Tag Archives: Christmas

A New Year Without My Bailey Girl…

30 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by in border collies, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Florida, loving dogs, loving life, nature, rescue dogs

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My Dear Bailey,

Thank you for your sweet letter. I miss you too – more than you know. When I was a young girl, I used to keep a journal – much like you have! Upon New Year’s Eve, I would write a recap of all that happened that year and what I hoped for the New Year. You crossing over the Rainbow Bridge was the most significant and worst event of 2011, most definitely. I know you did it with ease and you now have a beautiful life in Hyfryd, but it cannot be as good there as it was with me- right? I know, I am being silly. Of course you loved being here with me, because you showed me everyday.

As I reflect on entering 2012, I only think of it as being the first year in more than 3 years, that you will not be part of a specific year. You were with me most of 2011, and now, 2012 will be completely without the beautiful girl I walked with, rode in the car with, kissed, fed, loved, played with and pampered every step of the way and I can tell you that for me, 2012 might be a sort of empty year. Sure, I will have your tree to visit, but I cannot know how I will ever find another dog, boy or girl, who could be as great as you were with me. As you said, you set the bar high – you truly did.

Rodeo has been enjoying me walking him. I think he wonders where you are and Courage follows us too. You know I always loved those two dogs and I think they know I am missing you and want to spend some doggie time with me. Of course your little pal, Zoe loves coming into the house finding Safari and eating a bite of cheese – cheddar is her favorite. Angel likes to play too, but Zoe really loves the heck out of me. You know I love the big dogs, but Zoe gets a soft spot in my heart for such a little girl. At least I get doggie kisses from everyone. Did you tell them that I need them? I think you have because there have been a lot of doggie visits and Safari has no clue what to think. “That’s not my Bailey,” is what I think he is saying when his back arches up and his tail grow fluffy with excitement.

I am wondering if you will send me a sign. Will 2012 be the right time? What do you think? Paris first?  Maybe, but I hate being away from Safari too. The trip was great, but I am always thinking of Safari and getting updates from Paul because I miss him and want to know he is okay. I am going to leave it up to you my sweetie. Yes, 2012 will be an odd year, I have a feeling because it is one that is starting without you in it. Yet, I am grateful – very grateful for all the many hundreds of days we had together. I know – QUALITY is better than Quantity. I keep trying to tell myself that and then I simply cry. I miss your love, and your astounding love, beauty and grace.  I feel you with me everyday. I thank you for the Rainbow in Aruba. I knew you were there and always will be.

Write me back before the new year rings in…

With love always,

your mommy

Our Secret Christmas…

23 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by in border collies, dog/human relationships, dogs, loving dogs, loving life, nature, rescue dogs

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MOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I MISS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT YOU  SEE I WAS THERE with you the WHOLE TIME! I needed to alert you to my beautiful presence (haha) so I showed you the rainbow as soon as you hit Aruba! It’s amazing how you and I can communicate between the Rainbow Bridge and Earth, isn’t it?  No one in Hyfryd believes me when I tell them how we do it. Maybe none of them had a mommy as wonderful as you. Onwen said he had a pretty great dad but he does not sound as great as you, I have to say, although I am biased of course!

I am sending you this cute picture of myself in my Santa hat that you like. I am willing to BET that you put my santa hat under the tree. I heard you tell daddy this morning that it’s not the same without me there and I feel the same way…BUT I feel like we can have our very own secret Christmas/Hanukkah together Although I love how we “talk” I do miss your hands on my fur all the time. You gave me more loving than any dog anywhere on earth and while I still feel your presence and love every single second of everyday, I loved how we would cuddle and that is what I miss and I know you do too. I feel it. Who else but would carry a dog treat and some my hair from my brush in her purse everyday, not to mention my pictures and your matching Bailey Dog tag!?

I can hardly believe that 3 days after Christmas will be 2 months since I last saw you. I see you crying as you write this–don’t! Or at least try not to…60 days is a long time for me too and I still have not even had a thought about finding you another doggie pal, because I know he or she has to be so special for you because I set the bar high! haha. I know you are reading this and saying, “yes you did Sweet Girl.”  You know Mommy, I know I was a needy person, but I knew you would meet those needs from all my medical needs to all the love and attention I constantly demanded from you. I don’t want you to have that same experience with another doggie. I want to send you an “easy dog,” let’s say. Someone loving like me, but not so needy.  I never felt guilty about needing you though. I wanted you to need me a lot because I never had anyone who loved me like you did in my whole life, so maybe I took advantage but I AM GLAD I DID and so WERE YOU!  I know how you think anyway. You and I are and soul mates – I just am your furry soul mate!

So let me tell you that things here in Hyfryd really look pretty for the holiday season. There are A LOT of pretty lights and Christmas trees all over the place. There are many dens with Hanukkah candles burning bright in the windows and tomorrow in our town, there will be singing in front the “town tree” in the center of our village. Cats and dogs will all join in and sing like the angels we are and I am sure it will be lovely. I was thinking about how you gave me the best gift, by getting me out of pain and having to pee every 5 minutes, not to mention how great my legs are again! I know you would rather me be there with no problems–and I would too but we are both realistic people. My gift to you was the Rainbow in Aruba and you looked out at the exact time it was there and did you notice how it was not there for long, but YOU were in the perfect place at the perfect time to capture it on camera? Do you think that happened by coincidence? Not a chance. I was not going to let you miss my present. But remember, I am with you always. We made a pact that we would be together always and  we always will be mommy – I promise you. Our gift is our connection and we need no holiday to celebrate that.

I Love you forever and ever,

Your Bailey

The 44th Day Rainbow…

20 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, Petfinder, rescue dogs, second chances, The Rainbow Bridge

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My Dearest Bailey,

You never disappoint me. You said you would be with me and of course, you were. After two days at sea, as we travelled South in the Caribbean Sea, there was the rainbow I hoping to see someday. It took only 44 days to appear after you crossed over that Bridge that, I am sure, leads to many rainbows which light the sky beautifully for all the wonderful furry children that people like me, your mommy, miss so dearly.

As I sat on our balcony I thought of you many times. I thought how much you would love to go on a big ship and see lots of people and be near water and beaches, pools and sun. This trip was not that sunny really, we actually had a lot of cloud cover, but it was still warm and partly sunny. Aside from seeing the 8th wonder of the world, the rainbow was the very best thing I could have seen because once again, I knew you truly were there with us. As sure as I know my own name, you are with me every step of the way and for those that do not believe in a another place, I feel sorry.  It’s like you said, we can’t be together physically, but we can be spiritually and you and I have always had a mental interaction that I do not feel with most people, so now it just presents itself in a stronger way.

I wear the Ruby heart necklace and earrings daddy had made in your honor and I love them, as I love you. Aruba was our first stop and it’s where your rainbow appeared.  Daddy bought me a beautiful ring made of Hawaiian Topaz there. It’s gorgeous like you. I wore it out of the store, so I never looked inside the little bag until we got back on the ship. Of course, you sent yet another sign that you were with me. The little ring box was red. How that made me smile. Saw several doggies on the trip in various counties, but they all looked like they had a hard life and I felt sorry for them. I take so much solace in the fact that I was able to give you everything you needed or wanted. Safari too. I cannot tell you how much he missed us – like never before. He was just squealing with delight upon our return. He slept in bed with us last night all cuddled up and he was so happy to have company again. That was his first time being alone without us and without you and I knew it was going to be difficult but he did okay. I had two different friends watch him so he would get extra attention. He misses you so much like I do.

What can I tell you my Sweet Girl? You are missed because you are so loved. We see things that remind us of you always and I know it will always be that way because you are special. I put up the Christmas tree and tonight we lit the Chanukkah candles. It’s that spiritual time of the year, but I do not need a holiday to bring on that feeling because you brought it into our world from the day we met, June 20, 2008 at 6:30pm. – exactly 3 years and six months ago today, when life would change for the better because of you Sweet Bailey. I cannot wait to hear of your holiday plans in Hyfryd. Write me tomorrow. I know you want to!

With All My Heart and Love,

Mommy xoxooxoxox

Positively, Bailey….

08 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by in border collies, dog/human relationships, dogs, Florida, loving dogs, loving life, nature, rescue dogs

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Hi Mommy!!!!!!!! I am sending you this picture…Remember this? This is such a great picture of me, if I do say so myself! Yeah, so I could not BELIEVE that guy in Fresh Market told you that he was going to have a kid and name it Bailey and then when you were watching TV last night – the victim in the show was named BAILEY! You have heard my name more times  than BEFORE I crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, haven’t you….? I cannot say I am not amused by all of this. There is NO WAY you could ever forget ME, of course, but no one else is letting you either and you don’t even know these people!

I am excited you are gong on the cruise. I cannot believe it’s your 21st anniversary! Congratulations, of course I knew I had special, LOVING parents! I know you have my hair from my brush in the little bag and a doggie treat in your purse…you are just so funny. You want to take me wherever you go, because you always did, which I loved of course. Don’t forget my picture now – oh and Safari’s too, of course! I want to hear all about it. Maybe you could take notes and then be all ready to write me a VERY LONG letter when you return. Sounds like a plan, right?

Well, we are gearing up here in Hyfryd for the holidays. I helped decorate the tree in town. It’s 20 feet tall and all the decorations pertain to animals; cats, dogs, birds, squirrels, you name it. There are some very funny ornaments too. There is this one that magically runs somehow. It has a bird feeder and a squirrel chases another squirrel around it. I love watching it but I cannot figure how it works – maybe with batteries? I took a picture of Safari that I had – yes, the one I am sending on here. I put it in a Best Brother Frame and hung it up on the tree.  Everyone here in Hyfryd does that for their animal companions that they miss. I have MANY pictures of you andme,  THAT is for sure. I am glad you are such a crazy camera person!

 I know you probably think that getting a dog home in time for the holiday is a good idea, but we agreed that you needed at least 6 months, so I AM NOT sending you a SIGN until that time, so just get over it. Sure, look all you want at all those doggie pictures but I have to find you the best doggie for you – you know that! And, I will, in good time. Mommy, you went through a lot of stress with my illness and this is your first vacation since last year and you and daddy really need it – so ENJOY it. I want you to, okay? I love you so very much, you know that and you know, the holidays are ALL ABOUT spirituality and you and I could not have a better connection that way. We are together in our hearts and minds and like you said, we always will be. 

That was very nice of you by the way to give $100 to Guiding Eyes for the Blind in my name for the holidays. I love you for that – well, I love for everything, but like your friend Cathy says, you have a big ol’ animal heart! I think that sounds so funny but it’s true. That money will go to good use to help train the dogs for people who need them to love and survive.  That is a beautiful gift Mommy. And, even though you probably have a hard time knowing this, you gave me the best gift by not making me suffer. I hated that bladder tumor and having to pee constantly and the second I crossed over the Rainbow Bridge I was healed and I feel perfect. That must be the trade-off I think. You have to leave the ones you love for a while, but you get perfect health in return. That is a good gift for sure. And of course, my dear mommy, we were the best gift that anyone ever gave to each other – along with you and daddy and Safari of course!  Have a good trip! Travel safe and write me when you return. I will be around you….

A ton of love and nose to nose kisses….

Your Bailey LoveT

Not a Merry Christmas….

05 Monday Dec 2011

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, Petfinder, rescue dogs, second chances, talking dogs, Thanksgiving, The Rainbow Bridge, vacation

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Dear Bailey,

My screen saver seems to be a never-ending kaleidoscope of your many faces, actions and antics. I see you not only in my heart everyday, but in pictures everywhere. With Christmas approaching, I am further reminded that you will be having your own party over the Rainbow Bridge with your friends and that I will be here without you by my side at the Christmas tree which you loved to dig your toy presents out from under. I am going to miss that.

We are leaving on our cruise this Friday. Daddy and I need a vacation after this difficult year, so I won’t be able to write until I get back, but I will have lots of adventures to write about afterwards.  Of course I am taking yours and Safari’s picture with as I always did. I feel bad for him too since you are not there to watch over him like you did so well, but I have two people doing so! I loved the way you protected him always.

You remember Rodeo right? I took him for a walk the other day. He was so happy to go but he was wondering where you were and so were Lola and Courage. EVERYONE around here misses you so much – you were everyone’s favorite girl, especially mine of course! I wish people would stop telling me to “get another dog.”  No one understands that my Bailey set VERY HIGH standards and I keep telling everyone that I am awaiting your decision about that at the right time and the way you have been communicating with me, I know that you will send me a clear sign.

It was nice of you to meet Gracie at the Bridge. I appreciate that. It was a bad day for me and I knew that you would! When daddy was watching football yesterday, I was talking about you and all of a sudden I see the back of the Dallas Cowboy named what else–BAILEY! I just happened to walk in at the very second he appeared on-screen, so I imagined that you were playing ball in Hyfryd. Were you? I wish I was playing ball with you. I miss that so much.

I really don’t want to bother with the tree since this is a longer trip and Christmas will be soon after we return, but I have to for Safari. He loves a tree and knocking down those ornaments. Everytime I go into Petsmart without you it’s just so weird. All the people there asked about you and miss you. Everything is a constant reminder that you are not with me and it’s just very difficult. I wonder if you miss me as much? I know we are still connected in many spiritual ways, but how I long to touch your beautiful, long fur and brush you after I bath you.  Your constant kisses are a lack that I cannot stop thinking about. You are just so adorable and your love is so unique.

Anyway, sorry I sound like this. I do not mean to. I just miss you. I will write after the trip. If you want to write before I leave, please do I LOVE to hear from you my Sweet Girl! I know you will….

Nose to Nose,  xoxoxoxooxoxox

mommy

A Merry 2nd Christmas!

26 Saturday Dec 2009

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It’s only our 2nd Christmas, but it’s funny how quickly a family pet can be adopted into your normal routine of life. Sometimes I feel like Bailey has been with me forever. After finding her through www.petfinder.com and then adopting her in June, 2008, it hardly seems like this can only be our second big holiday together! If it were not for me still trying to figure out her health issues (excessive panting, excessive hunger, allergies, etc) I feel like I have known her a long time.

It’s Christmas day. Well, now it’s almost 10-pm and I have spent the better part of the evening reading about  natural dogs foods so I can test out something new. I keep thinking that this ultra allergen prescription food I have her on has something to do with her seeming to be starving all the time and maybe it’s not so ultra-allergenic at all. Much like people doctors, nutrition is not taught in Veternarian Medical school so it is up to me and many others to do the research for our furry kids. I do not want to see her suffering from itchy skin all the time. I do not know why they don’t teach medical students of all kids about nutrition – makes perfect sense that they should! We are what we eat, after all! What happened to the body is a temple? That SHOULD be taught!

Bailey continues to be such a joy, but also such a challenge with her ‘”special needs.” I know my efforts are appreciated though. Since I never had kids, the animal companions that have graced my life have taken that space in my life and I have welcomed it generously. You have to be their guide and all they ask is for love in return – that seems like a great deal to me.

I was recently reading a www.petfinder.com story about a lady who adopted a Sheltie mix which had only two years. When I read that I had thought about when I agreed to bring Bailey into our life. She was a 7 yr-old dog who had been a shelter-drop-off and in Foster care there for an entire year. No One wants an older dog. Everyone wants a puppy. You come into the dogs life when they have the most challenges and then those become yours as well. I knew that going in and that was part of the reason I wanted an older dog. They need the second chance. Today I read an article in my local paper about someone’s mantra – it was something like, recognize a need and meet a need. I liked that and that too, reminded me of Bailey. She needed me and I guess I needed her too. She teaches me things every day. You need patience to deal with an older dog who is stubborn and set in her ways. But, with a lot of love, anything is possible and while you never know how long you might have together, you have each day and the opportunity to make the best of each of them and hopefully you can celebrate many more Christmases toegther.