Rufus Has Moved!, But he took my love and tears with him Options

[Gretta's Mom]

Hello Lightning Strikers

You have helped me so much with the passing of my beautiful black dog, Rufus. He is half black lab and half Newfie. Your words have made my grief and loneliness easier to bear and I hope some of my words have helped somebody else, too.

Rufus, I am going to try again to make you a big green "welcome" message. I hope it works but I'm pretty sure it won't!

[font="Comic Sans MS"][/font][color="#00FF00"][/color]

Well I see I have failed again, but know that all the animals in this part of Lightning Strike welcome you.

Have a beautiful day, My Big Black Dog!

Your mom

[Gretta's Mom]

Good morning, Rufus, my Big Black Dog,

Did you see that our good friend Todd, Misty's dad, knighted you? That's when a King gives someone a big medal and a special name "Lord" because that person has done a very special good deed. That's you, Lord Rufus.

Here on earth, you were both very strong and very gentle. You are a very big dog and your foster mom cautioned me about letting you too near children because she wasn't sure how you would act. And, indeed, the first time I took you to visit my friends at work, the crowded you too much and you snapped, but very lightly and not at anyone in particular. That was the last time you ever did that. Little Frieda, our next door neighbor, the little girl who wasn't quite right, always ran over to you (because that's what she had done with your sister) and yelled your name and you never made a move. It was a while before I let her pet you, especially after you had your "came; hump" taken off and got lots of your hair shaved and had to wear T-shirts when we went for walks. But you never made a move toward her or any other of the neighborhood children.

Rufus, you know I'm still in Trevor's old house (well, not exactly, I do have my own apartment but they won't let me have any pets AT ALL - meanies). Only six more months until I can move somewhere that I can have a dog and then I'll get one to add to our family and to be with me like you and Gretta were. I miss you SO much. I miss your soft fur. I miss your huge feet. I miss your one bark warning the people across the hall to quiet down. I miss you being at the door every noon and night when I came home to go on a walk. I even miss you nudging my elbow when I was working on the computer and you wanted to go on a walk. Of course, you won, and of course a walk IS the much better choice. I get that now. I really do.

Please tell Trevor's mom that I miss her more than life. And the dad, who loved the way you sat so still looking like a statue. And all your cousins - I knew all of them except the two birds Spot and Squirt and your oldest cousin, Crocker. But I love them just the same. My heart is still very sad that all of you have left the earth, but I am happy that you are in the Perfect World, where you are healthy and happy and young again and can understand each other and have good food and fresh water and sunshine when you want it and cool shade when you get sweaty from playing and best of all the Good Shepherd to watch over you and take care of you. Someday if I'm good, I'll be able to join you and we'll all live together in peace and happiness - FOREVER!

I love you Lord Rufus (and, to me you'll always be my Big Black Dog, Baby Rufus)

Thank you for always being at my side in spirit, Baby.

Mom XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO