rycezmom Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 (edited) What is it about the summer solstice? A time of change from one season to the next. It is seemingly also a time of loss. Too many seem to leave us for the bridge at this time of year. It heralds the beginning of summer, of growth, of warmth, of change. It has been a year ago, a lifetime and just yesterday, that Ryce said goodbye to us, to spring, to pain, to his life with his family. His journey to the bridge was just as his life had been, quiet and dignified. Surrounded by those who loved him and those whom he loved and cared for.. He was an ordinary hound but an extraordinary canine being. He chose us as his family and we were blessed by that choice. He was the elder statesman for the family, reminding us daily that dignity and diplomacy were the watchwords for us as a pack. He lived his life with that dignity but was capable of silliness at times when the occasional playfulness struck him. He would then look around to make sure that nobody had seen him do it. We would pretend not to have noticed. He was the diplomatic ambassador, keeping peace when minor disagreements between hounds developed. He would correct with a gentle paw, a quiet bark or a stern snap. He was also a teacher, instructing me on the ways of hounds, their likes, dislikes and the proper way they should be catered to by their humans. He taught me tolerance, patience, understanding and caring through his actions. He was gentle with the elderly of the family, not allowing a bump or a lean to inadvertently knock someone down. He seemed to sense the frailty of the elderly and challenged when coming into contact with them and afforded them his somewhat more reserved attention with gentleness. He taught us manners. He was unfailingly polite, asking permission with a questioning look before taking a cookie or sniffing a butt. He would wait to be invited,always holding himself above the playful pushiness of the rest of the hounds. He was always cognizant of the feelings of others. He instinctively knew when one was sad, happy, pensive or in pain and would care for you appropriately by giving gentle nudges, quiet comfort or acting as a nonjudgmental ear. His mannerisms and ways remain as a comfort to me. Coming over and quietly standing next to me in the night, looking out over the backyard, watching the current hounds of the household. He did it life and I feel him there next to me every evening still. It is the summer solstice now and a year he is gone. It is a time of change. My grief has slowly transformed to feelings of gentle reflection on a life that was so exceptional to me. His life. I can think of Ryce without the pain of loss now. I have moved to a fondness of memory, a kinder inner peace at the loss of my extraordinary companion. His favorite stuffy zebra, placed under my pillow on the day of his journey to a new life at the bridge, now sits out on my night table where it is seen every day. His pictures abound in many rooms of this house. A reminder of love, companionship, caring, tolerance and understanding. An uncommon hound, my heart hound, my Ryce.... Edited June 27, 2007 by rycezmom Quote The more I see of man, the more I like dogs. ~Mme. de Staël Missing my Bridge Angels Ryce, Bo, Jim, Miss Millie, Miss Rose, Gustopher P Jones (Pimpmaster G), Miss Isabella and Miss Star Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bowiebears Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 An extremely touching reminiscence of an obviously very special hound. You have been so blessed by Ryce's presence in your lives, as many of us have been by the other hounds who've been part of our lives. God speed all of them... One day we will all meet again at The Bridge. --Isaac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ss556 Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Happy Anniversary at the Bridge Sweet Ryce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SquanHound Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 What a beautiful tribute to your extraordinary hound, Ryce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey14me Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Quote Michelle...forever missing her girls, Holly 5/22/99-9/13/10 and Bailey 8/1/93-7/11/05 Religion is the smile on a dog...Edie Brickell Wag more, bark less :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GiJenn51 Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Keep watching over your Mommy Ryce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytful4 Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 What a beautiful tribute, Leslie..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vahoundlover Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 What a beautiful tribute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patricia Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 What a beautiful tribute to a noble prince. Send your family a beautiful Rainbow sweetheart. Quote Patti-Mommy of Lady Sophia 7-28-92 - 8-3-04... LaceyLaine 8-2-94-12-5-07... Flash Gordon 7-14-99 - 8-29-09... BrookLynne...Pavé Maria... and 18 Bridge Kids. WATCHING OVER US~SOPHIA~QUEENIE~LACEY LAINE~ CODY ANGELO~FLASH GORDON. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mommydog Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 That was beautiful Leslie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinw Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Quote Xavi the galgo and Peter the cat. Missing Iker the galgo ?-Feb.9/19, Treasure (USS Treasure) April 12/01-May 6/13, Phoenix (Hallo Top Son) Dec.14/99-June 4/11 and Loca (Reko Swahili) Oct.9/95 - June 1/09, Allen the boss cat, died late November, 2021, age 19. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sniffy Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 The first anniversary is always tough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Machbragal Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Just beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Snowy8 Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest whatahound Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 What a beautiful tribute, thanks for sharing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Momiji Posted June 23, 2007 Share Posted June 23, 2007 :grouphug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kickchick2000 Posted June 23, 2007 Share Posted June 23, 2007 Wow, what an amazing tribute. Quote Alicia and Foster Yoshi ( pit bull) Always in my heart: WV's Milky Way 6/25/2000- 4/22/2013, Hank ( St Bernard/Boxer) ???? - 10/3/2017 and Sweet Pea (English bulldog) 2004 - 6/19/2019 www.etsy.com/your/shops/MuttStuffnc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest K9_Lady Posted June 23, 2007 Share Posted June 23, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greypuppyluv Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 Quote Paula & her pups--Paneer (WW Outlook Ladd), Kira & Rhett (the whippets)Forever in my heart...Tinsel (Born's Bounder - 11/9/90-12/18/01), Piper, Chevy, Keno, Zuma, Little One, Phaelin & WinnieGreyhound Adoption Center ~ So Cal rep for Whippet Rescue And Placement For beautiful beaded collars, check out my Facebook page: The Swanky Hound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest IndysDad Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 What a beautiful and touching tribute, thank you for posting.... I think it says what a lot of us feel about our Bridge Angels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgrey Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 What a beautiful, heartfelt tribute to your very special boy. Thank you for sharing it with us. Quote Cynthia, & Cristiano, galgoAlways in my heart: Frostman Newdawn Frost, Keno Jet Action & Chloe (NGA racing name unknown), Irys (galgo), Hannah (weim), Cruz (galgo), & Carly CW Your Charming Princess http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=1018857 "It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." -- Unknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjw Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Quote CAMP GREYHOUND Tempo (Keep the Tempo), Nora (Road Noise) & Gabe the babe (Gable Habenero), Cooper (Uncle Bud's Coop), Topper (Red Top), & Galgos Lisette & Manolito. Missing our beloved angels Cody (Kiowa My Dodie), Lou (Cantankerous Lou), Romi (FingerRoll), Connie (Devie's Concord), Millie (Djays Overhaul), Bailey (Hallo Forty nine), Andy (Iza Handy Boy, and Rocco (Ripley Rocco), Gracie (VS Megan), Eragon the Longdog, Joey (WJS Flashfire), Roy (Folly and Glory) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackandgrey Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Ryce Quote Susan, Jessie and Jordy NORTHERN SKY GREYHOUND ADOPTION ASSOCIATION Jack, in my heart forever March 1999-Nov 21, 2008 My Dancing Queen Jilly with me always and forever Aug 12, 2003-Oct 15, 2010 Joshy I will love you always Aug 1, 2004-Feb 22,2013 Jonah my sweetheart May 2000 - Jan 2015 " You will never need to be alone again. I promise this. As your dog, I will sing this promise to you, and whisper it to you at night, every night, with my breath." Stanley Coren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neenieca Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 An extraordinary canine, indeed. Thank you for sharing that with us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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