Tag Archives: talking dogs

Returning Home…

04 Friday May 2012

Posted by in adopting a new dog, animal families, Birthdays, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog adoption., Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, parks, Petfinder, rainbow bridge, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, Spring, summer, talking dogs, teaching, The Rainbow Bridge, trees, Working Dogs, www.petfinder.com

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Mommy!

I don’t want to talk about classes this week. I will next time cause I have more  good news! I know you are getting ready to return to the summer home and it was there that I left you in the Fall for here in Hyfryd over the Rainbow Bridge. I know this is going to be difficult for you, but I will be there by your side – always! I want you to do some things for me. First, I want you to get lots and lots of RED flowers to plant in my special spot that is just for me – I look good in Red you know! yes I do! You know why I think that is? I think because Red is bold like you and me and it’s friendly and you and me are social,  friendly girls and red becomes us! I know you will make it very nice and pretty that is for sure.

The next thing I want is for you to go to our tree and take pictures. Go take a nice walk and take pictures in the park so I can see everything! I am wondering with the warmer winter if the tree grew much. I want to watch its progression of leaf growth this summer, so get on it!

The final thing I want you to do is embrace little Joy. I have a very good feeling about her and I suggested that she kiss you right away. And just remember if she doesn’t right away,  it’s okay if she is not like me. No one will EVER be like me! I am the best! haha! We are all created differently but because she is coming to you she is special. We know that. Victoria knows that. There is a special connection that was made here and it cannot be overlooked and to be honest I take all the credit! (Well, Petfinder helped me!). Personally I find it all very exciting and CANNOT WAIT to hear everything and I am SURE we will write EACH OTHER  on Mother’s Day that is a date!! Okay? We each get a letter on Mother’s day. This is my first without you and it’s your first without me, but being the wise girl I am, I can tell you that everything you taught me and all that I taught you, plus all the love we share, is so bundled up inside of us it just feels good no matter where we are. The earth is surrounded by so much goodness, it’s too bad no one gets to know this while they are on it. I almost think the goodness is like soft layer of protection for all the woes it has.

I wanted to get this to you before you left. I want you and daddy to drive safely. Let Safari sun in your lap – he loves that! My leash is there with you and so is my spirit of love. Yours is right here in my beautiful den. Barkley is here too and she sends her love to John and Tracy and you too, so tell them that because this is a new summer without her as well.  Some people like us, love so deeply that it is easy to imagine that everything stays in place. It just changes is all and mostly for the good I promise you. I LOVE you Mommy! I will be travelling with you in heart and mind, in the trees and wind. Together Forever – you and me. xxoxoxoox Your Bailey Girl Furever!!!!

I Wear Your Ruby Heart Around My Neck…

15 Sunday Apr 2012

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

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Everytime I see something beautiful I think of you. I certainly cannot help it. All the kids miss you around here, Zoe, Angel, Rodeo, Mindy, and Courage, especially! I have told them you are doing very important work in Hyfryd and they think it is terrific, but they cannot help but miss your sweet smile. Of course Safari is sleeping in your spot and misses you terribly every day. We all do. Especially me. I am really hoping he likes and adjusts to Joy.

The ruby necklace around my neck (and the earrings too) are really the rubies that are for all of us.  You are with us always, but you already know that. I was just thinking about that today when I wondered how your class is doing. Bob’s sister got a place down here now and so they bring their dog with to his house when they visit. His name is Sonny and he weighs 125! He is a gorgeous all black Lab/Golden mix who loves to play. He was visiting today and we were all talking about you. Bob misses you too because you always liked him a lot. He has a gentle way with dogs.

I am curious to know if you got new people in the class and if the Greys came this time. There was some terrible animal abuse in the news this week, as there is every week, but this was awfully bad. It just turns my stomach, but I do something each day to help those furry kids in need. Your Twitter page is getting more and more followers each day and I think that we have more people following us overseas than in the USA! I love that!

As for the book, I am close to having enough pages, so do not think I am not working on it – I know your diva self longs to be famous. To me you will always be my sweet, simple Bailey girl no matter how famous you become! Remember, Wes also called you the MOVIE STAR! A bright star, that is for sure. Here and there, you shine bright. Write me and let me know how this week went okay? Until then I will look forward to hearing the whisper of love I feel from you at my ear…

I Love You Bailey Girl, with all I got….xoxoxooxox

Friends Furever….

02 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by in adopting a new dog, animal families, Birthdays, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog adoption., Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, parks, Petfinder, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, talking dogs, teaching, The Rainbow Bridge, Working Dogs

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My Sweet Girl,

Hi! How did your new class turn out? By this time, you might be having another one this week! Your brother came out of his dental just fine. I think we were equally nervous though – you know how I am with worrying about my fur kids. I do love the idea of your class All Better 102. I am so proud of you teaching yet another class, although I am not surprised because you are the best teacher! I think that a class like that is much-needed for everyone in Hyfryd and I know they will benefit from your infinite wisdom. There is much animal cruelty and it needs to be stopped. You know I have never trusted anyone who doesn’t share their world with a furry one. Of course I am probably equally happy that those people don’t because they would be lousy pawrents anyway! It takes a special soul to love the fur babies of the world and thankfully all the people in our world, near and far, are like us!

We cannot wait to meet Joy, she is waiting for us and we will meet and take her home next month! I can’t wait to tell you all about her and mostly, tell her all about you. I will of course want your approval. I am wondering how Safari will react. He has enjoyed, we think, all the extra attention, that is for sure. He is once again, the king of the castle. It was just 5 months since you went to Hyfryd over the rainbow bridge and as much as it seems like you never left, your bark, your kisses, your uncanny pleasure for treats, (and so much more) are all amiss. You are with me every minute of every day, and I know you feel it too, for it would not be possible to have this communication. Safari has missed you. He especially misses you shooing away Polka Dot, who comes into the yard daily.  He has taken over your blanket as well and sleeps soundly on it.

One thing I am looking forward to is seeing your Red Maple tree at Buhl Park upon our return to the north. I do not expect it to have grown much in six months, but with the warm winter, I bet it is blooming early. I expect to spend a lot of time there again with Joy and we will visit the tree each time we go and I will tell her the story of the special tree.  Someday I hope to see it get very big and sit in its shade. You know you are the only dog in the park which dates back to the 1800’s, to have a tree dedicated to you because you are the most special girl God could have ever sent to us. We talk about you (well, you know that!) everyday….

I am so glad that you are doing good work my sweetest girl. I hope that you write me back quickly and let me know how the first class went. I am sure some of those stories will be hard to hear, but I want to share the experience with you. I think it is wonderful that you help everyone you come in contact with – but that is a Border girl, isn’t it? I am sending you this picture to put up in your den, so you can show everyone your brother. I have much planting to do as well in your rest area in the yard this Spring. I always loved the saying: Bloom Where You are Planted. I have tried to do that in life and of course you have done that in Hyfryd. That is all we could do and surely, we are one blooming team, all year ’round….Write soon.  Sending you more love than you can imagine, from all of us, but especially me.

Cruelty To Animals No More….

24 Saturday Mar 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, letters, missing your dog, rainbow bridge, rescue dogs, second chances, talking dogs, The Rainbow Bridge, Uncategorized, Working Dogs

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Dear Mommy,

How I miss you! I see you have been working diligently on postings to help all the animals in need. More people need to do that and way more people need to adopt the SENIORS, like you did, me!!! I have been seeing what you have doing and it prompted me to start a new class that I thought would be helpful, called All Better Now 102. Even though a lot of animals who were abused are now all better and back to their old selves, they still have some emotional scars.

For example, I can be happy here because I have found a way to teach and continue my work as a working dog. Knowing that I am the most loved dog in the universe, I can feel happy about that, whereas the ones who were abused only have us to rely on. Some of the folks here never had a good home and crossed over because of abuse. Can you imagine how horrible that is? After talking with some people like that I decided to formulate the All Better Now a class for them to discuss their feelings. I know you will be happy about it! The first class is tomorrow so I will report back to you and let you know how it goes.

What you need to do down there is to continue your work, sign lots of petitions and sign some for me too, about animal abuse. I know it’s a cause you are passionate about and so am I! It’s so sad to think anyone would hurt any one of us sweet creatures! I think if there were MUCH BIGGER consequences for these crimes, there would be less of them committed – or at least I hope there would be less of these idiots! It’s not just domestic animals either. I am glad that PETA has come down on how elephants are treated at the circus. You and I hate the circus, but just think how many people take kids to that – it’s disgusting! I am glad that your friends are helping the elephants too, that is really nice of them. More people need to help on a daily basis. I know the economy is hard for a lot of people, but I am glad that you can help and you sure know a lot of people doing great work.

So that is what I have been up to Mommy – I know that you are proud of me and of course I am your child furever, so I am caring, like you!  We have taught each other many good things and will continue to do so as life goes on…it’s always a learning experience, right? I know you are taking the little one to get his teeth cleaned, so do not worry he will be fine! I know you freak out and hate leaving any of us at the vet for more than 10 minutes! I will check with you on Tuesday about him and let you know how the class went, okay? I love you more than words can say…..give the little boy a kiss for me….With all my Love & Kisses, Your Sweet Bailey Girl

Together We are Water, Waves and Open Skies…

18 Sunday Mar 2012

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

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My Dearest Bailey Girl,

Whenever I am at sea, I feel peaceful and I can feel you so strongly, sailing along with me. I wonder if it’s the big open skies and massive amounts of water that surrounds my thoughts. I look out on the deck and think that Hyfryd is open and wide too. Earth, on a daily basis, seems to be a puzzled construction of small spaces all pieced together. Roads connecting roads, cables connecting phones, computers, electrical and gas systems and so much more. Cars go to and fro. But a ship….out at sea, seems so free of everything while sailing. True, when it docks, it too becomes part of the puzzle, but I imagine Hyfryd to be vast like the sea. Is it?

I miss you always, but I always miss you so intensely at sea maybe because I have time to reflect and I am mostly unconnected to work, though I find it hard not to check emails – I hope to cure myself of that someday. You helped with that because of our time walking and talking and meeting new friends, fur and non. I thought you would like to hang this picture of me up in your den. There were a couple I know you would like, but this one is nice. I will send more.

I am so glad that your classes are going well but you are a great teacher, you teach me something everyday. All I have to do is think of you. Sorry this note is so short, maybe I will write another tomorrow, but I have been up since 6am and I did not sleep well last night so I am very tired. I did not want the day to go by without writing you as soon as I got back. I love you so much my sweet girl. Thinking of you always and knowing you are by my side always……xoxooxox, Mommy

A Life, Continued…..

08 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by in adopting a new dog, animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog adoption., Dog walking, 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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Dear Mommy,

I know, I know..I have been remiss in not writing for so many days. I am so sorry!!! First, Joy looks really sweet and I hope that she likes you as instantly as I did. If she does not take to you, maybe you should adopt Shawn, the cute looking boy Border! He is quite handsome and I must say I am attracted to him myself! haha You know us “brown-eyed girls!”

Hyfryd has been bustling and I now have Barkley helping with my classes. She passes out the printed info at the class. I have had a lot of interesting questions from those who recently crossed over The Rainbow Bridge. Want to hear some of them?

Where do my people go when they die?

Does my human family get to come over the Rainbow Bridge?

I think about my family everyday and I miss my siblings. How do I cope with that?

How come all of our aches and pains are gone all of a sudden?

Whew! I have become kind of a doggie philosopher of sorts and sometimes those questions are hard to answer, after all I have only been here 5 months myself! I think the reason I can cope easier than most is because we communicate all the time and are working on our book. I cannot imagine having to have landed here without that connection to you. I have talked about that in Loving 101 and what I gather is that not everyone who lives with a dog has what we had.  I think many of the folks I have met loved their families but the connection that you and I have goes so much deeper than what they have told me.

I saw you look into your rearview mirror today. I know you could not see me there, but I was certainly there and that is why you looked to my space at the back of the van. I love that you still keep the leash in there and some poop bags. I know you made a tag exactly like mine to wear on your purse. I mean, who does that kind of stuff? Some people probably think you are tiny bit crazy, but I just think it’s wonderful.

I am glad you found Dr. Victoria. She needs you in her life. I did lead you to her on www.petfinder.com and if Joy wants a good home then she should jump on you, kiss you like I did and give you the look that says Let’s go have some fun! When I think back on how I sprang into the back of the Honda CRV, it was like getting out of jail – not that the shelter was jail, but I was so sick of all the barking dogs. Living on the farm, Joy and the others have it a lot better than I did before you came along. It was all meant to be, you and me and that is the kind of thing I talk about in my classes. Love is what you make it. It is about seizing an opportunity when it exists because it may never come around again. Moments change lives so profoundly. One kiss, one look – and a life can be so different for many years or in our case, just a few years.

What I have told the students is that love,no matter how long or short, should be cherished each and every day. Wet kisses and big hugs should be never-ending!!! Life seems to go by so very fast and it truly is a mosaic of tiny bits of time all pieced together in a life. You always said that when we were walking in Buhl Park, it was such a zen-like experience. It’s so true because when a dog and their person walk in a park or natural setting, they are simply together in the moment, discovering smells, watching ducks and birds, meeting other people and other doggies which create individual moments that make up that one single hour in that particular day. What is better than that? So, in the class, I talk about that and how we all can create lives together here over the Bridge. It might be a different part of life, but it really is just a continuing part of it until we meet again and that is a big question everyone wants to know. Will we see our family again? I tell them yes you will because i have seen it. I told you that Hyfryd is a magical place where people and their animals are reunited IF THEY WANT TO BE HERE. I am sure some of these kids in my class will never see their families again, but I cannot tell them that. If they have the connection, like we do, I am confident that they will. I see you now and I know you see me too, so I am not worried about it.

So that is what I HAVE been thinking about!! You have taught me much, Sherri and I know I taught you a lot of things, especially  how many treats I needed to keep me happy! haha! I cannot believe you asked Victoria if Joy liked treats! I think you liked to give me treats as much as I loved to eat them!!! I know one thing, the best treat either of us has is each other. I promise not to take so long to write this time. Your turn now. Maybe you can write me from the ship! Look for me while at sea – you know I will be following you…I love you everywhere you are.  xoxoox, Your Bailey Girl

On The Journey Which You Have Led Me…..

26 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by in adopting a new dog, animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog adoption., Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, Florida, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, New Year's Eve, Petfinder, rainbow bridge, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, talking dogs, The Rainbow Bridge, Workign Dogs, Working Dogs

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 Dearest Bailey,

I am so glad to hear that your Loving 101 class is so popular! I am still going ahead with our book plans, but you were correct, we need the right number of pages….what do you think? Of course I want your imput. It has to be perfect like you!

If anyone could teach about love it is you my darling child. How I miss you. So many things here remind me of you. No matter where I am I think of you constantly. Dogs are running around the house here all the time and this season there are many more outside cats to chase away and I don’t have you to protect Safari’s lanai and he misses that.

This past week he started sleeping behind the chair at night – your spot. He truly does miss you and having his pal by his side–not as much as ME of course, but none the less he does. And that brings me to the next point. Do you remember that  I told you about Dr. Summers and Joy? You do? Oh good. I just heard you say that in my head – your amazing that way and I am sure you have wondered about it. Well, Joy is in Ohio, about an hour and half from the house and we plan on meeting her when we return to PA. Dr. Summers assures me that she is ready for a good home like we can give her and that she will like us. I keep hoping that she will. She has a friend named Shawn there and I hate to think that I am going to break them up. I don’t want her to be upset with me for that. I am hoping that all the things she will get to experience will make up for that. This is her picture:

Certainly we will give her so much love and attention…Isn’t she cute? That is Kernie holding her. He lives there at the place where she is at now which is very beautiful. She is only 2 years old and sadly, she had her puppies taken away from her immediately!  Thankfully,  she was rescued and she needs a home that will give her a lot of love and fun. I think you led me on this journey Bailey because you always have me looking at Petfinder – our special place where I found your sweet picture online and that is how I found Joy and Dr. Summers, who I am so looking forward to meeting in May. I cannot help but think how much she would have loved you. Who didn’t? Complete strangers loved you! As I always said, “Everyone loves Bailey!”

So I wanted to show you Joy, even though I suspect that you have already seen her and maybe you whispered a thing or two in her ear by now, knowing you. Adopting animals in life is so important for one’s soul, we will never live without animals in our lives. Safari continues to crack us up. Yes, he is still in love with his expensive shrimp – thankfully I get my discount at TFM! He is so adorable and lately he has been wanting to spend more time outside on the leash. The weather here has been unseasonably warm – the warmest February on record they say. I think his outdoor interest has a lot to do with Stripes, Midnight and a little yellow kitty and of course Princess, Twinkie and your arch nemesis, Polka Dot, running around the yard constantly. I wish these people around here would not leave their cats outside. I always fear for their little lives. I still and will always believe that domestic cats belong inside or on a screened-in porch. Here is a recent pic of him out in the yard on his leash of course you can pin it up in your den!

This was taken on new Year’s Eve and the light was kind of interesting. He is just so handsome – someone online said he looks like royalty he is so gorgeous! All my fur kids are gorgeous and sweet and I like to think that is because of all the love and good care that fills our home, right Bailey?

That is all the news on the doggie/kitty front. I wanted to run all of this by you but you are the one who led me to Joy I am sure and I think together we are on the same doggie book page!. Just make sure that she likes us when me meet! You gave me that one true kiss just like Russell did the second we met. Your little kiss reminded me of his; so sincere and perfect just like the two of you. I want Joy to feel welcome, loved and safe and not scared to leave her current surroundings.

Dr. Summers is creating a program for seniors to help fund the care of their dog when they are on a fixed income. I think that is such a great idea and I am going to help her and Kernie with anything they might need from me. You know how we loved our older folks!  Dr. Summers says Joy loves people and that makes me happy – just like you my love.

Well, we have some chores to do, but I wanted to start the day with a letter to you my sweet. Give me more news. I want to know what you and Barkley have been up to and Onwen as well. Have you been too busy to go explore more towns? I think you will become the official celebrity of Hyfryd I am sure, especially since they are all anticipating the release of our book! Much work to do! Border Collies, right! I guess if I were a dog, I would definitely be one – a working dog – the very best kind, indeed!

With all my love, heart, and wet nose kisses, Your devoted mommy xoxoxoxoxooxo

Happy Birthday Mommy…

19 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by in animal families, Birthdays, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, Petfinder, Poetry, rainbow bridge, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, talking dogs, The Rainbow Bridge, Uncategorized

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 HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!,

Of course I am bringing my favorite bone to you for your birthday present one day early, because I HAVE to be the FIRST one to wish you a happy day even thought it’s not until tomorrrow!. I KNOW you must miss me bringing you the bone all the time, so I thought this would be a good picture to share, right? Of course I am right! Sorry it took me so long to get back to you it is just that I have been so busy with my classes! They have become increasingly popular since Onwen put the word out and furry people are coming from many different towns.

One question people are asking me is when the book coming out. I keep telling them you are working on it. I think you are waiting to get to a certain number of pages to print our “first edition,” right? Please let me know so I can tell everyone who asks, okay?

So, since you have been busy writing I thought I would be creative as well (you know how competitive I am! Border Collie!!). You didn’t think I would just give you this picture did you? Well, I know you will love it of course, but I wanted to do something special so I wrote you a poem and this is your special Birthday Present. It’s also your first birthday without me in a long while. I love you so much and if you close your eyes you will feel me giving you a big kiss on your lips like I always did. Here is my poem. I hope that you love it ’cause I love it and I love you more and always – Your Special Bailey Girl….xoxoox

 

Our Bones

Toy Bones

Chew Bones

The Bones of my soul

-touched by dirt and me

Carried over to another side

On me, your touch

I feel

in movements so sparse

moments so large

Blurry “birthdays”

that meld into One Day

The one on which we met.

My Bailey Valentine…

11 Saturday Feb 2012

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, Florida, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, parks, Petfinder, rainbow bridge, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, talking dogs, The Rainbow Bridge, valentine's day

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My Dearest Bailey Girl,

I was so proud after reading your letter about the class you are teaching. It did not come as too big a surprise that you would be telling people how to love because you are so great at it! You are a perfect role model of what a doggie girl should be. I have never understood why a dog is called “Man’s Best Friend,” when they are truly “Woman’s Best Friend” as well. Nothing made me happier that walking with you in the park – or any of the many places we made tracks in the world, whether it be in sand, snow, leaves or mud. Our imprints are forever.

I will bet that more and more furry folk sign up for your class and I cannot wait to hear more about it! Did Onwen take the class or is he helping you? I bet you had Barkley there! I don’t know if you would want to do this since it would be very personal, but perhaps you could share one or two of our letters with the class, so they could understand how writing can help them adjust to their new home situation. A day does not go by when you are not talked about. Even while I was cooking my Chocolate Soup today at The Fresh Market, your name came up. Maybe some of the people in Hyfryd would want to know their people on this side are probably talking about them as well.

Dr. Victoria and I have talked a lot about you as well. I know you must have made me find her and Joy – there is no other explanation about how all these things happen. Your sense of place here is so profound and just because physical space separates us, it does not make us any less apart. You know Valentine’s Day is Tuesday and though the “holiday” has been turned into a very commercial one, the true meaning behind it has always been my favorite – to honor love and I have always been so happy to be born in the month of the love! I came into this world ready to give a lot of it to those who truly deserve it. You my Bailey, are my true valentine and really, aren’t all these letters between us valentine’s? They are love letters, that is for sure.  Write me one soon.

Happy Valentine’s Day My Sweetest Girl – With Love Deep in my Heart

xoxoxoxoox, mommy

Loving You 101…

07 Tuesday Feb 2012

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

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  Dear Mommy,

This picture is one of my favorites because I had never been on a boat before this particular day and it was so much fun to feel the wind in my fur and to smell the air and the salt water in Florida. I loved seeing the other boats whiz by and just feel so free on our boat.

Since Valentine’s Day is approaching, I wanted to tell you that I am leading a class which I sort of named with you in mind. It’s called Loving You 101. Since arriving here in Hyfryd I’ve become a role model to some other doggies. Of course I think this happened too because I am writing this book with you and everyone thinks I am sort of a celebrity or something. I still just think I am Bailey Maddick, but I remember how you sometimes thought I was a diva. And Wes, at the dog park, always called me “the movie star.” I secretly loved when he called me that!

The class is how to love even though your true family is on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge and you cannot see them. In my class, I have talked about how writing can be very helpful, even if you are not a good writer – I mean you are teaching me more and more as the time goes on and I love it. I just started the class, that is why it took me almost a week to write you back, because I was busy preparing and I wanted to write and tell you the news! I have held two classes this week; each were 1 hour-long. The first class had 22 “students” and when word got out about it, the second class had nearly 50! I was so happy that people enjoyed the class.

Being a Border Collie, I am a natural-born leader right? Of course you know that! haha! However, YOU taught me so much about true love. I got to observe it every day with you, daddy & Safari and when you adopted me, it was like I never lived anywhere else. Just like you knew the instant we met, I did too. So my class is all about love, the signs of love and for us on this side, how we can maintain love now that our family cannot pet us, hear us bark with happiness or wag our tails with joy at them. This is an adjustment. Sure it is beautiful here. We are all healthy and free of illness of any kind and we look and feel young and strong, which is wonderful – but the hard part is that we cannot share that with the people we loved so very much and writing these letters with you has made me think more deeply about love and spirituality and how we continue on.

For those of us who are still very connected in a deeply personal way, like you and I, it’s more difficult I think. Those are the types of folks who came to the classes so far. They need a reason here to exist and excel with a purpose; not just live every day to play and simply have fun. Mommy, you know I am a working breed. I need to do something and I think I have found my niche! I am sort of a new doggie philosopher and honestly it’s because of all the unconditional love you gave me right back.

So I wanted you to know about the class and my new job and I know you will be so proud of me. And I am proud to have left that side of the Bridge as your furry daughter – I have learned much and wish to teach others now who might need a loving paw on their shoulder. You always said that love is all that really matters and you are so right but I knew that as soon as we met. Our time was not as long as we wanted, but oh, what a great time we shared because we learned so much from each other.

That brings me to the next point. Joy. Yes, I know all about her. Petfinder and my face led you to come and see me and I wanted to make sure that Petfinder would lead you down the next path as well. Think about it, if it were not for www.petfinder.com we would have never found each other! They should know that! I see you sit at your computer and think about missing me and wanting another doggie girl, so I made sure your little hands typed on the page that led you to see Joy’s picture. Of course she is beautiful like me and I must say I am just a teeny bit jealous cause she is so young too, but that will be a good thing I am sure. I know you cannot meet her until May since you are in Florida, but I just know you will hit it off. She has that face that called to you just like me. I knew you would print out her picture and write to Miss Victoria. In May, when you go to meet Joy, I will be beside you. I will plan a class around this topic, for those of us over here, we just want to love and have our families feel love again as well. With you, I know your love for me has never stopped for even one second. I feel that in the moon and trees and wind and stars, everyday. I will teach the other doggies all about this and how the strong ones can continue their connection and help those they love like I help you. I will never leave your heart or mind mommy because we will always be one.

All My Love and Millions of Kisses,

Your Sweet Bailey Girl