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Schnauzerworld

A Living Love

A Living Love
~~by Martin Scot Kosins

If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will always remember . . .

The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your young new friend. You may have spent weeks deciding on a breed. You may have asked numerous opinions of many vets, or done long research in finding a breeder. Or, perhaps in a fleeting moment, you may have just chosen that silly looking mutt in a shelter — simply because something in its eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that chosen pet home, and watch it explore, and claim its special place in your hall or front room — and when you feel it brush against you for the first time — it instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the many years to come.

The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later. It will be a day like any other. Routine and unexceptional. But, for a surprising instant, you will look at your longtime friend and see age where you once saw youth. You will see slow deliberate steps where you once saw energy. And you will see sleep when you once saw activity. So you will begin to adjust your friend’s diet — and you may add a pill or two to her food. And you may feel a growing fear deep within yourself, which bodes of a coming emptiness. And you will feel this uneasy feeling, on and off, until the third day finally arrives.

And on this day — if your friend and whatever higher being you believe in have not decided for you, then you will be faced with making a decision of your own — on behalf of your lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest Spirit. But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you — you will feel as long as a single star in the dark night.

If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as they must. And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or comfort you.

But if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through the many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul — a bit smaller in size than your own — seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely days to come.

And at moments when you least expect anything out of the ordinary to happen, you may feel something brush against your leg — very very lightly.

And looking down at the place where your dear, perhaps dearest, friend used to lie — you will remember those three significant days. The memory will most likely to be painful, and leave an ache in your heart.

As time passes the ache will come and go as if it has a life of its own. You will both reject it, and it may confuse you. If you reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you. Either way, it will still be an ache.

But there will be, I assure you, a fourth day when — along with the memory of your pet — and piercing through the heaviness in your heart — there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will be as unique and strong as our relationship with each animal we have loved, and lost. This realization takes the form of a Living Love — like the heavenly scent of a rose that remains after the petals have wilted, this Love will remain and grow — and be there for us to remember. It is a love we have earned. It is the legacy our pets leave us when they go. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we live. It is a Love which is ours alone. And until we ourselves leave, perhaps to join our Beloved Pets — it is a Love we will always possess.

~~~
I'm still on the third day sweet girl! Missing you so much.

love mom

Thinking of you!

Hi Sweet Baby. I miss you so much. In a couple of weeks, I'm going to Florida where we used to live. It's hard to imagine being there without you and Annie. I sure wish we could've traveled back together, although you weren't in good enough health for some time to fly. I think you would've remembered everyone and every place we used to walk. Weren't our walks wonderful. We were surrounded by open space and parks. You always loved having people make a fuss over you. If I let you, you'd run out into the middle of a softball game just for the attention! There were so many people and other dogs we knew that we'd meet on our walks.Remember the tree where I'd put you high up on a branch and you could see so much. Both you and Annie loved the open spaces where you could be off leash and just run. I remember the time you dove into a pond after some ducks. Who knew you could swim so well! Then there was the lake we lived near where you loved to sniff the beach. You ended up in there once after peeing on a red ant hill and making them mad! That's the lake where you first went out in a canoe. There were so many beaches we visited. And then all the time we'd spend at Jake's house. They weren't allowed on the furniture but you & Annie always managed to get permission! Then there was visiting Kisi and you chasing her under the bed, poor kitty. We also hung out with Lexi who was our neighbor and Annie's best friend. So many pet friends.

So many good memories. Our happy times will always be a part of us.

Miss you baby girl!

love mom

Angel of the Week in Rainbow Bridge Angel Babies!

I'm being honored as angel of the week in RBAB!!! Wow, what a surprise and honor. They've started a thread to get to know me and Daisy sent me a new photo with wings. This is so overwhelming!!! I'm hoping that this will help mom remember a lot of the good times we had together.

The RBAB group is so kind and supportive. Annie has been admin in the group for several years, then Molly, then our kitties Socks & Tigger. Now ME!!! I hope to help carry the tradition of welcoming angels to the bridge, and being there for all the parents. Hopefully, this will help mom too.

Thank you RBAB (especially Putter & Daisy!).

Georgie