“IF BUT FOR A FEW MOMENTS IN TIME” ~
The moment I saw Valentine, I fell in love with her ~ everyone did! I was blessed to have her in my life for 3 weeks. How she made me laugh! She loved playing with leaves! When she first saw herself in the mirror, she thought it was another puppy to play with! I couldn’t believe it when she picked up a tennis ball with her small mouth and ran with it! She was only 10 weeks old when she left this earth, but she made an impact ~ “IF BUT FOR A FEW MOMENTS IN TIME.”
I have had a number of puppies during my lifetime, but none of them ever got the reactions from people that this precious bundle of love got! She was truly a STAR! I was amazed at how much “joy” and “happiness” she brought to everyone who came in contact with her. No one was a stranger to her! She loved everybody and they loved her ~ “IF BUT FOR A FEW MOMENTS IN TIME.”
When I went to pick up Valentine at the Vet’s when her illness symptoms first started, the Doctor came out and apologized for the long wait ~ turns out the staff wouldn’t let Val go until they each hugged her goodbye ~
“IF BUT FOR A FEW MOMENTS IN TIME.”
When I stopped at Wal Greens to do some shopping, I took Val out of the car to put her on the ground to go the bathroom. An older couple walked by and the woman excitedly asked me if she could have her picture taken with Val. She hugged and kissed Val while her husband snapped several photographs of them ~
“IF BUT FOR A FEW MOMENTS IN TIME.”
On Easter, I was like a proud Mother when several neighbors made arrangements for their grandchildren to come meet and play with Val
~ “IF BUT FOR A FEW MOMENTS IN TIME.”
Another time when I was shopping, a couple stopped me so that they could have a moment to pet and admire her. I was so touched when they profuselythanked me for “sharing” her! That’s when I decided I would make weekly trips to nursing homes once Val was six months old, so that she could bring her Shih Tzu brand of love to lonely people ~ “IF BUT FOR
A FEW MOMENTS IN TIME.”
Val was so smart! She was already doing her Shih Tzu prance on a leash when I took her for walks. Cars would slow down and I’d see people smiling at her ~
“IF BUT FOR A FEW MOMENTS IN TIME.”
Val brought joy and laughter into my life and to all the so-called strangers that she met. Although the older Shih Tzu, Tempo, didn’t quite know what to make of Val (who had playfully bitten her ear and who relentlessly followed her around trying to play with her tail), I know she loved her because she finally let Val sleep next to her. During the last three days of Val’s life when she was so sick, Tempo would gently sniff her face and lay down by her side –
“IF BUT FOR A FEW MOMENTS IN TIME.”
Dearest Valentine…You left us much too soon, but I will always remember you on your birthday. The neighbors and everyone who met you are as devastated and saddened as I am that you are no longer with us! I will miss you cuddling next to me in bed and looking up at me with your innocent eyes and adorable face, but I’ll see you at the Rainbow Bridge someday! Thank you, Val. You loved and you were loved by all of us ~
“IF BUT FOR A FEW MOMENTS IN TIME.”
With Love,
| Valentine |
| 24, Apr 2006 |
| Joan Carol Snyder-Stone |