Hi, Peter, it's so good to catch up with you and to share your news. Perhaps your Bruno has sent you this little bird to sing to you - - to let you know he is thinking of you and recalling all the wonderful times you would sing to him and dance with him.

I am so sorry last Monday was so hard for you, Peter. The good days are great, but the bad days are really very hard, aren't they? Your precious Bruno is truly forever with you, Peter - - always a heartbeat close to you.

That little bird is just so precious - - how wondeful he comes to visit you and sing to you every night. I hope you will have a peaceful night, Peter. Thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and I look forward to knowing how things are going with you whenever possible.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi, Peter, just stopping by to say hello, and to let you know you're in my thoughts and prayers. I hope life is treating you kindly these days.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi moon_beam

Thanks for your kind message. As I write this the little bird is singing in the tree outside my window again, and I'm taking comfort from your idea that the little bird may have been sent by Bruno to keep me company in these lonely nights.

How are you keeping?

Peter

Hi, Peter, so good to hear from you and to know the little bird is still serenading you, and hopefully bringing some joy into your life. Things have been busy with me - - doing some re-arraning of furniture here in the homestead to make it easier for me to clean and navigate, which has been a very exhausting and physically challenging project for this old gal. Glad to say the my little Noah has taken everything in stride, and is accepting of the changes - - which really have been more along the lines of "what once was is once again." I must confess this will be the LAST furniture re-arranging project that I will be able to do on my own. Any future such projects will need to be done by someone much younger and stronger than I.

I hope things are going okay with you and your dad, Peter. I do know how difficult it must be for you both to adjust to the physical absence of your precious Bruno. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, Peter, and look forward to knowing how things are going for you whenever possible.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi moon_beam

That's great to hear you've completed your furniture rearranging and that Noah took it all in stride

These past few weeks I've found it exhaustingly upsetting to muster up words to discuss Bruno or offer advice to others. I'm starting to unwind a little and should be on the forum again a bit more. It's so heartbreaking seeing everyone's grief over their beloved companions and I think of everyone here every day with great sorrow in my heart.

I was filming some professional horse racing the other day and unfortunately a horse tripped and had broken its leg. A big tent 'wall' was put up around it. I had to walk past to get to my next camera position and feared the worst that I might hear some cry of pain or something...so I walked past as quickly as I could. Just as I past, the bolt-sounding clack of a gunshot went off, and I jumped out of my skin. All the emergency staff in attendance didn't move. I walked on, feeling pretty shaken and so sorry for that little horse and can't get it out of my head. Nonetheless, for Bruno's 2 month anniversary, when I lit candles for him, I kept in mind the beautiful horse I never knew who passed away just last Wednesday as I walked past.

My dad's keeping busy and helping me out a lot so we're not doing too bad. Still, though, I find the nights the most difficult. Some nights I almost feel sick I'm so sad that I'm not able to reach out and pet Bruno or wish him goodnight. Lighting a little candle has helped a lot though. I think I'll light more candles after 3 months since he's passed.

moon_beam I hope you have a lovely relaxing week with Noah and lots of peaceful nights rest.

Peter

Hi, Peter, how so sad about the horse. I still get images of Barbaro and his bravery not to succumb to laminitis. When I read that he had developed it on all four hooves I could not fathom how the vets could have done anything else for him except to relieve him from his struggle.

I know what you mean about the evenings being the hardest, and perhaps that's why the little bird comes to serenade you - - Bruno's way of letting you know he's with you.

I'm also glad to know your dad is doing okay - - that you two gentlemen are doing as well as possible under the circumstances.

Peter, please know you and your dad are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you both will have a peaceful evening tonight, and will look forward to knowing how you're doing whenever possible.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi moon_beam and everyone else on the forum

Having lost my mum in 2000 and then my beloved Bruno in January 2011, each time the grief was so agonizing I just wanted to curl up into a ball for the rest of my days.

I can confirm that it does get a little less painful with every new day.

I just want to share some little 'tips' that are working for me. They may not work for you, but I felt they might be worth sharing anyhow...

* I think it helps to observe and interact with as much nature as possible. For example in the past few weeks I had the courtesy of supervising some chicks and bunnies on a visit to a care home for the elderly. Was fun and touching. I also try to watch birds and insects and other animals wherever possible.

* It's important to try not to dwell on the sad memories of our loved ones. These can only make us miserable and is not how our loved ones would want us to feel. Instead, we need to force ourselves to think of the happy memories.

* If you cannot yet face a new pet, a brand new big cuddly toy of an animal such as a cat or bear or goat can be very useful for big hugs, and chats if you so wish, on days you feel sad.

* Feel free to cry your heart out whenever you feel like it. Repressing this need to let it all out only results in a sore head and miserable bad form for me. After a good cry you can feel a lot better.

Thanks for hearing me out. I hope you are all keeping okay.

Peter

Hi, Peter, oh it's so good to see you again with us. Even though we have not corresponded for awhile please know you are close in my thoughts and prayers.

Your suggestions are so o o wonderful - - thank you for sharing them with us.

I have been wondering how you and your dad have been doing. I'm wondering if you still have a little bird come to sing you a lullaby at bedtime (which may or may not always be appreciated).

Peter, thank you so very much for coming today and sharing with us how you're doing. And thank you for the honor and privilege of sharing your beloved Bruno with us. I hope life is treating you and your dad kindly. Please do know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and look forward to sharing your news whenever possible.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi Peter...it's nice to meet you. I'm so sorry for your losses.......Those tips are so interesting and even more interesting that is exactly what my husband and I have been doing. Our Mickey died of heart failure 5 months ago and this weekend for some weird reason has been hard for us.

We feed stray cats at night and whatever else comes by the carport. We feed the birds in the backyard. We have lots of little songbirds, doves, cardinals, etc. Also squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits come by.

I do try to think of the happy and fun times we had with Mickey, but the tears just won't stop at times.

Before he got real sick those last few days, I did buy a life-size toy of a white Maltese, although Mickey was half Pekingese. It does look a lot like him and he gets lots of hugs and head rubs.

These things do help.....Thank you and God Bless...

LoveMyMickey

Hi Peter,

I hope you are doing well. I love those tips you posted. I think they are all very helpful. I don't know if you saw what I wrote in my thread about your video tribute, but I wanted to tell you how sweet and touching it is. Bruno was such a handsome boy. I'm also very sorry for your loss of your mom, but I'm glad you have found these things that help you deal with your grief. I hope you are having a peaceful week and you are in my thoughts.

Much love.

Cinder's Mama

Hi Everyone

Just dropping in to see how you are all keeping. How are you all? I hope that 2012 will be a brighter time for all of us, especially those among us who are grieving over their beloved little heartbeats right now. If you are, and you are reading this, you have my deepest sympathies.

5 January 2012 was the first-year anniversary of losing my precious dog Bruno. I still can't quite believe it. Little tufts of his hair still pop up around the house and make me smile. As I was wrapping Christmas presents a tuft appeared on the wrapping paper. He was such a rascal, and a lovely friendly dog. I like to think that the little tufts of hair appearing are his way of still being a rascal and showing that he's not far away from me.

I'd read that a good way of overcoming grief is to focus your energies into a project of some kind in the knowledge that you are doing it for the memory of your beloved little friend. This appealed to me, so one day I recalled when I was a child I used to feel sorry for a Guide Dogs statue which stood in the entrance of our local supermarket. It seemed so static. My idea was to make a short video called "A Guide Dog's Life", showing the life of a Guide Dog from puppy to adult. I was delighted when Guide Dogs allowed me to proceed with the video, and it melted my heart to see all the beautiful loyal dogs in action.

Here is a link to the 2 minute video: http://youtu.be/84SdKrlCSt0

It was inspired by a tribute video I had made for Bruno: http://youtu.be/pd986yK8Kto?t=3m15s

Both the Guide Dogs video and Bruno Brown Eyes video end with the dog looking into the camera lens. I like to think that Bruno is always watching over me...as are all of our dearly beloved little heartbeats who have since moved on.

My dad isn't ready yet to get a new dog. He used to walk and go everywhere with Bruno, but since Bruno passed away he hardly walks anywhere now. It's still raw for us both, but particularly raw for him. He's 69 and Bruno was his companion.

Oh! This is incredible - just this second I heard a little bird singing (it's 2.52am here as I write this) in a tree nearby. This time last year, just after Bruno passed away, and when I began writing on the forum, I heard it singing for the first time. Always from about 3am! It continued to visit and sing for a few months then I didn't hear it again. Moonbeam on this forum mentioned it could be Bruno watching over me. How strange that as I re-visit this forum for the first time since last year I hear that little bird singing again! (I just ran downstairs and threw out some bread)

Peter

Hi Peter, AHhhh Bruno. What a sweet boy!! I received you response about Chloe and Scooter. I am praying for you and your dad. Thank you for your kind words. Jennifer in Texas

Thanks Jennifer, I will pray for Chloe and Scooter just as I retire now for the night. Take care and God Bless.

Peter in Ireland

Hi, Peter, thank you so very much for sharing with us how you're doing. You have been very close in my thoughts recently, and I am so glad to see you again. How so very special that the little bird who faithfully serenaded you through those many months has returned to share in your and your beloved Bruno's angel-versary. I do believe this little bird is sending you Bruno's heart-filled love letting you konw that he is forever with you.

I so understand how difficult it is for you and your dad to do the same routines that Bruno was so much a part of. Just because the calendar says a year has passed does not mean that your hearts no longer miss the routines you and your beloved Bruno shared. It is very challenging developing new routines - - new normals - - they can only be developed in your own way and in your own time.

I'm so glad you had the opportunity to do the video on Guide Dogs, and that it brought enjoyment to you to do it. (You may remember that my Oslo was a retired Special Needs Guide Dog, and it was a very special privilege for me to be his "retirement" provider.)

Thank you so very much for sharing your and your beloved Bruno's angel-versary, Peter. I hope life is treating you kindly, my friend. Please know you and your dad are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I always look forward to sharing your news whenever possible.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam