Farewell, Friends, Time for me to move on Options

[Kathleen032]

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

[Ken Albin]

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