Dear Friends,
One week after I posted the blog about This Old Dog, Tip , he left me behind and went to the other side. There was an accident and he was gone. I was unprepared for the extent of my grief.
I’ve spent days at my sewing machine with Puncher now at my feet. I’ve walked miles and miles with my other dogs. One thing I know….. grief is a process and it takes it’s own time. Some day I will write Tip’s wonderful story and share it. But not from a place of raw emotion.
I realize with blogging about our animal friends that others get attached also. I apologize for not telling you sooner. I love you all. I love blogging and being a part of this wonderful community. Thank you for being here. I would love to hear your thoughts and memories of your own beloved friends that have crossed over before Tip. We all walk this world together.
OH Terah. He is so beautiful and so devoted to you — you can tell from the photos. I truly believe that the devotion never ends. (and it goes both ways.) It's wonderful you wrote this today — as last night I woke from a sound sleep certain that I heard my cat Emma crying for me in the basement. I shot out of bed and made it to the bedroom door before I realized that she had crossed over two weeks ago.
(And for those of you horrified that I might have stashed my old kitty in the basement — that's a finished basement and where her food and litter always were. In her waning days she would often wander, confused, throughout the house and then cry for me to come get her. Never once did I resent the middle of the night awakenings.)
Our old friends stay with us.
Oh Terah I am so sad for you. It will take some time to adjust to not having your dear Tip at your side. Totally understandable.
My dear Mishka (Choc lab) was with me for 15 years. He helped me through my children's teenage years, divorce, losing my Mother, empty nest syndrome and finally settling into a new live with my current husband. We went through so much together. When he got so sick and we had to help him cross over a big part of me died too. I still have pictures, collar and even his ashes in my room. Can't bear to take him to the lake where he loved to swim and toss him in for a last swim. Maybe some day. He still walks across the foyer floor from time to time. He will always walk in my heart.
Big Hugs…
Lisa, your dog sounds very much like Tip. He helped my mom through all the exact same things in life. Amazing what animals do for us.
Terah, I'm sending you and Tip all my love. I still miss my first dog Toby. And he passed when I was ten. I sometimes see the ghosts of my cats. One who has been gone 20 years.
They are forever a part of me. And me of them. There really isn't any separation. Our stories, our energy are always shared.
xoxoxo
Now I know why you've been so quiet over there. I've had animals since I was about 9 or 10 and so many of them have been part of the family. Some have come in and out of my life quicker and at a little more of a distance and others are so deeply imbedded in my heart that they are woven into the muscle itself. The deeper you love the more it hurts. Big heart=big joy and big sorrow. Obviously Tip is embedded and brought you great joy.
I have animals, too, that I can't forget. It will take a while for the sorrow to ease, but I'd love to hear about Tip later on. I know I will be completely thrown when Karma leaves. I have never spent 24/7 with any of my cats or dogs over the years like I have with Miss Karma. They're family.
I have had other more psychic people say they have seen cats (spirits) in my home. I think that love binds souls. And critters have souls, too, as far as I'm concerned.
Condolences on the loss of your dear friend.
Terah,
I am so sorry to hear about your pup, we do get so attached to our four legged friends. They are always by our sides and in our hearts. Tip looks like he had a great personality. Hold your memories near and dear…
Karen
So sorry Terah! Hugs girl!
Suzanne
Fairchild Farmgirl
Terah, I am so happy that I got to know you because I need to tell you that Tip had the best life on this earth by being a part of your family on that lovely ranch! Lucky you lucky Tip to have been such sweet pals!
Hugs,
Cheri
Big hugs Terah, I'm so sorry to hear about Tip…
so sorry for the loss of your friend. you will always have your memories. hugs.
Oh, sad! My eyes and heart are playing misty for you. I don't have a story about a precious sweet dog leaving me as I just got two puppies for the first time. I can't imagine them leaving me. You are so graceful in sharing your experiences with us. Thank you, we are in this world together!
Oh Terah, my heart just aches for you.
we already know this as four-legged friends like Tip remind us…how wonderful he was with you….xxx
“We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals… In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth.” ~Henry Beston
We kept border collies too and I have a special affection for them. I can see in his eyes that he was brilliant, happy and loved you. While I’ve lost pets before, and I used to volunteer at the SPCA, I never had an animal affect me like my last pet. I lost her in March and am still grieving. She was my best friend in a real sense and I learned a lot from her. Thanks for sharing about Tip. I found it a comfort to learn from a vet support line that for some it is ‘normal’ for the grieving process to be as strong as when loosing a family member.
Mom, I loved Tippy so much and I will miss him immensely. He was the sweetest, most loyal, and most loving dog we have ever had. I will never forget growing up with him. He was a big part of our lives. He will always be with you, just like he was in life. I love you.
Oh Terah, This post has my eyes tearing. I especially love the photo of you and tip with him looking up at you with such love in his eyes. Memories my friend will ease the pain in time. take care