Today I had to say good bye to another one of my best friends.
It was very hard but I know it was the right thing to do.
I just wanted to share this poem with those of you who may have to let a
beloved pet go someday....
<center>When to Say Goodbye…
When is it time to say goodbye,
To all the love I've known,
When is it time to end your pain,
And leave me all alone?
I've watched you on your good days when
I feel your strength renewed;
But shortly after little ups,
The down days then ensue.
We ride this roller-coaster of
Emotions as we try,
to make it through another day,
And yet, I can't deny ...
That as I look into your face
On days that have been bad,
I see a look that beckons me
It's tired, and hurt, and it’s sad.
The little spark I used to see
Behind those loving eyes,
Is growing ever clouded
By life's passing time.
Letting go is harder for
The person left behind;
It means that if I let you go,
I cannot turn back time.
Back to the days I long for now,
When you were full of life;
And every day held promise,
And our futures, clear and bright.
But now the lights are darkening ...
We take it daily now;
I cannot see our futures clear
Or think beyond this cloud.
I think the hardest part in this
Is never knowing why,
I have to be courageous
And I have to say goodbye.
You've given such unselfish love
For all our time in life,
But if I hold too tightly,
You'll not move t'ward the light ...
So today I found the courage to say
this last farewell,
I'll hold with me, the memories
that in my heart remain,
and pray one day, down the road...
they'll lesson my own pain.
-unknown
Goodbye Scooby Doo
</center>SHI
I’ve had her since I was three years old and I literally grew up with her so it’s exactly like losing a best friend. Ah, I can’t even write about her that much (or even talk about it too much) without crying still – she was a beautiful dog, inside and out and I’m going to miss her so much. I know she’s in a better place, and for that I’m happy for her. Ken, that’s so true. My grandmother told me that it’s the “losses we encounter that make us stronger” and I’d like to be as … confident as she is that tomorrow will be easier to face, etc, but even though I’ve lost a lot of people over the past 2 years - my cousin, my grandfather, my science teacher, and now my dog - it’s still so hard. Anyway, beautiful poem! I knew this board would have something like this, and you know what, it was exactly what I needed; it’s brightened my day, just a little bit,
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