Sandi by Jayne

I got to the Gate of Heaven
after we said goodbye.
I began to miss you terribly
because I heard you cry.

Suddenly there was an angel
that asked me to enter the Gate
I asked her if I could stay outside
for someone who’d be late.

I wouldn’t make much noise you see
I wouldn’t bark or howl..
I’ll only wait here patiently
and play with my tennis ball.

The Angel said I could stay right here
and wait for you to come
So I’ll wait here…you take your time
’cause we can’t be apart…
Because Heaven
just wouldn’t be Heaven
without you to warm my heart.

Author Unknown

I found this poem on a page dedicated to memories of a Labrador named Shannon who was obviously very loved by her mommy and sadly missed after she crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge and I thought it was a really lovely poem for a beautiful little girl
http://hometown.aol.com/jinnie123/shannon.htm.

I thought it was also appropriate for a very special little girl who passed over to Rainbow Bridge on the 16th July 2001. When Sandi died I felt like I had lost a child my son grew up with her and they were babies at the same time. In the end my baby girl had to leave us behind. When she got ill they told us she had a virus and the injections they gave her perked her up and made me think she was getting better. It was a Monday and I was taking her for a check-up but after my son left for school she took a turn for the worse.

She knew she was dying and went out to the garden and laid under a bush no longer able to stand. It was as if she had got through the weekend and waited until my son was not there to see the pain. The vets said she had a collapsed womb and it was too late to do anything; she died under the anaesthetic. I was SO angry because I had been taking her to the vets every few days and complaining. Now I just feel sad and empty.

She was always there no matter what time I stayed up until working on the computer; she would lay under my chair and no matter where I was or what I was doing she was by me. She would not even play in the garden unless I came out as well. She would rather watch me wash the dishes or use a vacuum. I felt so guilty for such a long time that I let them mis-diagnose her because I am used to being able to sort things out and I knew there was something wrong and yet I kept listening to the vets telling me I was wrong. For three months after she died I would step out of bed so not to stand on her and when I was preparing my sons breakfast I would be looking for the key to let her out.

She was in so much pain but she never so much as snarled or whimpered as me and the x boyfriend lifted her and carried to the car and into the vets. As she lay on the table about to go into the operating theatre I knew I would never see her alive again the look in her eyes told me she knew it too. I just kissed her on the forehead and told her “goodnight my darling”. Yesterday it was a year since she died and it felt like it was today all over again I’m going to buy a statue of an angel and place it under the bush she chose when she knew she was dying.

Sandi got buried at my x boyfriends and we can’t visit her anymore. But now she got a place we can visit any time from anywhere.

Jayne