friend. No matter who, its always difficult to say goodbye and move on. I
know, it has been the case for me. I not only grieved when My Grandparents
passed away in 89 and then, in 91 but also some pets and guides I loved
Dearly.
First, there was Reilly, he was 15 and died just 3 months before I went to
the Seeing Eye to get my first Dog Guide Topper in July of 88 . Reilly was
a German Shepard Husky, very loyal and loveable. Even in his old age, when,
I was going blind , he was very aware and quite protective. he looked
after me and would only get up for me, so I would not trip and hurt myself.
He did not do this for the others in my family just me
Other pets, we had growing up also passed away, and though, I was not as
close to them, Finnigan, Fitzgerald and Zelda, I was still sad when they
were gone.
However, especially so, when my first two Guides went onto the Rainbow
Bridge. First Topper, a Blacklab,at age 15 and then Chanel, also a
Blacklab. She was 10 and passed away in November of 2005. I found myself,
grieving, the same way and in time I worked through it and back to my old
self. Its a natural process and death is inevitable. Life does go on.
Until you all meet again, both Human and our furry friends, Hang in there
and, in time you will be alright. Katie, your one person, I am thinking of
and this message is especially for you. Hope you all will enjoy reading
this. It touched me deeply. Take care.
. Get your tissues out. James has a wonderful and amazing story
today about one of his dogs. It's incredible how our connection with
our pets can manifest itself.
THE REUNION
by James Colasanti, Jr.
I was leaving on a 5:35am plane.
My fully packed airline bag lay open on the bed waiting for my
toiletries. Before I could include them and zip up the enclosure,
Bella, our year-old beagle snatched my bundled white socks. The
ensuing tug-of-war resulted in a hole large enough for my big toe to
poke through.
"Bella, give those back!" I yelled causing her to release her
booty. I threw them into my bag and zippered away.
Bella was the newest addition to our household -- an unsaleable
Beagle thrown on the street by a breeder due to a "crook" in her tail.
I was on my way to the North to my 40th high school reunion and
I knew Sam, my housemate, would have his hands full caring for the 17
dogs who shared our house. Not that the dogs misbehaved (except for
Bella) or were destructive (except for Bella) -- it was just that a
lot of our dogs were getting up there in age.
We have two 21 year-old dogs: Dagwood, a blonde long-haired
Dachshund-Terrier mix, and Dobie, a black and tan miniature
Doberman-Terrier mix. Both are small dogs and very blind and
partially deaf. But both still eat like troopers, with what few
teeth they have remaining.
To wake Dagwood I have to "stomp" on the floor. The vibrations
alert him that it is time to go out. Dobie is the more agile of the
two but only has one eye left and he can't really see out of it.
Joey, our black curly-coated Retriever, was taking antibiotics
for his teeth, and being 16 he was also having trouble eating.
Joseph, our black and tan 3-legged hound dog who is also 16, was
having trouble standing and going up and down the steps due to the
arthritis that had settled in his hip.
At the airport I told Sam, "Don't call me if something happens.
I will be too far away to do anything and I trust your judgement.
Just handle it."
I arrived at my friend's house up North and settled in for the
night. Exhausted from the various flights and from running through
the airports to make departures, I slept like a log.
I rolled over on the bed and there to my surprise was 3-legged Joseph.
"Joseph," I said. "What are you doing on the bed? You know we
are guests here and you can't be up on the furniture!" At home, the
dogs have the run of the house.
Then I said to him, "Joseph, give me 'the foot.'" Joseph would
then stand up on his two back legs and give me his left, and only,
front foot to shake. It was his only trick.
His paw brushing against my hand startled me from my deep sleep.
I realized Joseph's visit had only been a dream.
I called home that morning and asked Sam, "Is everything okay?"
After a very long pause, he said, "Yes."
I hung up to ready myself for the day ahead and said to my
friends, "I think something must have happened at home. There was
just too long of a gap with Sam's reply."
At the airport back home, while collecting my bag from the
luggage terminal, I asked Sam, "Who passed away?"
Sam replied, "Joseph."
"I know," I said. "He made me his last stop to say goodbye on
his way to heaven."
POSTSCRIPT: My friends up North sent me a card with this verse
by an unknown author:
So this is where we part, My Friend,
And you'll run on around the bend,
Gone from sight but not from mind,
New pleasures there you'll surely find.
I will go on, I'll find the strength,
Life measures quality, not its length.
One long embrace before you leave,
Share one last look, before I grieve.
There are others, that much is true,
But they be they and they aren't you.
And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought
Will remember well all you've taught.
Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,
The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.
And as you go to your final rest,
Take with you this -- I loved you best.
-- James Colasanti, Jr. <onegooddog1 at bellsouth.net>
___________________________________________
James is a lead clerk for Barnes & Noble Booksellers. He shares his
home with his housemate, Sam, and 16 dogs. His stories have appeared
in a variety of magazines and also in the archives at Petwarmers.com
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