Dogster

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I am sixteen going on seventeen...

We're doing fine

Hi Dogster friends. Wow, its been a long time. 2 years since Simon died. Jim, Judd and I are doing great. We've created a wonderful life for ourselves and we are showering Judd with attention and love. John Denver music is forever etched in my mind as it reminds me of the summer of 2009; the summer I went through this terrible experience when Simon was dying.
We have gone to Ft Funston twice now on Aug 28th, in 2010 and 2011. We plan to do it every year and set a rose by the cliffs to celebrate Simon's life.
He will be forever in my heart. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him. I don't think I will ever be the same. I think a part of you dies when you lose a dear friend such as him.
Anyway, from time to time, I'll write in here and let y'all know how we are and we are fine!

Life Goes On...

Hi all,
Wow, its been almost three months since I wrote in Simon's diary, but here we are.
I just wrote in Geoff's (Abby's dad) diary and it made me think to do this.

I think about Simon every day. I miss him tremendously. We love Judd, our new baby. He is seven months old now. I never want to take him for granted as, in retrospect, I feel I sometimes took Simon for granted. I even feel some guilt in getting Judd like I've betrayed Simon. I know that's silly...

We've been doing well. We love Judd to death. He is the cutest, most loving dog. I even show him Simon's urn and tell him this is your uncle Simon; we loved him very much. I know it sounds crazy, but I think Judd understands this. I had a dream about Simon a few weeks ago. Many people tell me this happens and I'm so glad it finally did. He looked very regal, a glow about him. He looked like Aslan from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, if anyone has seen it. Like a lion. He looked beautiful.

Was this just a dream or a visit from my boy?

The Odyssey Ends

Hi all,
Well, this is the end of a long journey for me. I'm in Asheville visiting one of my oldest and dearest friends. We drove up to the Smokey Mountains today. We went to a place where we scattered the ashes of a close friend about five years ago. It was freezing cold. We got a beautful tree, a shovel and water.

I got Simon in North Carolina back in 1993. I saw it only befitting to honor and memorialize him where he came from. So, we planted a tree today in his honor. The tree is beside a stream, amongst some trees in a beautful spot. The painstaking task of digging a hole took FOREVER, but with some gusto we got it done.
My friend Shannon said a heartfelt blessing and we dedicated the tree to him, his life and my love for him. I hope it will grow. We asked my friend who passed to take care of him for me.

This ends my odyssey (which I thought was such a befitting word to describe what I have done this past week) Odyssey means a spiritual journey for resolution. We revisited all our old places that we used to live, where we used to go for walks, where it all started. To here, where it ends. I hoped this would give me some closure to his passing. I think it has. I hope to come here again in the future and see his tree grow and remember how much he meant to me.

Here's to you, old friend.
Your Dad, Clive