" Riley "
Jan. 5 1997 -------- Jan. 4 1999
There are trees that fill the sky becoming part of
our landscape shading us in summer delighting us with color
in the fall etching the night with their branches in winter.
Their roots spread deep in the earth their leaves whisper to us in
the breeze their weight and presence a constant reassurance to us.
When a violent storm uproots one of these majestic beauties
it leaves a gaping hole in the horizon a deep wound in the earth.
It’s a shock to pass the place where it was the tree’s absence
profoundly disturbing.
This storm has left a hole in my heart a wound in my soul.
My dog’s death is the most unsettling traumatic event
I have ever experienced. He is no longer part of my landscape
though I look for him everywhere and expect to see him any minute.
My sweet little dog has left a gaping emptiness in me that I am
at a loss to comprehend or compensate.
We were careful when we talked about adding a dog to our family
knowing what a responsibility it is. We both had dogs in
our childhood’s but this was the first time that we were to
own our own dog. We are unable to have children I am alone during
the week so with this tremendous need in our lives to love
someone we made the commitment to care for a dog.
He won our hearts at first sight pink nose floppy ears
soft pink ‘potato’ pads on his paws. He was my companion
my shadow the tree in my sky.
I needed him so much in my times of troubles his fur was often
soaked with my tears. When I felt like it was too hard to get out
of bed in the morning I did because he was there.
His life was hard from the start illnesses operations
trips to the vet’s but we cared for him and loved him as best
we could and he gave us everything. I had promised him
the day we brought him home that when the time came
I would do the right thing for him but this time came to
soon! A day before his second birthday...
The decision to end his suffering was necessary and best for him
but I wish I had had just one more day! I wanted to walk him
through the park one more time groom him in my lap sleep with
him nestled under my arm watching his cheeks puff
give him the love of a lifetime.
I held him we hugged each other with Riley between us,
kissing his sweet round head telling him what a
good boy he was ‘til he slept.
| Riley |
| Casey |