| Bandit - My Beautiful Beloved Friend |
| Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... Author unknown... |
| I woke up this morning and you were gone. There was no wet kiss on my face, no warm bark saying “You’re late, let me out” “let’s run and play” The sun could have stayed behind the clouds because there was no sun for me I buried my head under the covers and wanted to go back to sleep but your brother and sisters called to me. I wanted to go back to that day and stay, the last day you were here, the last day I ran my fingers through your soft beautiful coat, I wanted that day to never end But it did and you were gone. I could not touch you, hug you, laugh at your antics, I could not scold you only to have you convince me I was wrong and dogs DID indeed belong in the trash and my shirt was indeed your toy and that I had no business at all telling that you were in my chair because it was most certainly YOUR chair. I could no longer fight you to keep you in the bath and laugh when you shook water all over the bathroom and watch your eyes roll back in ecstasy at the warm rubbing towels and laugh at you trying bite the blow dryer. There would not be another day of spraying water from the hose and watching you chase it in rainbows of glittering silver drops. There would not be another bowl of kibble for you to take from the bowl one piece at a time, drop it on the floor to eat and go back for another. There would be no puddles leading from your water bucket to the door where you ran back out to play after a drink. The back of the sofa will forever be sad because that was where you slept, where you sat and surveyed your kingdom and from where you ruled the roost and bossed your brothers and sisters around with your rumbling bark. My life changed forever the day you left me but not a day will pass that you are not in my heart. It is a year today and not a day has passed that I did not think of you my friend and I will go to my grave holding you close in my heart. I have to believe that you are across the Rainbow Bridge watching those who have gone on before you, some you did not even know until you crossed, waiting for me and your “siblings,” some you will only meet when they cross but I have faith they will find you, know you and give you my love as you wait for me to join you for eternity. Without that belief, no, that knowledge, I have nothing to live for. You were my heart, my soul, my world, all of you are, each in his or her own way and every one of you that leaves me takes a piece of my heart that will never be whole again. I miss you my friend, I long to see you standing with the wind blowing your stunning long hair and sink my face into your thick neck mane and cry with joy that we are together again. I am so sorry that I could not keep death from your door, stop the inevitable, make time stop before you died and left us all here to grieve without you. I wish I could have gone with you so I could see you running free off a lead in a place of perpetual beauty and sun but it was not my time, it was not meant to be and the others need me, I only hope you understand and know what is in my heart and that I would change it all if I could. Be well and I will see you soon my beloved little man. |
| Frodo - Forever Loved, Forever Missed - God must have needed an Angel-Dog because He took you. |
It’s so hard to write about you little man, the pain is too fresh but know that your antics are deeply missed. I loved you so very very much, so much you were a gift to someone for saving my life but you don’t know that, you only knew joy and kisses, bouncing and love, leaping into our arms when you see us. Your sad little start to life, your joy at bossing the bigs dogs around, your sadness at being separated from your Mom, your ability to bounce back and love, live in the moment and make the best of every situation. You too taught me so much about loving, giving, forgiving and living in the moment and oh, how you did that so well. Running when your kibble was put down only to take two bites and find something more interesting than eating, barking like a ferocious bear when the other dogs said “Oh my God, I hear a stranger” how you chimed right in. Where Bandit had the back of the sofa, you had the back of the chair, my two little furniture ornaments. Running full speed through the stair spindles, bouncing off the sofa back to lay on YOUR chair, defying anyone to take your space. Playing with 95 pounds of pit bull mix, my precious Booda, like he was your 20 pound equal, telling Sam where to get off when he started his nipping, cleaning Ranger’s ears and letting Silver clean yours. Mocha Joe and Gracie were your best friends. Mocha Joe, until I took him away and gave him a new home, how you loved Mocha Joe, 4 times your size but Mocha’s heart was as big as you and Gracie Kitty, what a combination. How many sunny days did you sit on top of the dog house on the deck and play king of the mountain with the dogs, jumping down only to chase someone away or grab a quick drink of water and back you were like Snoopy and you never liked the water game – the water hose came on and you’d run inside and peak around the door “don’t mess with the “do””. You'd find a squeaky toy and wait on the “water game” to end then come back out and wonder what all the shaking and splashing was all about and what they saw in getting wet in the first place! Snuggle bunny. That should have been your name. You’d burrow and burrow and roll and frazzle until you found the perfect spot under the covers. There were nights when I didn’t even want covers but put them down just so you’d have a place to burrow and right behind my knees or in front of my legs up against my belly were your favorite spots. Was it more comfortable there? More secure? Warmer? And you’d stay all night long reclaiming your spot if I had to get up for any little thing, just waiting til I returned so you could start your snuggle “process”. How I miss you little man. How broken hearted your Mommy is. I am so sorry I was not there for you, that I could not stop the fate that befell you, that I was not holding you, loving you, that you were alone in a strange place. That will haunt me forever and I just hope you know and will understand my love for you when we meet at the Bridge. Keep Bandit company little man and watch over us all while we go through the motions until we can be with you again. I love you Frodo. |
| So many in my 50 something years have gone on to cross the bridge but two are so special, this page is dedicated to them. Bandit and Frodo. No two dogs could have been more loved and no two dogs will ever be more missed. Bandit and Frodo, I love with all my heart. Take care of my other babies across the Bridge and I will see you all soon. Give everyone a big wet kiss for me. |
