Tag Archives: dog communication

The Two Sides of Thankfulness…

21 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Florida, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, New Year's Eve, parks, Petfinder, rescue dogs, second chances, talking dogs, Thanksgiving

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My Sweet Girl,

Oh, how I miss you. With Thanksgiving coming up I am conjuring up images of you and the pleasure you derived from Turkey. Of course you ate your turkey everyday, but you always knew it was my favorite holiday and for the first time in many years, and perhaps in protest, I am not making my favorite dinner this year.  Instead we having it with friends at their club. Perhaps it was fortuitous that Ronna asked us this year to join them; I am not feeling in the holiday spirit by any means. It just does not seem like the holiday season without you and I am thinking of skipping the tree as well because without you here to search under it for a new ball, bone or toy, what fun would it be?

I know I should go through it all for Safari, he loves the Christmas tree and knocking off the ornaments, so maybe I will, but I am not feeling the seasonal glow, let’s say. Then there is New Year’s Eve and I will be thinking about how I really hate 2011 because of losing you and then it will be 2012 – a new year without you in it. I am not sure this will ever get any easier for me, Bailey. We were just so joined at the hip and so perfect for each other – I cannot imagine another doggie bearing your greatness. My friend Jeff told me not to think of it that way and I know he is right. he said, just like people, doggies are all different and no two will ever be the same. I understand that logically, but mentally I am not there. He just went through it with Marlowe and now he has Harper and they are very different and he loves her very much, but I still think he has an extra soft spot for Marlowe that will always be there. I never even met Marlowe and I can just feel it from talking to him about it. I think Marlowe was much like you – tenacious and feisty, smart and beautiful and attached at the hip.

So the question is to give thanks or not? I cannot give thanks for you getting cancer. I cannot thank God or whomever is in charge of taking you from me at your young, senior age of only 10. I guess I can think of some things to be thankful for. I am thankful that you still ate like a horse to the very end! I am thankful you NEVER looked sick- EVER! You are the most beautiful dog on or above the planet.  I am thankful that I got more than a year of fun with you after your diagnosis. I am thankful for your Red Maple Tree we have dedicated to you in Buhl Park. I am thankful for the thousands of miles we logged on foot and by car. I am thankful for all the doggie friends we made and the people that we met along the way. I am thankful for all the fun we had going shopping together at our many stores in Coconut Point. Most of all I am thankful that we found each other through Petfinder, kissed each other literally thousands of times and shared a love that most people never feel as strongly. We were lucky for sure, just not for long enough, but as you said, Bailey, we had a lot of quality time together and that is more important that quantity.

I still cannot help but miss you so don’t ask me to. I do love hearing about all of your adventures and I am VERY thankful for your letters and I am thankful you are having a blast in Hyfryd and have met good dog friends and that you are taking care of little Barkley – who I miss as well as Bingo. So keep those letters coming my sweet girl. Know that you are are very much missed in so many ways, but I carry you with me in the Ruby heart necklace and earrings Russell had made for me in honor of you. Your leash stays with us always in the car so you travel with us in spirit and we celebrate you everyday in our thoughts, pictures, magnets on the car – you name it – we are still attached maybe not within physical reach, but in the most spiritual way, in our hearts and especially mine.

Thankful for your love always – Mommy

Miss You Too…

13 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Florida, loving dogs, loving life, nature, parks, rescue dogs, second chances, talking dogs

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Mommy! I miss you too! I know you were crying when you were alone in the car today – I always see you – just know that. Well, the first two weeks here in Hyfryd have been a ton of fun. I am always busy – and as you know us Border Collies LOVE to be busy; especially me! BUT, I have to say that during your drive to FL I was thinking how I wish I could have been with you. It kind of all hit me that I will have to settle for these letters. I too wish you could reach out and kiss me and hug me and stroke my fur like you always did so sweetly. I keep thinking that our 3 years, 4 months and 8 days were the best years of my life EVER and TRULY. As I told you I do not even remember what my life was like before the year I spent in the shelter. I think I have blocked it out of my head. Whoever had me first were jerks because who would want to give me up to a shelter? YOU Never would have even when I did not listen as well as I should have.

When I look back at those pictures you took when I first came to live with you, I was so scrawny and I had nolong  hair cause they shaved me stupidly! You know I HATED having any hair cut! You took such good care of me – you really did. I always felt that there was nothing you would not do for me. I knew that and as a senior dog when we met, that was so important to me – you must know that.  Our senior years are never as easy as our youthful ones, so having someone love you so much and take such great care is truly such a gift you gave me. I know you loved me (and STILL DO I MAY ADD!) more than anything and I felt the same from minute I kissed you at the shelter. I kissed you because I knew I was supposed to be with you. I remember how fast you made your decision and the folks at the shelter said, “you’re really taking her tonight?” You said, “Yes I am!”  It’s funny, I entered your life on a Friday and I left our life together on a Friday – We came full circle at least, even though it would have never been enough time, Mommy. You put more love and energy into that time then ANY doggie could have ever asked for, and for that I am so very grateful and proud to call you mine. I will always be with you like you said. I know everyone is telling you to get another dog to make you feel better – but do not listen to them. I will let you know, I promise I will. You would not feel any better just because you had another dog and you know that and I know that. The reason you have all these feelings is that you do carry me in your heart and we will never be apart – even when you get another dog – cause I will be giving you some of my sage advice – hehehe.

I want you to know that no matter how much fun it is here in Hyfryd over the Rainbow Bridge, I miss your touch and scent and all the love you bestowed on me every second of the day, but you are with me too, because I carry you inside me as well. True love stories Mommy, never really end and ours never will. I really wanted just to tell you all this tonight instead of writing about what is going on. But, I can tell you that Cocoa, Ginger and Barkley and I had lunch again yesterday under a RED MAPLE tree that was way bigger than the one you bought me at Buhl Park, since here it has been growing for years. It’s Fall here too. yes the colors change here, but then you get summer again – you would love that right! We get the changing colors to the Fall colors but then they turn green after a month – the leaves never fall off they just change magically somehow back to Green – it sounds very interesting. Hyfryd has a lot of gorgeous trees just like at Buhl Park, so here I am with my very beautiful red Coach Collar you got me, the most stylish girl in town! You have the leash and we will always be attached.

With all my love 4ever and ever and ever, Your Sweet Bailey Girl xoxoxoox

I Saw You In the Light On The Wing…

01 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, loving dogs, loving life, nature, parks, rescue dogs, second chances, talking dogs

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Dear Bailey,

I was able to change my seat from the aisle to the window, so I could look out and find you. And I did, didn’t I? It was so snowy on the ground and they had to de-ice the plane so it made me scared. I had my sunglasses on because I was crying so much. After take off, we rose above the snow and cloud cover and there was the sunshine. The plane’s wings were like outstretched arms and I felt like they hugged the air which one can only embrace from above the clouds and snow.

Yes! It snowed on Saturday; the day after you crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge. I was sad that I could not watch you grab snowflakes like little pieces of luxury on your long, skinny tongue,  but since you told me it was a perfect 70 degrees, I thought you were better off. I  always did enjoy watching you have fun in the snow, even though we left for Florida soon after the first snowfall.

All I saw over there was blue skies and clouds shaped like small islands, forming their own cloud universe. I must tell you that Saturday morning was so hard for me. I did not hear you stirring  in the wee hours to pee on the floor or the patter of your beautiful, furry feet. I missed your early morning, low pitched woofs telling me you wanted to go out into the dewey morning darkness and walk over to Tracy and John’s to sniff the doggie smells over there. I will never make the adjustment of you not being here because I still hear you as I lay down to sleep and I saw you just as I knew I would.

Where, you ask?? On the plane. We were in a completely cloudy neighborhood up there and yet, at my seat, I was right at the wing. I saw a bright light patch playfully stretching up and down the left wing, right outside my window in a small, shiny shape and I said, ” Hello Bailey” – Did you hear me? I thought I even saw your gorgeous long nose that I kissed 100 times a day. My friend Carrie told me a story yesterday about her gorgeous, 4-year old son Eli. When their one Golden Retriever, Lilly, died suddenly, Carrie was very sad and Eli was even a little younger at the time. Carrie’s great-grandmother had also died that same year. Eli saw that Carrie was very sad because she could not hug Lilly. In his infinite wisdom, Eli says to her: Mommy it’s okay because Lilly’s in heaven and even though you can’t hug her grandma can! At that instant Carrie knew that someday she would see her beloved Lilly again and she felt better and it helped her through her grieving process. Isn’t that a nice story Bailey?

I sort of felt that way too on Saturday when I saw you as that spot of bright light. Was that you walking on the wing to tell me you were in a sunny place and you were okay? I hope I was right. Since I was always right about you, I think that I am. Selfishly, I would want you with me forever, physically, but we all know none of us have that ability and I am completely confident that we will be together someday. Safari is snoring over here next to me as I write this and I know he misses you too.  Well, I want to see if you have a letter for me too….I love you Bailey. Visit me often. I cannot be without your sweetness. Love forever, Mommy

HI MOMMY!

Of COURSE that was ME, your favorite doggie girl in the universe! I knew you would see me up there and you are right, there was no light anywhere else on that plane on either side, because I saw you looking around and I also saw that you only had two pieces of Kleenex and that you needed more and didn’t have any. You were crying so hard and I felt bad for you…I miss waking you up too and sniffing around over there, but you would not BELIEVE how many scents are over HERE! That IS why they call it Heaven…!

I know you went to the store yesterday and almost turned left to go to the park instead of right to the store. I saw that haha! You are so attuned to having me in the car and heading for the park, it’s like you are on auto-pilot! I know you must be lonely without me in the car. I also heard you and daddy talking over dinner last night! I heard you say that there would never be another dog as beautiful as me. Mommy, I just have to say you are the best, most loyal parent to us furry kids in the whole world. As you say, All My Children have Paws! Well, of course you know the furry children with paws are WAYYYYY better than the ones with two legs. We have unconditional love and we do not care about anything about love, food shelter, fun, play and sleep! I also heard daddy say, that Collies are the most beautiful which is what you always said. I could see you with a collie, although they weigh more than me! I know you love us furry ones, no short haired doggie for you! I will find you one someday – but not now. I want you to go to France like you planned. I know you cancelled that trip because of me–of course I was WAYYYY more important! I will meet you there! You said you wanted to take me with because I would love it and that there are dogs everywhere!

I don’t know where I was as a puppy, but I never had a better time than in the last 3-1/2 years that is for sure. It is totally fun over here too. Do you want me to look for Carrie’s Lilly? I have not found Tarzan, Cheetah and Freedom yet (I have to go to the cat side), but guess who found me right away? BARKLEY!  She is happy and I am herding her around and protecting here from the bigger dogs. I always loved her smell. She is so crazy and runs around like a race track just like she did in the yards; those Jack Russell’s have much energy. Her neck was all fine and she looked perfect. She told me to tell John and Tracy thank you for rescuing her out of the mailbox last winter and giving her a home and although it was too short a time, she is okay and happy to have found me. She introduced me to a few other small dogs who were nice named Roxy and Marty.

I am meeting Bingo Foley today. Two beautiful dogs named Ginger and Cocoa came right up to me yesterday and asked if I was related to you or April Foley. I said yes, April is my aunty! I found out that “Ging” and Cocoa were her dogs before Bingo. They know what area he hangs out  in and we are all having lunch today. We all want beef stew. So you tell Aunt April and Mike that they love them and miss ’em too and they also asked me if they could be part of the letters in case they had anything they wanted to share with them. I said I was sure you would not mind. I already know you are saying, as you read this, “of course not.” I will report back about our lunch. I told Barkley to join us too, I think I am just going to adopt her cause she follows me around anyway – she is just so cute and crazy – I want to find her a nice boyfriend! ha!

I want you to know that even though I won’t be in the back of the van on the drive to FL, you will see me. I will be there and you will know. Check the rest stops, especially cause there are lots of dogs there and you know me, Ms. Social busy body has to check everyone out–well only the nice ones, remember you and I can easily tell the good ones from the bad, fur or no fur! I love you so much mommy. KISSES! Nose to Nose!

Yours in love always, Bailey