Fifteen Years Have Passed..., the memories still remain Options

[LS Support]

as of new years day 2011, it will have been 15 years since tribble's passing and the beginnings of development for lightning-strike.com and the USENET group alt.support.grief.pet-loss (which has been taking over by internet meanies).

many things have happened in my life since then, some good and some not so good, but i am happy to be alive. the original site, which was a total mess because i had to code everything by hand (unlike today with all the groovy HTML editors), is long gone but the memory of tribble is not forgotten.

tomorrow i will open up his can of cremains for a friendly hello and to refresh his food and catnip. being an old man again, right now he is probably as feisty as ever living in a warm house with a fireplace and loving every minute of it

to everyone who is here right now on the holidays, realize one thing: it does get better with time. the memories now sad and tear-filled warm to those of fondness and smiles. give yourselves one of the many gifts your furbabies have left behind...time.



What do you do when
a good friend dies?

What do you do when a good friend dies?
Do you lash out in anger and curse at the sky.
Or grasp hard denial, the means of the weak,
In an effort to kindle the comfort you seek.

What do you do when a good friend dies?
Once life's breath, so precious, gives the chest final rise.
In haste you take blame, no other at fault,
You kneel upturned earth and deem all happiness to halt.

What do you do when a good friend dies?
When with him the times, both good and bad, lie.
Do you cast aside the past,
for memories hurt much too much,
Or struggle and fight for that last lingering touch.

What do you do when a good friend dies?
When all of the tears have all but been cried.
No matter how much, no matter how hard you try.
The only thing to do is say farewell.
Goodbye.


© 1996 MD Cohn

[Ann H]

Thank you so much for this wonderful place to come and find healing and comfort. The pictures of Tribble are so beautiful, he looks like he was so loved and happy. The poem is wonderful too thanks for posting all of this with us.
Ann

[CheriAnn]

What beautiful photos of Tribble! Thank you for sharing them, thank you for this place, and thank you for sharing that nice poem. I haven't seen that one before.

Cheri

[BabyHannahsMom]

Thank you so much, MD, for creating this wonderful place that has saved many of us, and thank you, Tribble, for being such a love and inspiration to you Dad.

What a pretty cat. He's beautiful. And the poem you wrote, how lovely, so touching and so true.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Love,
Marcia

[DJ - Edgar, Jess...]

If it wasn't for this site I would have been lost in a sea of despair and grief.

They say that all things happen for a reason - I hope you realize that you have proven to be an immeasurable blessing to every person who has come here looking for relief from the pain.

Thank you so very much - and may your new year be full of love.

p.s. please let me know next time the site fees are due - I'm in a position to ensure that there is no problem keeping this forum alive

[Muffins]

Hi Marc:

Thank you sooooooooooooooooo very much for this wonderful site, LIGHTNING-STRIKE..........

If I HAD NOT FOUND LS IN THE VERY EARLY MORNING HOURS OF February 8, 2004........
Really, I'm not sure, where I would be.

I have received sooooo much help here, from so many wonderful people!!!
I will always be grateful!!

Wow..............Nine years since Tribby-Dog went to Rainbow's Bridge.........and, I have no doubt at all that he greeted
all of our sweet babies that went to the bridge since that time!!!

Ben & I.........also, Ms. Lucy and Mr. Yoster wish everyone here a WONDERFUL 2005!!!!

Filled with good health, peace, much love & happiness!!!!!!

Love Always, Denise xo

p.s. Your precious Tribble was such a handsome guy..... I absolutely loved his white front paws....
He was a beautiful big boy!!!!

[Rusty's Mom]

Dear Marc,

I, too do not know what I would have done had I not found LS on December 10th. I certainly feel fortunate to have happened upon it. I knew there was no need to look any further once I started reading about Tribble and the posts from the kind and caring members here. Tribble was certainly lucky to have had you for a dad. He looks so chubby and happy in those pictures. Your poem also was very touching.

Sincerely,

Lynn

[SJ J & S]

MD

Are our lives too short to mourn our beloved pets for as long as we do
Or are we learning the greatest lesson of all time.

I know when first my loss was so great that I wanted to mourn the longest
And therefore show that my love was the greatest.

Is that therefore our lesson – to learn to love with our whole being?

Is therefore my whole being so small that I only have room to love but one so wholly?
Or is there infinite room for so many more.

Does the path I treat lead me back to my master?
Or am I my master teaching myself.

Is my lesson so hard that I look to others to complete it for me.
Or is my lesson simply to love?

In honour of Tribbles
Thank you

[KayKay]

Thank you for this site and the support you offer to us just by being here. I found it by doing a simple search and would be lost without it. We have much to learn about death and mourning from each other, and this is a loving place to start over when we do lose a dearly loved baby.

I liked the poem and the pictures are gorgeous. You were both very lucky to have found each other.

[Kathleen032]

Dear MD,

This website has been a life saver to so many, including me. On Oct. 30, 2004 I was sinking into a deep depression. I thought I was the only person who was grieving the death of a pet for what many of my friends and family said was much too long. I did a google search looking for some support and found this amazing family. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I still hurt and I still miss Shiloh, but I know I'm not alone and I know I have friends I can talk to about my feelings.

What a wonderful tribute to Tribble...he must be so proud.

Thank you again,
Kathleen

[LS Support]

thanks guys, i am glad LS has helped you. jan 1st came and went uneventfully. i am blessed to have a wonderful
lady in my life right now. she has a cool little labrador mix and i love both of them. i am sure tribby would have
approved

[slbrock59]

What more can I say than thank you for this site and may God Bless you.
Steve

[Steph]

Thank you from me too! This place has been wonderful to me.

[Caroline]

Thank you , thank you and thank you. You have done a very good thing for many people who just need an outstretched hand of support in a very dark time. I thank you, and I know all of the animals thank you....Caroline

[jillybromley]

I also want to say the biggest thankyou imaginable. THANKYOU SO MUCH.

This site has helped me where nothing else could.

Dear Tribble, a very special and beautiful boy who will always be remembered, and if he takes after his kind daddy in helping others, then he is probably busy welcoming all the new furbabies on this site to rainbows bridge.

Bless dear Tribble and his daddy Marc.

with love
jilly

[LS Support]

a post bump for tribby on the anniversary eve of his death. hope you are having fun big guy

[Ken Albin]

Marc,

What began 11 years ago as part of your own road to recovery has become a path for hundreds to work through their grief and make peace with their losses. There are not many outlets for help of this type. Thank you from all of us here for taking the time and trouble to care when most of those around us do not. Have a happy and healthy new year, Marc!

All the best from St. Augustine, Florida,
Ken Albin

[Cleo 1]

Thankyou for this site, it helps me everyday.

Cleo 1

[Muffins]

Dear Marc:

I have to say ditto to everything that Ken wrote . This site has been a blessing to me and countless others -- THANK YOU!
Your beloved Tribby loves you and is very proud of you....

I've no doubt that our kids are having a blast together up at Rainbow's Bridge !

Peace & Love to you & yours always!

Denise, Ben, Ms. Lucy & Mr. Yoster xo

[Moose Mom]

Yes thank you very much for this site, it would be much harder for a lot of us without it. I found it 10 years ago when I lost my Butch kitty. I knew just where to come when my Moustache left us.

You are a lifesaver and Tribble was just beautiful.

Lori