Xan Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 I'm down to 2 dogs. One cat. It's almost numbing, the cumulative grief and sense of loss. Brilly, my first greyhound, my blonde bombshell, my old gentleman, was taken by osteo recently, like so many of our greyhounds, in a week. Wabi was swept away by bloat in a matter of hours. Happy was ground down by a hard life and digestive dysfunction over years. Two of my old kitties lived their lives with me, through thick and thin, and are now gone. Before that, there were others, down through the years. You know what I mean. It adds up. It never gets easier with repetition. But, I don't want to remember them in tears! I made Wabi a promise to remember her in joy, as she lived, as she wanted everyone around her to live. It's not easy. Sometimes it's impossible. But that's how I want to honor her, and all my dear departed family. I wrote this poem when I was trying to work this out, and I want to share it here in hopes that it might possibly help others find a path through the grief. Please share it if you think someone else might need a loving hand. Happy Thanksgiving, my Greytalk family! Honoring You After you're gone For now, I will wash my freshly wounded heart with tears. But our lives were shared with a common goal: To give each other joy. In the days to come, will I revoke remembered joy with sadness? My lonely heart will cry that any pleasure betrays you, that smiles defile the sanctity of my pain, that laughter profanes the new emptiness that fills me, that your absence means all pleasure has ceased. But, that was not our way. We had a simple pact, you and I: to smile and laugh, to share even the smallest joys and every comfort, to revel in all the humor we found each day. To be true to you, my beloved, to honor you, I must choose the happiness you wished me to have. When I think of you, I will smile. When my arms ache for the warmth of you, I will reach for a friend, and share the love you taught me. This way, the space you leave in my heart will fill with light, not darkness. This way, I will honor you. This way, I will always have the real you here, with me. Thank you for being part of me. _____________________________ ~Xan Blackburn, 2013 Quote My Inspirations: Grey Pogo, borzoi Katie, Meep the cat, AND MY BELOVED DH!!!Missing Rowdy, Coco, Brilly, Happy and Wabi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MachosMom Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 This is very beautiful. Thank you for sharing Quote Mom to Macho (JS XtremeMachine 1/12/2007 -8/17/2012 ... Gotcha day 9/2/2011. I miss you BigMan)Moonbeam (Ninos Full Moon 11/1/2009, Gotcha day 9/2/2012), Hattie (Kiowa Hats Off 4/14/2011, Gotcha day 10/13/2012), Keiva (JS Igotyourbooty 1/12/2007, Gotcha Day 1/8/2014)Jimmy (Blu Too James 06/26/2014, Gotcha day 09/12/2015), a shepard mix named Tista, some cats, and some reptiles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggiespet Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 So beautiful Xan. Thanks so much for sharing. IMO - You've kept your promise to sweet Wabi. Quote http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g240/mtbucket/siggies/Everyday-2.jpgJane - forever servant to the whims and wishes of Maggie (L's Magnolia of JCKC) and Sam the mutt pup.[/b] She's classy, sassy and a bit smart assy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schultzlc Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 Lovely, thank you for sharing it with us. Quote Laura, mom to Luna (Boc's Duchess) and Nova (Atascocita Venus).Forever in my heart, Phantom (Tequila Nights) and Zippy (Iruska Monte). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest goofydog Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 A lovely poem and tribute for your precious lost souls Xan. Thank you for sharing it with us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest happygrey Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 So beautiful and touching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 4rooers Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 Thank you for sharing this. Sometimes holidays are hard because there are loved ones no longer here. Your words remind me that I need to remember the love, not the loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatterseaBrindl Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 thanks for that. We too, have lost several family members...dogs, horses, cat, bunnies... over the years and it never gets easier. Quote Nancy...Mom to Sid (Peteles Tiger), Kibo (112 Carlota Galgos) and Joshi. Missing Casey, Gomer, Mona, Penelope, BillieJean, Bandit, Nixon (Starz Sammie), Ruby (Watch Me Dash) Nigel (Nigel), and especially little Mario, waiting at the Bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazehund Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 Very nice Xan. There have been many, many stories of special dogs over the years at GT. Wabi's or Sweetness as I remember her has been and always will be, my all time favorite. Our special spotted girls are together now and I miss them both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 Thank you, that is beautiful, and I really need it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cully Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 Quote waiting at the bridge Connie Van Teddy & Jojo, Cobra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenbo Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 Beautiful! Quote Camp Broodie with tuxedo Summer 12 and tuxedo Dio 6 Missing KC Kitty 2000-2016, Myka and part of my heart 2006-2020, and Saint YellBoy 2014-2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgrey Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 So beautiful. 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...
MarcR Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 Thank you, Xan Quote Marc and Myun plus Starbuck (the cat)Pinky my AWOL girl, wherever you are, I miss you.Angels Honey (6/30/99-11/3/11) Nadia (5/11/99-6/4/12) Kara (6/5/99-7/17/12) Cleo (4/13/2000-4/19/2014) Antnee (12/1/2002=2/20/17) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greytpups Posted November 29, 2013 Share Posted November 29, 2013 Xan, I read this before and it still brings me to tears. But it's a lovely poem, and I will never look at dandelions the same way again. Wabi was such a beautiful creature inside and out, and taught us a lot about living in the moment leaving many wonderful memories. Quote Jan with precious pups Emmy (Stormin J Flag) and Simon (Nitro Si) and Abbey Field. Missing my angels: Bailey Buffetbobleclair 11/11/98-17/12/09; Ben Task Rapid Wave 5/5/02-2/11/15; Brooke Glo's Destroyer 7/09/06-21/06/16 and Katie Crazykatiebug 12/11/06 -21/08/21. My blog about grief The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not get over the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to. ― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xan Posted November 29, 2013 Author Share Posted November 29, 2013 Thank you all for sharing with me. Hugs to you all! Quote My Inspirations: Grey Pogo, borzoi Katie, Meep the cat, AND MY BELOVED DH!!!Missing Rowdy, Coco, Brilly, Happy and Wabi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest IrskasMom Posted November 29, 2013 Share Posted November 29, 2013 Just Beautiful . Hugs :grouphug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Thank you, Xan. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiveRoooooers Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 {Xan} Thank you so much. Quote Old Dogs are the Best Dogs. Thank you, campers. Current enrollees: Punkin. AnnIE Oooh M, Ebbie, Holly. Angels: Pal . Segugio. Sorella (TPGIT). LadyBug. Zeke-aroni. MiMi Sizzle Pants. Gracie. Seamie . (Foster)Sweet. Andy. PaddyALVIN!Mayhem. Bosco. Bruno. Dottie B. Trevor Double-Heart. Bea. Cletus, KLTO. Aiden 1-4. Upon reflection, our lives are often referenced in parts defined by the all-too-short lives of our dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busderpuddle Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 I usually don't come in to this forum because I just can't handle it. Today I did and the 1st thing I read was your beautiful poem. Thank you so much for sharing that with us. Bless you. Quote Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnsliz Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 Xan that was beautiful. I was just sitting here reading GT and really feeling the loss of Wink. Reading that poem made me realize that is exactly how she would want me to feel. Thank you Quote <p>Finn, Wink, Birdie, Snap and SmokeyJG Quicknfast 7/25/99-5/16/08, JG Quickwink 7/25/99-9/22/13, Iruska SweetDuv 7/19/03-11/9/16, Delbar 6/11/11 and Catahoula Smokey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZoomDoggy Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 Thank you for this. Quote ~Aimee, with Flower, Alan, Queenie, & Spodee Odee! And forever in my heart: Tipper, Sissy, Chancy, Marla, Dazzle, Alimony, and Boo. This list is too damned long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lynne893 Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Exactly how I'm feeling now, that anything besides the deepest grief is a betrayal. But time will help me feel differently. Thank you for your loving poem, and my condolences to you Xan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenners Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Thank you Jennie Quote Jennie with her hedgehogs and Guinea pigs, and remembering Luna, Queen of the Piggies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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