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Sunshine
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Listening to every heart

0 posted 2008-04-24 11:42 AM



Abby & Mabel

It’s been a week today since I woke
to put a word to the hard decision, having
to stay dry eyed, voicing euthanasia
to the master of your life who sorely
had to agree; as

You had become our Abby no longer, for no longer
was there a quick response, no hard wag of a tail
flying to chase squirrels and rabbits and life
and somewhere in silence, you knew pain.

Not from our hands, though, never from
our hand; from them you only knew love
and strokes, tidbits of wonderful;
you cared for all grandchildren and numbered them
six to care for; which actually numbered the pups
you could have had, but never did.

Adoptive mother.

The woman in control.

You loved Mabel, mother and in-law who wouldn’t ever
have another dog in her life; but she had you on visits
to take her back down some
long worn country road and you would have
probably known not to chase the chickens,
but be always watchful for badgers, skunk, or fox. She
would have loved you even more in her earlier years.

You adopted us at a good time; your age came to match Mabel’s age
before she left us; you caught up with her quickly, both closing
in on century marks; and our loss became in knowing
you would follow her far too soon; and our days aren’t yet
dry of your eyes and her wit.

You both shared one word
unconditional
as a bond; a promise; and then
both of you went peacefully
to be together.

© 24 April 08
KRJ


© Copyright 2008 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved
Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1 posted 2008-04-24 12:10 PM


Sunshine,

Please accept my condolences on the loss of your dog.  Dogs are special friends to humans.  For some reason they seem to get along with each other.

Bobby

Martie
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since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
2 posted 2008-04-24 12:37 PM


Dear Sissie...unconditional love is so very special, and only comes to us a few times, if we're lucky. You and Mabel were both lucky.  Thanks for sharing this special bond in this poem.  :love:
gilead
Senior Member
since 2008-03-10
Posts 1067
nevada, USA
3 posted 2008-04-24 01:27 PM


It is hard, sometimes, to love pets and knowing they will someday leave you, and even harder when they do. I share your loss in Abby and Mabel. May they forever be together upon a pink cloud in the eternal sky!

Art

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
4 posted 2008-04-24 02:11 PM


Oh Karilea, This made me cry. I have been in you position and it hurts. I wish I could give you a hug.
                                Love,
                                 Ida

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
5 posted 2008-04-24 04:51 PM


You have said it so well...James
shyvl
Senior Member
since 2008-04-11
Posts 531
texas, usa
6 posted 2008-04-24 06:21 PM


Sunshine
This tribute was so well expressed.  You have my sympathies for the loss of a special friend. Hugs
sharyn

r v wooo
Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656

7 posted 2008-04-24 06:36 PM


i find it interesting how we humans sometime think...our motivations and the inconsistencies in direction...you had your abby and chose euthanasia...i had my faithful companion, a dog, named sam. even with his suffering i could not take his life for i felt we communicated, in our simple way, until the moment of his death.

you probably never considered euthanasia as an option regarding mabel. no, of course not! she was a human being and such a thought would have been wrong.

however, i had a nephew that existed in a comatose state for 27 years and died january 25, 2008 in abilene, texas at the age of 47. in all that time, he was kept alive by his father and for the last 5 years by a half sister...all in the name of love...but it was not for the love of the boy...it was for the love of his money...in my opinion, euthanasia, 27 years ago would have been a blessing.

Larrysmom
Senior Member
since 2008-04-03
Posts 533
Florida, USA
8 posted 2008-04-24 08:03 PM


This is so sad but beautiful Sunshine…

Tammy<333

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
9 posted 2008-04-24 09:34 PM



Oh Karilea that is soooo good, though sad it tells of the deep feelings you had for your pet and brought a big lump to my throat. Nearly all dogs show unconditional love for their master if they are treated with love in return. My little dog Rozzie
is a beautiful breath of fresh air in our home and is a treasured member of our family. Loved your poem.

Lindsay

Roniece Dawson-Bruce
Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia
10 posted 2008-04-24 10:51 PM


a lovely gifting Karilea.. I have my Otto Jacques & Oliver James (miniature daschunds) snuggled up to me as I write this.. they are so precious and loving aren't they... love RDB

Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight.........

Seoulair
Senior Member
since 2008-03-27
Posts 807
Seoul S.Korea
11 posted 2008-04-24 11:42 PM


beautiful poem.

Mysteria
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12 posted 2008-04-25 12:20 PM



Ratleader
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13 posted 2008-04-29 03:14 PM


Exactly now, Random Rabbit has decided she approves of my new chess books, and she's alternately marking them with a chin-brush the way a cat does (but rabbit markers are scentless to humans, thank goodness), and telling me which one she wants me to read next, by opening it and ticket-punching the first few pages with her oh-so-sharp little teeth..... She's adamant about it, the red one had better be the next one I pick up, or she may grind it to powder!

Mad at her? No, when she makes me mad her name changes to Dinner for a couple of minutes, which she knows is a totally empty threat, and treats it accordingly....

Dog, cat, rabbit, raccoon, no matter, they're people, they truly are, as you well know. Simple people with simple ways of expressing themselves, but we love them, and when they're gone.... When they're gone we miss them more than we may miss some human people who have left us along the way, and so we mourn, a completely appropriate thing to do.

....and if we're poets, we express it with the kind of gentle, loving touch that makes this poem so beautiful.

~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>   ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>  ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº>    ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

jwesley
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563
Spring, Texas
14 posted 2008-04-30 08:55 PM


absolutely beautiful my friend....lost Chelsie, a few years back, Toto a week ago.
Chelsie was 12, Irish Setter. Toto was a Starling, hand raised...15 years ago; children both, euthanized both, to end their suffering. . .or maybe mine.

Again, superb writing...as usual.

jimmy

Alison
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since 2008-01-27
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Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!
15 posted 2008-04-30 11:33 PM


My Abby asks me to type her thoughts - she knows how lovely you are because of this poem.  And she knows how good Abby was - because they share a good name.  She wags her tail and smiles.

A

Alison
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Member Rara Avis
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Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!
16 posted 2008-04-30 11:35 PM


Oh and while she is dictates this response, her brother, Stuart, steals her cookie. Go figure!


Oklahoma Rose
Senior Member
since 2008-02-28
Posts 1586
Oklahoma USA
17 posted 2008-05-01 06:54 AM


Awwwww Karilea, I am so sorry for the loss of your precious dog.
Jaime Fradera
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since 2000-11-25
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Where no tyranny is tolerable
18 posted 2008-05-01 04:12 PM


sunshine ... Are you ... uh ... busy???????
Southern cross

Sunshine
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Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
19 posted 2008-05-01 10:42 PM


Thank you, and you, and you.

Abby was an intricate part of our lives;
I "hear" her up and down the stairs,
and wonder "how did I do this and that" with her

when my day by day activities now...don't include her time?

I remember the first dog and cat in my life...

and all of those inbetween...

so thank you for loving Abby, as Mom did...and as we still do...

and thank you all for your love and support during all of these losses, one after another, lately.



And none of them would expect less of me
if I weren't to say

And life goes on.


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