a moment before smiling and pronouncing, "Your union is much blessed and you will have a very successful and joyous life together. You will, however, see much change in your lives, and starting very soon. In a little more than seven months to be exact." Fiona and Julian glanced at each other uneasily. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to press you, but what do you mean?" Fiona asked politely. Lady Morgana's smile grew deeper, "You are with child." Fiona's eyes grew wide and she clenched Julian's hand. "Oh my Goddess! I didn't know." She turned to Julian, "I thought my cycle was still off because of the miscarriage. I didn't think I might actually be pregnant." Julian stood and pulled Fiona to her feet, whisking her into his arms and holding her tightly as tears of joy flowed from their eyes. "I love you. Now we are truly blessed," he exclaimed. Lady Morgana slipped quietly from the room as the two lovebirds embraced joyously. A few moments later, Fiona and Julian rejoined their guests at their reception. The party continued long into the day as the celebrants mingled and enjoyed the beautiful spring Beltane day upon which Fiona and Julian had chosen to be handfasted. Toward the end of the celebration, the guests gathered around the Maypole Fiona and Julian had requested be erected nearby. They went around the circle offering the couple gifts of love, happiness, peace, joy, fertility, growth, abundance, and more before Lady Celeste began the dance of couples in which they wove the ribbons around the pole, merging the gifts and binding them to the couple. As the day turned to dusk, Fiona and Julian decided it was time to make their escape. They said their goodbyes to Lady Celeste and their parents and prepared to leave. They returned to the waiting room and gathered their belongings and the marriage certificate and planned to flee out the back. Upon leaving the room, they discovered that their friends had figured out their scheme and were waiting for them outside. Fiona and Julian ducked their heads and ran through the crowd gleefully throwing birdseed at the newlyweds. Fiona and Julian ran swiftly to the hotel near the park where they had reserved a honeymoon suite. They rode the elevator to the third floor and raced down the hall to their room. Fiona turned the knob, but Julian stopped her before she could open it. She looked at him with a question in her eyes until he lifted her into his arms and tipped the door open with his foot. Laughing, he carried her into the large room over-flowing with fragrant flowers where they found a bottle of damiana wine, fresh strawberries, and two crystal glasses waiting for them. Fiona settled on the bed while Julian uncorked the wine and poured them each a glass. He handed a glass to Fiona and offered a toast. Fiona took a sip, then remembered the gift she had for him. She leapt from the bed and crossed to the dresser where she had asked the concierge to hide it. She slid open the drawer and pulled out a festively wrapped flat package. "Wait, I have something for you, too," Julian said as he crossed to the closet where his gift for her was hidden. He removed another gaily wrapped square package. They came back to the bed and handed each other their gifts. Julian opened his first. Inside the package was an antiqued gold frame bearing the lists Fiona and Julian had written of all the reasons they were grateful for each other. The lists had been carefully reprinted in calligraphy on parchment paper painted with border of spring flowers. He leaned forward and kissed her, "Thank you. We'll put in a special place in the bedroom that will remind us every day why we are together." Fiona quickly ripped into her package and opened the box beneath the wrapping paper. Inside she found a small birdhouse. It was handpainted with moonlight cosmos and oak leaves. "These are the flowers and leaves we wore the first time we were handfasted," he reminded her. Over the door were their names and the year. "I made this for you and had a friend paint it. It's to remind us of our first year together." "I love it. We'll put it up in the garden where it can be blessed by the birds who use it." Fiona leaned in to kiss him and they slid their gifts aside as they lowered themselves to the bed and made passionate love for the first time as a handfasted couple, then drifted off to gentle sleeps, holding hands, their fingers intertwined as their lives now were.

MEAGAN'S BELTAINE
copyright 1996 by Kathryn Dyer

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Meagan. She lived with her mommy and daddy, her big brother Corwin and her beautiful cat named Starweaver. One day in April Meagan came home and found her mother and Nana making baskets. "What are you doing?" asked Meagan."Well, soon it will be Beltaine," said her mother Elizabeth, "it's also known as May Day. A long time ago people would celebrate May Day by making baskets and filling them with flowers. Then they would take the baskets to the houses of friends, leave them on the porch, ring the bell and run and hide. Then the friends would have to guess who left them the baskets." Elizabeth's mother Nana nodded, "That's right, I used to get the most beautiful baskets from your late grandfather. I mentioned it to your mother and she thought that it would be a very fitting way to help celebrate Beltaine. Of course, I still can't keep all your holidays straight."

"Oh!" said Meagan excitedly, "I know! Beltaine is a fertile...fertul...fertility ritual!" "That's right," said Elizabeth, "and what else happens at Beltaine?" Meagan thought for a minute. "Hmmm. Oh! It's when the Goddess takes over the year again from the God and She starts dating the young God!" Elizabeth and Nana laughed. "Exactly right, my love," said her father Michael from the doorway. He was carrying a large basket full of beautiful flowers from the garden. "Were these what you wanted?" he asked Elizabeth. "Perfect!" she said smiling, "As soon as we finish up these baskets we can start filling them. Meagan, what else do you think we could put in them?" Meagan thought very hard. "I know!" she said, "We can put crystal and ribbons on the baskets and maybe some candy!"

Once Corwin got home everyone worked hard to finish making and decorating the baskets. They wrapped ribbons around the handles. They put soft grass and straw in the bottoms of the baskets. They put flowers and crystals and small presents in the baskets. Meagan made a basket for her best friend Cindy. Elizabeth made one for Cindy's mom Anna with herbs in it because Anna was an herbalist. They made a basket for Michael's parents, Gramma Lee and Granpa Scott. Gramma Lee and Granpa Scott were Christian and they wouldn't like hearing about the family celebrating Beltaine but they wouldn't mind having May Day baskets. "Is there anyone missing?" asked Corwin, "Look, there's one basket left over" They checked all the baskets but no one could think of anyone they had forgotten. Meagan remembered the old woman whose house she walked by everyday from school. "Mommy?" she asked, "Could we make one for that lady who lives on the corner?" Elizabeth hugged Meagan while Corwin looked surprised. "Oh Meagan," she said "I think that is a lovely idea! Mrs. Hanson has been all alone since her children moved away. Would you like to make it yourself?" Meagan nodded and got busy making a basket for the old woman who lived on the corner. She hadn't know the woman's name before. She hummed while she worked and hoped that Mrs. Hanson would like her surprise.

Soon it was May Day. Beltaine was on a Saturday this year and so they would be having Circle at their house that night. Meagan helped take the baskets around to her friends. But she saved Mrs. Hanson's basket for last. She crept up to the door, keeping low so that Mrs. Hanson wouldn't see her from the windows. She set the basket beside the door so that it wouldn't be knocked over when Mrs. Hanson opened the door. Meagan rang the doorbell and ran quickly to hide behind the bushes to wait. Mrs. Hanson opened the door. "Yes?" she said, "Who's there?" She looked puzzled and almost closed the door when she spied the basket on her porch. "Oh my!" she gasped, "A May Day basket!" Mrs. Hanson took the basket and sat down with it on the porch's rocker. She started crying. Meagan ran up to her. "I'm sorry!" she said, "I didn't mean to make you cry!" She was scared that she had hurt Mrs. Hanson's feelings. "You made this for me?" asked Mrs. Hanson, looking astonished. Meagan nodded, "My mommy was helping me make them for my friends and I thought that you would like one too. Mommy said that people used to do this all the time." Mrs. Hanson dried her eyes, "Your mommy is right. But I haven't had a May Day basket in a very long time. My children used to make them at school for me. I'm not upset with you dear, it's just that seeing this basket brought back many happy memories for me. I miss my children and grandchildren. They all live very far away and I don't get to see them very often."

Meagan gently put her hand on top of Mrs. Hanson's hand. "Would it make you feel better if I came to visit you once in awhile?" she asked. "Oh," said Mrs. Hanson, "you don't have to do that child, but if you decide you want to, I'll try to have some cookies ready for you when you come. So long as it's alright with your parents. If you really want to come by sometimes have them give me a call and let me know that it's okay for you to come." "Okay," said Meagan, "I'd better get back home now but I'll have mommy or daddy call you." Meagan waved to her new friend as she ran back home. She told her parents about what Mrs. Hanson had said. They called Cindy's mom Anna and talked to her for a while. Then they called Mrs. Hanson and talked to her for a while. They told Corwin and Meagan that they were allowed to go visit Mrs. Hanson anytime they wanted on the way home from school so long as they didn't stay more than 15 minutes. Then they said that they could also visit her at other times so long as they told one of the grownups in the house where they were going and called when they got there. Just like they had to do whenever they went to visit friends. Meagan found out that Cindy had been given permission to visit Mrs. Hanson too. She was excited about sharing cookies with her new friend and her best friend.

Soon it was time to decorate the altar for Beltaine. Meagan was excited. They had made a May Pole with ribbons to dance around. There was also a fire pit dug in the Circle area. "What's that for?" she asked the High Priest Jeremy. "Back in the old days people used to run the cattle between two fires on Beltaine to make them fertile and help the herd increase. They would also jump over the Beltaine fire for luck. We don't have any cattle to make fertile but some of us will jump the fire for luck tonight. You're still too small to jump by yourselfbut we can pass you over the fire by putting you in a chair carry just like we will for Gwennie. You know that she's pregnant and we don't want to take the chance of her falling in the fire." Meagan nodded. She was very excited. So was Corwin. He was still too young to jump completely by himself but Michael said that he could jump just holding arms with Michael and one of the other men. Meagan smiled to herself as she put a flower circlet on her head and got ready for Circle to begin. After Circle was over Meagan was very tired. She had had a busy day. Meagan kissed her parents and brother good night and looked for Starweaver. "Mommy! I can't find Starweaver" she said. Meagan's parents smiled at each other. "Don't worry dear," said Michael, "Beltaine is a time of fertility and Star must be helping out. You'llunderstand when you're older." Meagan stomped up the stairs. "I hate it when they say that" she thought. But she still smiled when she thought about what fun she had had dancing around the May Pole. She climbed into bed and snuggled down. It had been a good day.