We picked up Sasha’s ashes yesterday afternoon. It was hard – insanely hard – and I broke down in the parking lot, startling the snowboard dudes who share the same complex. I carefully placed her in Lola’s bucket – even after Ed pointed out the “No Pets” sticker – and we drove home.
The urn they supplied is nice. It’s small and white and coated in a rainbow glaze, tying in with the Rainbow Bridge poem they gave me three times. She’s on my desk now – her favourite place in the world was on my desk, against my chest and draped over my arm(s) while I typed. It’s a small comfort, but she has a permanent spot on my desk now. I’m trying not to think of all the times I got annoyed and moved her off my desk – that won’t happen anymore. I’d give the world to have her pinning me down at my keyboard again.
the urn is strangely classy on my desk
The vet sent a nice card, and we got a certificate of cremation with her ashes. The cremators took a creative effort at spelling my name, coming up with “Kemlie” – that’s a new one. I opened the card while I was sobbing in the parking lot, and it made me laugh.
also hilarious: ed welsh
It’s strange – I never thought in a million years that I’d be glad to have her back in ash form, but I am. I know she’s home now, and won’t ever leave. It’s a weird sense of relief; one I didn’t know I was anxious about. I know she’s with me. It helps. I feel .. better. The tears are still there, but I know the day that I can remember her and smile instead of crying is coming, and that’s a comfort.
delicious juice dot com 
See, I like your posts, Kimli, because even when they’re sad and touching, you still make sure to include the totally weird things that happen in the process — like “Kemlie”. I’m glad that you, being you, are assured a nearly endless supply of random craziness like that that you can laugh at.
I’ve always loved the certificates they give you — it’s more than you get for a human cremation.
When my ferrets died, we got the same thing — a poem, a lovely ceramic urn, a certificate stating that my pets are treated with care and respect and dignity.
When my grandmother died, we got a cannister that said “Cremains. Contents: Mary Hall.” No poem, no certificate, no respect, no dignity. As far as we know, they tossed her on a bonfire in a hefty bag. Hmph!
I didn’t have a chance to tell you how sorry I am about Sasha. It’s never easy to do, but it was the right thing to do.
I have to make an effort not to read the Rainbow Bridge because it wakes me cry every single time I do.
im very glad that having her back with you has brought you some comfort.
I too am sorry about your cat. I have been a pet “owner” (we all know whom owns who) my whole life. What did you do with your Dad? I have both my parents cremated remains here with me, as there’s no where else I’d rather have them. One of our cats, Spookie, is getting on in years and we are looking down the barrel with him I think. He is currently on three different drugs, two of which are just to keep me from killing him. :)
As for certificates, humans get one that basically allows them to travel via air.
Next time I am in Norway we will finish scattering my mother’s ashes. As for my Dad, he always said he didn’t want to go back to Saskatchewan, so maybe he can stay with me. :)
We split dad up :) My sister took some of him back to Montreal, we spread some of his ashes at Thetis Lake, and the rest are in his Marble Toaster in his wall slot at the Memorial Gardens across from Royal Roads. Not sure what mom wants – maybe I’ll dump some of her ashes in the BC Lottery machine at SDM in Hillside, and put the rest in the wall next to dad.
I think I ultimately know what I want to do with Sasha’s ashes; I’m just not sure if it’s weird.
So sorry to hear about you losing Sasha – although it’s nice that you have her back home with you now, at least in some form. Emmy Lou is my first pet who’s not a fish, so I’m not looking forward to having to make that last trip. Hope the rainbow urn continues to class up your desk.
Kimli,
Having her ashes put into the ink of the memorial tattoo is NOT weird.