Hi, Doximom, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing, and for sharing this wonderful picture of your beloved Cozy with us. I, too, wish to tell you what a sweet little girl she is. Her eyes are so expressive, and you can see the eternal love you share reflected in her eyes and face. You, and you alone, are blessed with being her beneficiary of her eternal love, and we are blessed with the opportunity of sharing her legacy of her earthly journey with you.

I hope today is treating you kindly, Doximom, and that you will have a peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Cozy's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Thank you so much. The days - and even parts of days- are swinging from the beginnings of acceptance to deep grief to terrible loneliness and back again. I wish I could escape from this but know from other deaths that you cannot. Nephew Brian sent flowers and it was so touching- he is not a pet owner himself and so it was really his recognition what Cozy's death means to me.
I am just trying to hang in there,
Doximom

Hi Doximom, I am so sorry to read about the parting of your baby. I wish I had the strength to reply to everyone's post but I still find mysel so overcome with grief. I have a hard time really expressing my feelings in writing, and like you find myself in awkward situations where people don't know what to say when I talk about my dog Jack. Tonight has been one of those nights that I'm at my lowest. I was searching the Internet for some words of comfort as I was starting to feel the anxiety coming on full force. I came across this poem, it made me cry and smile. You may have read it before, but I will share it incase you haven't.

I Loved You Best

So this is where
we part, My Friend,
and you'll run on,
around the bend,
gone from sight,
but not from mind,
new pleasures there
you'll surely find.

I will go on,
I'll find the strength,
life measures quality,
not its length.
One long embrace
before you leave,
share one last look,
before I grieve.

There are others,
that much is true,
but they be they,
and they aren't you.
And I, fair, impartial,
or so I thought,
will remember well
all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold,
you will be missed,
the fur I stroked,
the nose I kissed.
And as you journey
to your final rest,
take with you this...
I loved you best.

Jim Willis

Thank you for the lovely poem. I know of another that I will try to share. I know that an accidental death has it's additional pain. Cozy was days short of being 14 and she had heart failure. Her death was not a surprise. But the death of someone you love always leaves a whole in your life. I hope you feel better, PomMom.
Doximom

Yes, no matter how or when they leave, we miss them, that's for sure. I am feeling a little better this morning after crying the pain out last night. I'm going to put flowers on Jack's grave and remind myself that I need to be thankful for the time we spent together, I wouldn't trade that for the world. It's such a long road to healing, it helps knowing we aren't traveling alone. I hope you start to feel better too, you will be in my thoughts and prayers.

PomMom

Hi, Doximom, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing. How so very sweet that your nephew sent you flowers. I do so understand how you're feeling when you share with us: "The days - and even parts of days- are swinging from the beginnings of acceptance to deep grief to terrible loneliness and back again." I don't think we ever "accept" the physical loss of our beloved companions. Through my life's experiences I have come to the realization that this grief journey is more of "adjustment" to their physical absence rather than "acceptance."

When our companions are physically with us, they literally become the center of our universe. We live in a physically oriented world governed by the five senses of taste, touch, sight, sound, and smell. Every time our companions touch us, rub against us, lick / kiss us, they are literally chemically imprinting themselves onto us so that they can identify us out of all the other milions of people on this planet. When they precede us to the angels, we literally go through a withdrawal from this physical contact, and it is both emotionally and physically painful. So please let me try to reassure you that what you are going through is very normal deep grief - - painful both emotionally and physically, yes - - still very normal. This is among many reasons why this grief journey is frequently referred to as a horror roller coaster ride, and why it is a journey that can only be traveled one day at a time, sometimes one moment at a time, in your own way and in your own time - - with the confidence of knowing that you are never alone - - that you have the comfort, support, and encouragement from everyone on this wonderful forum.

I hope today is treating you kindly, Doximom, and that you will have a very peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Cozy's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Doximom, please know that though some may not understand your feelings, you are not alone. Losing a beloved companion is one of the most difficult things in life. If you feel the pain about it, it's only because you truly cared for your Cozy. Take each day slowly and give yourself plenty of time and comfort.

Thank you. I know it will take time. I must go in to town to pick up Cozy's ashes today. A wooden box so unlike my warm, plump baby.

Keeping my baby's ashes in an urn in my living room has given me great comfort. Giving our fur babies the proper dignity they deserve helps bring about a righteous closure.
Anyway, my heart goes out to you Doximom. You are now gong through a very difficult time in the grieving process.
I am here for you...
Yours, Mark and Bicky

Thank you, Mark. I enjoyed reading about Bicky's life. He was so lucky to have you. All fur babies deserve the best we can give them.
Linda
Doximom

We have our Jake's ashes in a wooden box in our living room along with some clippings of his hair, his picture and his two favorite chew toys. It is a comfort and makes me feel like his spirit is here with us. Still, after 7 months this very day, I miss his physical presence terribly.

I guess we will always miss them. I think I will eventually put Cozy's little box of ashes beside another from my wonderful yellow lab mix, Glory. I keep them in a drawer with the" last collars" of several other dogs that have graced my life. I intend to be buried with their ashes and their collars. Strange, I know.

Not strange at all. I can identify with that and would like for Jake's ashes to be buried with me.

I came to this site in late January when my dear Cozy was dying. Now I am faced with her sister's death. They were not really litter mates but raised together from puppyhood. Joey is 14. Since Cozy died, Joey has been upset when she is left alone. I think she may have had a stroke in the two hours I was in town this morning. I am hoping that she will rally. And I am hoping that I have the strength to do what I must do. Thanks for understanding. I know that there are more people like me out there that love their pets so dearly.

Hi, Doximom, please permit me to offer you my sincerest sympathies in your precious Cozy's time of medical crisis. Have you taken her for a check up with her vet yet? As with people there are meds that can be administered to help reduce the effects of the stroke - - if that is a route you would want to take with her. Please know you and your precious Cozy are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how your precious Cozy and you are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Thanks MoonBeam. It is Joey that is in crisis. I lost Cozy in February to her poor weakened heart. I wasn't sure how to start a new subject for Joey and just tagged comments onto Cozy's post of months ago. I guess it was foolish to get two dogs close in age with realizing that the pain of losing them might be close in time. Only four months since my Cozy died.
Joey is better today. Eating, drinking, standing, poorly walking. She does not seem in pain. But I am concerned about her ability to get up on her own. And of what will happen when I have to leave next.
I have loved them both so dearly. More than almost all humans.

Hi, Doximom, thank you so much for sharing with us how your precious Joey is doing. This Anticipatory Grief journey is filled with many different emotions that can be as equally overwhelming as the deep grief we go through once our companion has transitioned home to the angels. You and your precious Joey have this special time to cherish and treasure - - one day at a time. One of the many things you need to remember is that you are not alone in your precious Joey's and your journey. Please know you and your precious Joey are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you both are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam