I explained it to St. Peter,
I'd rather stay here,
Outside the pearly gate.
I won't be a nuisance,
I won't even bark.
I'll be very patient and wait.
I'll be here chewing on a celestial bone,
No matter how long you may be.
I'd miss you so much, if I went in alone,
It wouldn't be Heaven for me.
-- Anonymous
Donations have been made to Airedale Rescue in memory of others we cherish as much as our beloved Airedales . . .
. . . ESSIE MARIE DAVIS, who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on 29 March 1998.
Farewell my humans,
Yet not farewell,
Where I go you too shall dwell.
I am gone before your face,
A moment's time, a little space,
When you come where I have stepped,
You will wonder why you wept.
-- Author Unknown
. . . BOZ, a Rottweiler who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in May 1998, after having served on the K-9 Corps in Massachusetts.
No cold philosophy, no cynic sneer,
Checks the unhidden and the honest tear,
What little difference, and how short
The span,
Betwixt thy instinct and the mind of [wo]man.
-- Inscription On A Dog's Gravestone
. . . LUCY, who "was the beloved Newfoundland of Margie Grant; a devoted companion to Margie and also a St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog. Lucy
was a true lady in every sense of the word. She was a gentle giant, and as an original member of our Therapy Dog Division, she paved the way for others to follow. She will be sadly missed by many . . . not the least of which are the many senior citizens she regularly visited. Lucy had cancer . . . and was humanely euthanized on September 18, 1998." - Shelley DeMerchant
OLD DOG IN A LOCKET
Old dog in a locket
That lies next to my heart
I will always love you
As I did right from the start.
You were right beside me
Through the darkest of my days
It was your kind and gentle nature
That made me want to stay.
Now I hold you in my arms
Your breath still warm against my hand
Our hearts still beat together
And I wonder if you understand.
Through the hours that I held you
Before the light did leave your soul
I knew a way to keep you
Forever in my hold.
I snipped the hair from around your eyes
So I would always see
The beauty that surrounds me
Even in times of need.
I snipped the hair from around your ears
So I would always hear
Music in the distance
To quiet any fears.
I snipped the hair from across your back
To bring me strength in times of need
And the power of your essence
Would always be with me.
I snipped the hair from around your heart
That beats in time with mine
So I would know that love would find me
At some distant time.
And so, your life slipped out of mine
On a quiet, spring-like day
But I knew that a part of you
Was always here to stay.
Old dog in a locket
That lies next to my heart
I will always love you
Even though we had to part.
-- Author Unknown
. . . BROOMHILDA FORNELLI, who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on 26 September 1997.
BAGGAGE
Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked in my warm new bed.
I'd like to open my baggage
Lest I forget,
There is so much to carry -
So much to regret.
Hmm . . . Yes there it is, right on the top
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame.
As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave -
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.
I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage?
Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things -
And take me right back?
Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage,
To never repack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage -
Will you still want me?
-- Evelyn Colbath, c1995
I shall see beauty
but none to match your living grace,
I shall hear music
But none as sweet as the droning song
with which you loved me
I shall fill my days
but I shall not, cannot forget
Sleep soft, dear friend . . .
-- Unknown
. . . TOTO BARRETT, who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on 17 February 2000. She is greatly missed by Dave & Becky and EveryDog in the Barrett Pack
I AWAKE, or ACROSS THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
I awake . . . But I do not remember falling asleep.
I awake . . . Only a moment ago I fell asleep,
I awake . . . When I fell asleep moments ago,
I approach the bridge, and turn to gaze
This is wonderful. This is perfect.
-- Mike Blanche
Continue with OTHERS SO PRECIOUS TO US IN MEMORIAM - PAGE 2
Just a moment ago, little Jimmy threw the ball
And I chased it with all my puppy concentration;
Timing each bounce in the grass to catch it
At just the right moment.
Did I feel the front yard's grass turn to stone?
Did I hear a screaming sound?
Perhaps I did. Perhaps I dreamed.
The fresh tang of dewy grass teases my nose.
The warm sun warms me. I open my eyes.
Many new friends gather around me.
They show me what to eat, where to drink.
We play and sleep, near the bridge of many colors.
This is wonderful . . . but it is not perfect.
Deep asleep, lying in Jim's arms.
I remember the pain in his eyes,
And the pain in my body, slowly ebbing.
So many years I played at his feet,
Slept by his side, sat watching at his windows.
Slowly I moved less, jumped less, ate less, saw less.
He loved me, carefully caressing me,
Making soft soothing sounds.
But the pain is gone; The blades of grass tickle my nose.
I open my eyes and find new friends gathered around me.
My legs are like springs. Butterflies play tag.
I am fed, and we play near the many-colored bridge.
It is wonderful . . . but it is not perfect.
I thought all was finished. But now I see
Sunshine streaming through the leaves above.
All the pains and aches of my long life
Are dimmest memories. I lift my hand
Before my eyes. I see it clearly, soft and smooth,
As it has not been in years. I rise.
My legs are strong again, my toes against
The cool grass. My ears hear bird song.
The freshness of dawn floods my senses.
I move easily, drawn to a bridge nearby,
Arching gracefully into the distance.
This is wonderful . . . but it is not perfect.
Into the fields nearby. I see happy creatures,
Sitting, playing and sleeping.
But my eyes are drawn to two joyous beings,
Running at their fullest speed.
They seem familiar. Can they be the
Animals that I knew before?
THEY ARE!! I kneel down,
They rush into my arms, wetting my face
With joyous kisses and tears!
We stand. We move together
Across The Rainbow Bridge.
