10/30/01
Pepper's Ghost

This is the second dream I had after the death of my cat, Pepper, on October 26th. (She was put to sleep after suffering an age-related illness. She was about 20 years old.)

I dozed off on the couch for an hour or so and I dreamed...that Pepper's ghost came to me.

I swear to God, I'm not making any of this up. It could just be me obsessing. But why is it all so weird!

In the dream it was nighttime and I was sitting on the couch and she just came walking into the room, as normal as ever. But I KNEW it was her ghost. I was so happy to see her anyway, and got up to go pet her. She sat down and purred and rubbed her head on me and lay down on the floor and everything, just like she was saying hi. I told her I was glad to see her again, and I even picked her up and hugged her. It was so great! Her purr is one of the things I miss the most--it was such a loud purr--and I was so glad to hear it again.

Two other animals then wandered into view. They didn't look normal. They looked like cloisonné animals and were maybe a foot or so tall. (Pepper herself may have been wearing a cloisonné collar or something.) One was an Egyptian falcon. I can't remember what the other one was, but it may have been a small dog. They were both about her size, and all in bright bold colors like red and blue, with gold metal around the enamel. Pepper had been sitting in front of the dining room, and they came and stood near the doorway. She seemed to be uncomfortable that I was holding her now, and I knew I had to let her go. I was anxious at first that she may be in pain again, but I think--I HOPE--she just wanted down. So I put her down on the floor.

She went over to the other animals and I knew it was time for her to leave me. I was sad to see her go, and the other animals as well, as I knew they had been pets of mine too. These were their ghosts. Pepper sat down by them and I petted each and instructed them on how to behave. "Now Pepper," I said, "you keep an eye on him"--I pointed at the hawk--"and him"--I pointed at the other animal. "And you"--I petted the hawk--"keep an eye on Pepper, and on him"--to the other animal. I believe I gave the third animal similar instructions, in short, telling them all to keep an eye on each other. I wanted them all to be safe. They stood up and turned around and walked away, and I don't know where they went, but I was both happy to have seen them again and yet sad to see them go so soon.

It was a wonderful dream but once again I'm left saddened and wondering if it even meant anything. Do I just search for meaning in wishful thinking?



2001 Dreams
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