It's normal to hurt for a long time. What I have found is that the times of hurt get further apart. You should take time to mourn, but in my opinion, not dwell. It took me several years to be able to talk about Eliza. Every time I post about Rimadyl I cry a lot and it's been almost 6 years. I cannot, for my health and my current grey's well beings dwell on it. I would go crazy and that would not do anyone any good.
I had Scooby 8 months. If I really start thinking about him, and posting, like right now, I am teary eyed. He touched me deeply. Jesse eating June bugs--the next year when the June bugs showed up I sobbed. Every time I read about a grey digging, I think of her digging away butt up in the air and tail going a mile a minute! What I'd give to have her digging away again Trevor loving the king size bed, Burp tossing stuffies and stomping if his 10 o'clock snack was late, SieSie nitting her stuffy or chasing the lawn mower, Shadow flying through the air with all four feet off the ground just a few months after he came here & I wasn't sure he would live, Jodie grinning at me, Solo chattering when I came home, Chrissy grinning when she did something wrong and I hadn't even found out what yet.....
Memories--tears & smiles. I guess I have accumulated more smiles than tears. I have been blessed.