Dear friends,

Today is September 17th. It was one year ago today that Shiloh lost her bravely fought battle to lymphoma. She was my friend and my companion and I loved her more than words can describe. When I lost her I thought my pain would never heal. And as the days passed after her death and my sadness seemed to deepen rather than subside, I sought help and advice. That’s how I found Lightning Strike. This place was a life line for me in my early days of grief. In December of last year I started feeling like it might be time for me to move on and bid my goodbyes to this website, but then I was touched by another’s story…she was in the process of losing her 5 year old Chocolate Lab to lymphoma. She told me that my story of Shiloh deeply touched her. At that point I decided I would stay here and offer comfort to folks that were going through the same I was going through. I felt that offering comfort to other people would be a fitting way to honor the memory of my dear friend, Shiloh, who always offered comfort to me. I figured an appropriate time to do this would be for a year. Well, as hard as it is for me to believe, the year is over and it’s time for me to move on. I know I am at a point, and have been for a while, where I need to stop wallowing in Shiloh’s death and start celebrating her life. She was such a happy-go-lucky spirit, “an exceptional dog” as a friend of mine said, and to focus on her death would be an injustice to her life.

As I say goodbye to this website, I want to thank everyone here who has helped me deal with my grief over losing Shiloh and then Hobbie. Your kind words helped me make it through many days…I will be forever grateful for that. MD, I want to thank you for creating this place…it really has been a life saver for me and for many others. I also want to thank Sue and Denise for being moderators for this site and always having a kind word to say to people. Lastly, I want to thank all of the friends I’ve made here. In helping you, I’ve helped myself. I have a special love for all of you here and have been deeply touched by each and everyone’s story.

I would like to invite all of you to take a look at “A Glimpse of Shiloh’s Life” in the Memorials, tributes, and eulogies forum. (I don’t know how to insert a link…sorry). She was such a sweet and gentle spirit. The tribute I made for her really is glimpse at what a special soul she was. Here's the link... http://lightning-strike.com/forum/index.ph...t=0&#entry16973 Thanks, Denise!

Please know that if any of you have been comforted or touched by the words I’ve written to you…it was more Shiloh than it was me. She was always so much more outgoing than I could have ever hoped to be.

Before I sign off, I want to offer these last words of encouragement…healing does happen, it just takes time. For some, it takes a short period of time, for others, it takes a little longer. Don’t feel like you need to rush yourself through the process, take as much time as you need. Be patient and kind with yourself. Allow yourself setbacks…birthdays and holidays are bound to make you sad. I remember approaching Shiloh’s 5 month anniversary…I thought I was doing great, but all of a sudden I had a set back and ended up in fetal position, lying on the floor where Shiloh used lay, sobbing. A year has passed since Shiloh died, and I have healed. I smile when I think of her. And when I do think of her, the memories that come to mind are of her running and playing and chasing squirrels and helicopters. The memories that are farthest from my mind are of her being sick and dying. I find I can now talk about her with out falling to pieces, but, honestly, every once in a while I still get choked up. I think I always will.

I wish you all peace and healing.

Take good care, my dear friends.
Love,
Kathleen

We will certainly miss you, Kathleen. You have been more than kind to me and to many others. From the bottom of my heart I thank you for your compassion and your caring. Take care and know the door is always open for you here.

All the best,
Ken Albin

Goodbye Kathleen

Im glad your feeling better if u ever need us come back

Dear Kathleen,
I hate to see you go. You have been very kind to me with words of advice and encouragement when I needed it. I wish you could stay awhile longer...I feel as if I am losing another dear friend. Perhaps you could give me some more words of encouragement...just one more time before you go. You see...I am having one of those break down episodes again that you mention. You know...where all seems well and then look out. Oh well.
I wish you well Kathleen. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. May God bless you for all the help you have given to those of us here at Lightning Strike.

Stay Well Kathleen,
((HUGS))
Lisa...NOAH'S ARK

Dear Kathleen,

You stand out so clearly in my mind as one of the wonderful people who helped me with your wise and consoling words when I came limping to this site in a state from which I thought I would never ever recover.

Thank you for your endless words of wisdom and understanding and empathy that you wrote, not just to me, but to many others that I read and drew comfort from.

Where has the time gone? It seems impossible for a year to have flown by. I am so glad that for most of the time your memories are of all the joyful years you spent with your special girl, Shiloh. There are always little blips I know, I think there always will be, but I hope they are soon filled once again with the happiness of all those treasured years that you spent together.

Your dear Shiloh and all she meant to you will always remain in my heart and mind.

with love
jilly

Oh I am sad to see you go Kathleen!!

I rememeber a few months ago when I posted my story about Magee's death you took the time and reached out to me and e-mailed me directly...that was a nice surprise....all of your comforting words helped tremendously....and though I don't post here that often for my heart is still SO heavy...I read peoples stories and help if I can....but I know you will be missed I can promise you that.... your name always seemed to be here and there, just helping people cope...
I am glad you are healing, slowly but surely....as everyone will..... hopefully

Take good care of youself and I hope in the future you will own more pets to love unconditionally, for they will be lucky to be loved by someone like you.
Take care, Jen

I am so sorry to hear that you are leaving...totally selfish of me I know. So I just want to say 'thank you so much' for all your empathy and understanding. I wish you lots of happiness and love

Goodbye Kathleen,

I am sorry to see you go but happy for you that you are moving on.
Thank you so much for you healing words of encouragement and understanding.
Bless you and take care!

Love, Cynthia

Kathleen,

I just wanted to personally thank you for your wonderful words of wisdom that you have given so many. You wrote to me concerning Maggie whom I lost September 4th and your words meant everything to me. Thank you for everything friend.

I understand that you feel you must move on. Take good care of yourself and the tribute you have paid to Shiloh! Wow.

Again thanks for everything Kathleen. Best of luck to you always and remember that we are all here if you need anything.

Maggie's Mom,
Angie

Hi Kathleen,
I want you to know I really appreaciated the sympathetic and kind words you expressed regarding my loss of Bo. You have been a real cyber friend and I wish you nothing but good will. It is good to hear you say you think about shiloh and smile. I hope I can say the same about Bo soon. I will miss your entries and support of others. I usually saw your name under new posts, and I thought how great it was you took the time to do that.
Stay weel and may your thoughts of your beloved Shiloh bring many more smiles.
Darrell
(Bo's dad)

Kathleen,
Your presence here will be missed.
I have not been here much lately. I stop in to read posts, but have not posted in a while.
I have been in a "strange" state lately.....one of denial. I have had to turn my thoughts off completely.
I can no longer bear to think of what happened to Dixie, because I still can't believe it,
nor can I accept it. I don't want to. Because I want her to be here. So I stopped thinking about
it. Sounds strange, I'm sure.
So what I'm trying to say is that there is a reason I have not been posting. It is too hard for me
to re-live Dixie's dying. (great, now I'm crying).
But I felt that I needed to post tonite, to say goodbye to you. You helped me tremendously.
Your strength gave me strength. Your words of wisdom helped me thru another day.
AND, your beautiful Shiloh reminded me so much of Dixie in so many ways. I kind of felt
"connected" to you. And you are a very special person. I know your existing pets have one of the
best owners ever. If only all animals could be so lucky.
Take care, Kathleen. Thanks for your loving support. I will miss you. Please stop in anytime, even just
to say "hi". So many of us here will be thinking of you.
With love AND gratitude,
Dana