Tag Archives: cancer in dogs

5 Years Ago and Now Double 5’s

19 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in Birthdays, books, border collies, coincidence, dog kisses, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, Journaling, letters, rememberence, rescue dogs, second chances, The Rainbow Bridge

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

744

Dear Bailey,

I love this picture of us. I think it was in the Winter of 2009. This was the picture I used for the back our book, Letters To Each Other and I love it so much. We both have great smiles in this picture.

When I signed on here tonight I had a congrats from WordPress. It said I started this blog with you five years ago. How time flies. Five years ago you were so full of life in this picture and who knew you would be taken from me in only a few short years after finding my sweet senior girl.

I guess it is all about the number five this year huh? Tomorrow is my birthday so of course I expect to hear from you in some way shape or form, literally! Double 5’s. 55. Hard to know where the time goes. What I do know is that I love the time I spent writing the book with you and am grateful for anyone who has been helped by it. Most of all I am happy about the time I spend thinking about you and writing to you and hearing from you. Joy would have loved you so much and we all miss you so very much. You already know that.

I saw a rainbow the other day. It had not even rained, so I know it was just you saying hello and showing your beautiful colors from the bridge – the colors of Hyfryd – so pretty. I just wanted to say I love you Bailey. Another year without you but another year to live within me.

A Tree Grown With Love…

23 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by in animal families, border collies, dog kisses, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, Fall, Journaling, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, rememberence, rescue dogs, second chances, spirituality, talking dogs, The Rainbow Bridge, trees

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

Baileys tree fall 2013Bailey looking so gorgeous

Dearest Bailey,

Your tree in Buhl Park looks so beautiful this third week of October, 2013. It has started to blush more frequently with its beautiful Red Maple leaves. Red of course was your color, although you always looked brilliant and all colors became you.

I think of you everyday of course, but the 28th is the second anniversary of you leaving us for over the Rainbow Bridge and not a day goes by that you are not with me. You know that and I just had to tell you. Joy reminds me SO much of you except you had no fear of people like she still does of some. I am sure she knows how to sniff out the ones I do not like anyway. She is such a little lover girl and is very happy with her life. Like you, she has the great life that you left behind, but I know you are having lots of fun with Tarzan, Cheetah, Freedom, Anwen and all your pals and students that love you so much in Hyfryd.

I meant to ask you something. Has Molly found you all? I wished a special thought that she would find her way to your neighborhood. I know if she did you have welcomed her to the pack. John and Tracy miss her and so  do I – somehow it is not the same without her barking next door when she sees us pull into our driveway. I always liked that she said hello. Please let me know about her okay?

Our book, Letters To Each Other, is selling well. If anyone who reads this blog is interested they can find it here: http://tinyurl.com/n4jzkgw

 It makes me very proud that we finished the book, but it really is a continuing story and it will never end, really. Love is infinite and so are you. On my mind, in my heart and in my soul. I love you Sweet Bailey. Write me soon.
Love and Kisses,
your mommy

 

Book Signings and a Bug On Your Face

15 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

letters from bailey cover

Mommy! I know…I can just hear the yelling now! “Why have you not written to me?” I am SOOOOOO sorry but I have been sooooo busy doing book signings here in Hyfryd! You are going to have to send me more books because I have become quite in demand. Before I go on, remember when you were at our tree the other day and you kept trying to swat at a bug by your face? Yes, it was me, kissing you! I know you thought of it after it kept happening over and over! I thought it was SO funny!

Anyway, I really am sorry for not writing. I know I am not keeping up with my letters but classes start in two weeks and I have had a lot to prepare. I am teaching two new classes. “Love Communication,” which will help the animals figure out ways to keep communication alive after they come over the Rainbow Bridge. I must admit, that this class is not for just anybody. You really have to be a certain kind of person to want to take this class. The other class is “Healing 101.” I know this sounds like some of the other classes I teach, but I am structuring this one differently. This one will focus on the immediate needs after one loses their physical family I think this is really important. Although we know we will be reunited one day, dealing with how to make that time count is important. As you and I like to say, Border Collies are working dogs and we need to help! SO those are the new classes.

The book has only increased the number of people who want to take my classes. Anwen is helping teach and now Barkley is as well. I have not quite convinced Tarzan, Cheetah or Freedom yet, although they help do things within the school, administratively. Cheetah says she is thinking about it. She has missed you very much; I know she was very close to your spirit – I can feel that about her. Tarzan too misses you a great deal. He was truly your boy.

I really have not felt as though I have been neglecting you, I just have been so crazy since our book came out. I have to say to you that I am very thankful for all the hard work you put into it and I know you are working hard to get our love story/message out there so we can help others. Don’t worry about having to do it quickly just take your time. It’s hard to do all that and your job as well. It’s like a second job – see that is how I feel but I am certainly not complaining!

Well, I am very tired and like you tell Joy, I have “tired eyes,” so I am going to sleep now. I love you so very much and I am very proud of our book. Write me back soon. I know you will.

With all my love and soul,

Your Bailey Girl xoxoxoxox

2013, Our Letters Are Late!

06 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog adoption., dog kisses, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, doggy kisses, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, Journaling, joy, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, rememberence, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, spirituality, The Rainbow Bridge, Working Dogs

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bailey sweetness

Dear Bailey,

WOW! We have never been so late in writing back. It’s a new year and it is already February 6th! I think we are both guilty, but I have a great excuse which will make you very happy.

I am almost – ALMOST – done editing the book. We are on our way, or shall I say, you are on the way to being the famous doggie diva you have always wanted to be. The person we are working with is Sara Ann. She is very nie and isn’t it funny her name is Sara, even spelled the way I like? Remember I told you that it was going to be a lot of work and as it turns out it really is! The key has been finding blocks of time for editing and after I get all the pages done I have to do the painstaking task of choosing pictures to go into your book. The fact that you are so beautiful does not help matters, but I have to limit the number we can use.

The other thing I had to do was change the theme of this blog and I had taken just about forever to make a decision until I found this one, which oddly is called Chateau. That seems fitting for a Princess like you. I felt the next series of letters should look different on here at least.

So to say things have been crazy busy is an understatement and I am sure that your classes are well under way since you said you were going back to school on the 7th of January and here we are a month late!

I wanted to bring you the exciting news about the book. I am working as fast as I can! Write me back and let me know how the new year started for you my sweet girl. I feel like there have not been enough signs lately, except Sara’s name- which I truly knew was  your doing and I love you for it. The title is Letters To Each Other.

We took Joy on the boat for the first time and I took a picture just like the one I have of you. In the next letters I will send them side by side. You will like it. I miss you sweet girl. Write me tomorrow, please. I long to hear from you.

Always with love….me

100 Letters to Each Other – Book One

31 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog adoption., dog kisses, dog/human relationships, doggy kisses, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, Doing Your Best, Journaling, joy, kisses, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, New Year's Eve, rememberence, second chances, Senior Dogs, spirituality, talking dogs, teaching, The Rainbow Bridge, the wind, Working Dogs

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bailey and me on the day she was adopted

Dear Mom,

I get to go first because the book is really all about me, right? Ha! This is our 100th letter, can you believe it? I can hardly imagine all this time has passed, 429 days since we last saw each other to be exact. Where does the time go? If you would have told me that I would have gone from being your simple, walk-in-the-park-meet-people-Bailey Girl, to a very busy teacher who helps dogs, cats and other animals deal with their new life over the Rainbow Bridge, I would have told you that you were crazy! You and I were always busy riding around in the car or going into the stores in Florida together (I loved that!) and I sat by you while you wrote; now I have to write all these things for classes that I never dreamed of teaching. It’s funny how things work out sometimes.

I am so happy you had this idea to write to each other. Of course this was bound to happen because we are so close it truly is amazing. The fact that you always receive my signs and rainbows and sense the moments in the breeze when I am near is astounding to me and I want others who are so close on earth to know that when they are separated by one’s passing, they can still be together. It is beautiful here in Hyfryd, but our life was beautiful together on earth as well. I am happy I found you Joy and that she is a good dog that follows in my paw steps, because she did have big paws to fill! haha!

I go back to work on the 7th and I assume by then you will be arranging for the book to be published, RIGHT? You had better be because everyone here wants copies and I promised to bring it to class. I am sure you will be able to arrange for a special delivery to get me some, since I am its star character! I know this will take a little bit of time, but not oo much! Get busy! I know you will, you are as excited as I am, of that I am sure.

So there is only 90 more minutes until 2013 and that means our book will be published and the second one commences! I could not have anything more exciting to look forward to. Please kiss Papa, Safari and Joy for me. I send you my love and doggy kisses via the wind and I know you do the same. Okay your turn. Write me back before midnight. The year is to be a great one. I love you more than anything.

xoxo00, Your Sweet Bailey Girl

Dear Bailey,

Happy New Year my sweet girl. I always seem to have a story for you. I was cleaning out the desk drawer the other day when I cam across a tiny sim card, which I guess is from old, not-smart phone. I put it into the thingy that connects to the computer so I could see what was on there and those two sepia tone pictures of you and two videos, one of you and one of Safari were on it. The two pictures were from the first week you were adopted. I can see one is at Dr. Crago’s office when I brought you in to be checked out after adopting the sweetest senior girl on earth. You look emaciated in those early pictures so it’s amazing what you wound up looking like later after you got good food, love and care from us –  that is why I put those next to each other for you and all to see. I always saw your gorgeous face, even when you were so ridiculously underweight and in need of  a little medical care.

It was your big brown eyes,  and the kiss you gave me at the shelter. That one true  kiss said, “Take me with you, please. I have been here for a whole year and even though I am the office dog I hate sleeping here with other barking dogs. I want a soft place to sleep and people to love me.” What did it take me? Five minutes to tell them, I wanted to take you home? Maybe less. We belonged together that is for sure. I had no doubt in my mind just as I had no doubt that when you left me that we would continue to love each other and communicate forever and share our story with others. I want people to know they too can be connected no matter where they are physically. Love, after all, is a state of mind and heart.

Yes, yes I will begin to put the wheels in motion to get the book published as soon as possible. We are ready for book 2 now. I cannot believe so much time has passed but not a day goes by when you are not spoke of. I got the stats on how many people read this blog this year and I am dumbfounded. People from all over the world read our letters, so I am hopeful that more people would receive our message if it was in book form. If we help only 1 person that would be amazing, right? I want to hear how your first day of classes goes in this new year, so write me after that, okay and I will give you a report on the state of the book which needs a lot of editing.

I miss you everyday my sweet girl; our story will continue.. I am sending New year’s love to  You,  Onwen, Tarzan, Cheetah, Freedom, Lucky and everyone else. You are my lovely inspiration and it all started with a true kiss between us.

Here is to the next 100 letters…… My Forever Love,

me…..xoxoxoox

I Should Have Written Sooner…

16 Sunday Dec 2012

Posted by in border collies, cancer in dogs, Christmas, dog adoption., dog/human relationships, dogs, Journaling, joy, letters, loving dogs, loving life, rememberence, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, spirituality, talking dogs, teaching, The Holidays, The Rainbow Bridge, Working Dogs

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

744I am SO SORRY I should have written sooner! I was so busy finishing all the classes before the break, so I am sending you this adorable picture of me and you with hopes that you will forgive me. Oh yeah, I’m Bailey, you ALWAYS forgave anything I did! hahaha – Although let’s face it, I never was really bad ever! I know yua re saying, “yes that is true,” right now!

Sometimes around the holidays all the critters here in Hyfryd really have a hard time with missing their people, but Onwen and I try to teach them that the “spirit” of the holidays are really always there – just like you and I know each other is just a whisper away.

That is what I teach the people here. I try to explain that everyone will be reunited with their people in the future – some sooner than later and vice versa. I want people on both side of the Rainbow Bridge to be grateful for what they have now; that is what is most important. So many people take it all for granted. You and I never will.

I am so happy that you adopted Joy. It’s funny she has the perfect name for this season, huh? I can see she makes you laugh like me. We are very similar, that I see. I was just more outgoing than her. Remember how you thought I was so friendly that I would just go with anyone? I never would have, you know. Joy, on the other paw, would bark at them and protect you to the nth degree! I like that quality in her, actually. I can see how much progress she has made already in her socialization. You just keep taking her places and she will do fine. She is QUITE the squirrel chaser like I was, huh? Very funny!

I do have to say that I am ready and happy for the holiday break from school. I don’t resume classes until January 7th. I never thought I would be THIS busy over the Rainbow Bridge, but hey, what’s a Border Collie to do? We are working dogs and I love helping people. I always think about that movie, It’s a Wonderful Life that we watched each Christmas. If you had not adopted me, I might never have been a teacher. I certainly would not have had the great experiences in my senior years that you guys gave me. It was so great of you to adopt a senior dog, really, cause nobody wants the older dogs and cats. Of course I should not say that – there are some, but for the MOST part people want the young ones. We certainly chose each other and on this second Christmas without you, papa and safari, I am thinking about that. I am thinking how grateful I am to have had a wonderful three years with you because the first part of my life was not good and I block it all out. You truly loved me with all your soul and heart and I feel that everyday, even today over the bridge.

Guess what? We only have three more stories before we go into a book! I am SOOOO excited!!! I cannot wait. We ARE going to do a second one too, right? Yes, I figured as much. That is great because there is so much to say and so many people to help understand how to deal with this new part of life! Oh and I wanted to tell you that yes, Tarzan, Cheetah, Freedom, Lucky and a bunch more others will be here with me, Onwen and Barkley. Barkley has been so great at school. I have given him a new class to teach come January. He will be teaching a class of very young folk who crossed way too early due to accidents, just like his. He is such a wonderful guy I just love his enthusiasm.

Write me soon, okay? I promise to write quicker! We have to move on to the 100th blog!!! – I love you and will talk to you before Christmas.

All my love, Bailey Girl….

Holiday Thoughts…..

03 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by in adopting a new dog, animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, Christmas, coincidence, dog adoption., dog/human relationships, Journaling, joy, loving dogs, missing your dog, Petfinder, rainbow bridge, rememberence, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, spirituality, talking dogs, The Holidays, The Rainbow Bridge, Working Dogs, www.petfinder.com

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bailey's Santa Look!Dearest Bailey,

Last year we did not celebrate the holidays. I tried for Safari’s sake, but your crossing over the Rainbow Bridge took a lot out of me. Sometimes I still call Joy, “Bailey.” She hears me talk about you all the time. I know Safari gets what I am saying, but I often think that Joy is wondering, “Who is the Bailey I keep hearing about? I know we walk by her tree up North at the park!”

Joy had big paws to fill upon her adoption, but the funny thing is, you did such a great job in helping me find her on www.petfinder.com  she is perfect. I will show you a picture of her in the Santa hat at the end of this note. I cannot help but think how playful the two of you would have been together. True, Joy is a young one and you were my senior girl, but you both have equally sweet dispositions. Look at your face in this picture. It is so precious you should hang it in your den when you get my letter and show Onwen and all your friends.

I hope that you will write to be when you get your Christmas break next week. I think you said you would be off school for a long break – and I am sure much-deserved. Here is the thing though, we only have a few more letters before it’s time to get the blogs together for the book! I know you are so excited and so am I. It’s going to be lots of work but you and I do not mind that, do we?

I hope you will put up a tree and decorate it with some cute stuff. I put one of your pictures with Santa out in the living room – so cute. Miss Joy would NEVER pose with Santa! I think that she would bark at him! haha! I might try it next year though! I started going to the dog park again. The first day was hard since you loved to go there and Joy REALLY loves to go – we were there today and people talk about how they miss you but they love Joy. It’s funny I was not sure that she would like it there and I could not have been more off-base. She loves it and I am very happy about that. She plays so well with the other dogs and they all love her. She is very gentle just like you.

The holidays are bittersweet for me. It’s only our second Christmas without you but I am focused on the book and getting that done and I am so thankful that we have worked on this project together and we will continue and make a whole series of books with the hope of helping others come to terms with the loss of their animal companions. Work to do!

Here is a picture of Joy with her Santa Hat for your den: She was not too thrilled with having anything on her head but I did it while she was sort of sleepy and would not mind as much! haha! Oh how I love you both.

Write to me soon my sweet Bailey girl. Let me know how you and your friends  are celebrating the holiday. I hope that you will also be with Onwen, Tarzan, Cheetah, Freedom and Lucky and whomever else you love.

With all my love always and forever……

IMG_1881IMG_1877  PS – Safari wanted me to send you his picture as well. He was half alseep – I will work on new ones!

Giving Thanks….

19 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog adoption., dog/human relationships, dogs, loving dogs, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, spirituality, Thanksgiving, The Rainbow Bridge, Uncategorized, Working Dogs

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mommy! I am so sorry this is the longest it has ever taken me to write you back and you HAVE to forgive me! Of course, being your Bailey girl, you will! If you remember,  I told you in my last letter, that we were SO busy with the new classes and the influx of new students that time just seems to slip away but now I am on Thanksgiving break and have 10 days off. After that I will teach until 2 days before Christmas and then I don’t go back until after the new year whew! It has been crazy and again, I am sorry and I have missed you.

I am sending you this picture because I know it is one of your top 3 favorites and it reminded me of Thanksgiving. Why? You must wonder since it was not taken on Thanksgiving. It makes me recall how grateful I am for all of the wonderful experiences you and papa shared with me, I know we went ont he boat several times and I think you thought I did not like it, but i loved it. I was just always worried about peeing in the boat even though you said I could! The stupid bladder cancer always made me feel less in control than I wanted to be. I am SO glad that when you cross over the Rainbow Bridge you have no health problems! It is so great to just be a regular doggy again and pee when you simply have to, not constantly!

Interestingly, that brings me to my next bit of information. I am starting another new class! This one is for people who pass before their time, lets say – because of an illness – like me! It seems that there is a lot of resentment that some people have here that they have not done all they could have or they feel they got ripped off of being loved more than they were. These people really need this special class because they hold a lot of sadness still in their hearts. I will help them learn how to turn that around and still feel close to their families, but give them learning tools to move on and do good things here in Hyfryd.

So all of this recalls my thankfulness. I know, I know, you are thankful for me too – THAT goes without saying! haha! I am watching you all the time. Joy is interesting. She is soooo much like me – a little princess – she actually listens to you much better than I did – she is not as stubborn as me, it seems, but you know us Border Collies, at heart we are all stubborn and want our way. However, we give back 3000 percent and more with our love, right? Right!

So I just wanted to say Thank you for all of your love and all of your continued love and support. I know you miss me as much as I miss you. I feel it as much as you do. If you are wondering if I am cooking Thanksgiving for Onwen and Company, I am, of course and Tarzan, Cheetah and Freedom and Lucky will all be here, a long with a slew of others. I am starting to cook on Wednesday there is so much to do and you know HOW MUCH I love TURKEY!

Well, I will wait for a letter from you now. I am glad that you made it down to Florida for the winter and Joy was good on the trip. I knew she would be. She is loving the old neighborhood, I am sure. Tell Angel and Zoe-Zoe I say hi. I love you mommy and thank you for the best part of my whole life – the part with you, papa and Safari. Kiss them for me please. As for you, my kisses are all around you.

Forever your Sweet Girl,

Bailey

The Changing Leaves…Green and holding

08 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog adoption., dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, Doing Your Best, Journaling, joy, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, parks, rainbow bridge, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, spirituality, talking dogs, teaching, The Rainbow Bridge, trees, Uncategorized, Working Dogs

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dear Mommy,

Did you see that I am holding on to my green leaves? Only a couple of red tips so far, that is all you can see. October is not my favorite month and I know it is definitely not yours either. I don’t really want to focus on how I left you this month because  “the sad-day date” is still far off yet, but a year has sure travelled fast hasn’t t? I know you feel it has as well.

I did NOT want to leave you, but my body did not want to perform anymore I guess and the best way to continue my love, kindness and good work was to wind up here in Hyfryd, where I am doing great in all those departments. Since teaching the classes on life after the Rainbow Bridge, I too have realized so much about life on earth versus life on Hyfryd. I love that my body feels so good all the time here. I often think, is that worth not waking up next to our bed anymore? I try to make sense of those type of thoughts but realize that life is just life, filled with happiness, sadness, rewards and expectations, but what is most important is love and knowledge. There is nothing more important than love and as you know, there is nothing so pure and simple as the love between a man/woman and their animal companion. Nothing.

I love that you planted our tree in my honor and I love that you visit it constantly. I know the visits to the tree at the park are more meaningful than my special place in the yard.  You know why, don’t you? Of course it is because you and I loved walking in that park together, just as you do with Joy now. The time we spent there – each moment was perfect (except for the couple of times you fell! That was funny sorry!) and happy. My special place is of course right outside the door to our sweet home, but Buhl Park, while it is everyone’s home, can be your home in the minutes and hours when you walk there.

So for now I am holding onto my green leaves. Even though my color is red, I am not shedding them for winter quite yet. I am staying as green for now just for you, with just that tinch of red. Like the tree there, I have grown here in Hyfryd. You taught me how to be grateful and mostly –  loved unconditionally. I try to pass on all those qualities to my students. They tell me I am doing a good job because they are learning how to live here without their families and when you first arrive it is a difficult adjustment, but if you can find ways to contribute then it becomes acceptable, sort of. I will never not miss you and I know, by watching you every single day, that you  feel the same.

It was funny in Chicago the other day when your cousin asked you about how you came to love dogs when you had cats your whole life (and still do, of course!) and you mentioned April’s influence and Marla, your former vet. If I never did, then I have to thank April for that because if it was her love of us dogs that originally rubbed off on you then good for her because she did a great job of making you crazy about us! Ha! Of course I know you would be anyway because, as Marla always said, it’s a different relationship. It is. Especially me and you.  One of extreme kindness, caring and endless love.

Your Sweet Bailey, Forever and Ever…..Write me soon! I love you,

Scrapbooks of You…

23 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in adopting a new dog, animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog adoption., dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, Journaling, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, parks, rainbow bridge, rescue dogs, second chances, The Rainbow Bridge, Uncategorized, Working Dogs

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My Dearest Bailey,

I was looking at a big scrapbook I made for you and began crying the other day. This picture takes up one whole page. Do you remember it? It was taken by Photographer Rich Cancio at the Angels for Animals Doggy Days Reunion in 2009 when you were healthy and well, about one year after we adopted you from there.

I am not a huge fan of “portraits,” but I love this one because I look so happy holding you and you look so regal like you always did. Rich had donated his servces that day, which made me immediately like him. I love how you won’t look at the camera but posed like a pretty girl…. You were my photographic muse and I have at least a 1000 pictures of you if I have one! I know your den in Hyfryd is covered in pictures too.

Recently, Rich contacted me on Facebook about a benefit dance he was involved with to help with the needs of breast cancer patients, something that his wife, unfortunately had to deal with. So I was thinking about cancer and how I felt when they told me about your bladder. No one wants to hear that and we all deal with news like that differently.  We are always happy to support causes we believe in, so we bought tickets immediately. October is breast cancer awareness month. Pink things are everywhere – you know that is my color!

I remember when Cheetah was near the end of her wonderfully long life, I used to say she was my soul, Tarzan, my heart and Freedom my spirit. I always thought you were a lot like Cheetah because you loved everyone and you had a true love of life. I can understand why you chose Joy for us. She embodies all those characteristics that I love and don’t you find it so ironic that her name was Joy? I mean, you really went all out to make sure that we got our Joy back – literally and we are so grateful to you for that.

I miss you each and every day but you are always there in so many things that happen. Your Red Maple has grown so large in just a year and as the Fall slowly sets in, the tips of the leaves have recently started to turn red – your color!

But you knew that already. You are red and I am pink and pink is clearly a derivative of red. Of course that makes so much sense. We are of each other, mind and spirit -no matter where we are physically we will never be without each other. We love you, Bailey.

Write me Soon….xoxooxox, mommy