Tom's Ghost? Options

[Tom's Dad]

It's been a while since I have posted. Theresa and I are doing as well as can be expected, soldiering on. The other night she seemed quite agitated (more than usual when I get home from work) She seemed to be chasing something in the hallway. I thought it might be a bug, but I could not see or hear anything. She seemed most focused on the door to the furnace closet. Tom used to fixate on that as well to the point I teased him about chasing imaginary "closet monsters" Then I thought maybe there IS some presence there, and now she is picking up on it the way he used to. And then I thought what a bit of irony if it was, in fact, Tom's spirit paying a visit. I did seem to feel his presence, but chalked it up to imagination and wishful thinking. Anybody have any thoughts on that?

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[janika]

Dear Tom's Dad

Our fur companions are so receptive to all things sensory. The last few months, darling Pixie has been suddenly sitting up and really staring at a certain spot in my Lounge. Her ears prick right up, and she looks as if she's following something with her eyes. She also does this in the garden, looking and then sitting in the 'spot' where my Angel girls Tasha and Noushka used to love to play and sit. I also feel their warm and comforting presence at these times. I'm certain it's not imagination and it makes me smile.... so it's good. Pixie doesn't seem at all anxious , just watchful and alert.
It seems as though Tom is letting you both know that he is with you. He is letting you know in a way that you 'connect 'with him. I do hope that like me, you can take comfort from these times of connection.

Hugs
Jan and my Angels and Pixie x

[LoveMyMickey]

Dear Tom's Dad and Janika,

Oh my, you both have given me goosebumps. Sounds like something is going on and I believe it. We don't have another pet to react to anything, but we have heard little noises that Mickey would make. Also one night I thought sure I heard his little toenails on the hardwood floor as he would walk down the hallway to the bedroom. I do feel his spirit around us.

I hope you all have a peaceful day.

God Bless!

[moon_beam]

Hi, Tom, like Jan and Gretta's Mom have shared with you, so I too firmly believe that your precious Theresa is sensing the presence of your precious Sir Thomas with you. There are time when I feel kitty feet walking on the bed when I'm laying down, but it isn't Noah. The kitty feet feel like my beautiful Abbygayle's, and I smile thanking her for the visit. And I also hear things once in awhile that let me know that my handsome Oslo and number one kitty son Eli are here as well. So, enjoy these times - - let it be of comfort to you.

I'm glad to know you and Theresa are doing well. I hope life is treating you kindly, Tom, and thank you so much for sharing with us about your precious Sir Thomas coming for a visit. Please know you and your precious Theresa are in my thoughts and prayers, and look forward to knowing how things are going whenever possible.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

[Baden]

Hi there-
I havent been on here in a while. I have been dealing with my own grief with the loss of my dog. Sometimes its too hard for me to come to this site. But, I check it now and then and saw this topic. After Baden passed, my Dad was with me. He swore he saw his shadow pass by one night. Then out in the field when he was reading a book by himself, he heard him bark. He looked around and there were no other dogs. My dog had a very distinct, very DEEP bark. He said he heard that. I was so traumatized that I would sleep on my dog's dog beds and one night I felt something kick me and I jumped about a foot off the ground, completely startled. I know it wasnt my imagination. I have since moved out of that apartment, but in my new surroundings, I see signs all the time. I too have heard the bark(at night in my apartment), and when I ask for signs I get them when I least expect it. I dont know if anyone will believe this-but when I opened up this thread with the two replies and was reading it, suddenly I heard a dog bark (from my computer). Yes, it surely sounds like Im losing my mind. I thought maybe someone had put a picture of their dog with a bark or something. So, I used the back button and went back into the thread. Nope...didnt hear anything again. Well, it wasnt the bark of my dog...so it must have been someone else's loved one??!! I think they are closer than we realize. Its just tough to not have them in our physical presence. I still grieve everyday about it, but somewhere in my heart I know we all will be reunited.
Wishing you well.....

[Gretta's Mom]

Baden's dad/mom

What a wonderful thing that Baden is showing himself so often to you and your dad. I, too, heard my Gretta's feet walking in our long hallway. Three days after she went home, I did have a dream - about a spirit dog. This dog appeared between Gretta's food/water bowls and the credenza behind them (about 8 inches max. The spirit dog was a golden retriever - not the same as Gretta (a chocolate lab). This dog just jumped behind the bowls, hopped about 1 foot and disappeared. In my heart I believe this was Gretta's way of telling me she was OK - but she knew it would be unbearable if she herself appeared. SO she either took on a new appearance or sent someone else.

I, too, am sleeping on Gretta's dog bed. She was an older dog (12.5) so about two years ago I got her the softest, most supportive bed in the Drs Foster and Smith catalog. Thank you for letting me know that I am NOT crazy - just, as you say, traumatized.

How are you and you dad doing now? One thing we newly grieving (especially first-time grievers like me) need to know is what is this like after 2 months? 3 months? six months? a year? Right now these long times seem like horrible impossibilities. But We know they are real and, God-willing, we will experience them. Baden must have been / be a wonderful dog to be so loved by you and your dad. Have you posted any pictures of him? (I'm a true computer illiterate so I probably just haven't looked in the right place.)

I hope your days are less pain-filled, that they are sunny and gentle, and that we'll all see each other in the perfect World.

Gretta's mom

Hi there-
I havent been on here in a while. I have been dealing with my own grief with the loss of my dog. Sometimes its too hard for me to come to this site. But, I check it now and then and saw this topic. After Baden passed, my Dad was with me. He swore he saw his shadow pass by one night. Then out in the field when he was reading a book by himself, he heard him bark. He looked around and there were no other dogs. My dog had a very distinct, very DEEP bark. He said he heard that. I was so traumatized that I would sleep on my dog's dog beds and one night I felt something kick me and I jumped about a foot off the ground, completely startled. I know it wasnt my imagination. I have since moved out of that apartment, but in my new surroundings, I see signs all the time. I too have heard the bark(at night in my apartment), and when I ask for signs I get them when I least expect it. I dont know if anyone will believe this-but when I opened up this thread with the two replies and was reading it, suddenly I heard a dog bark (from my computer). Yes, it surely sounds like Im losing my mind. I thought maybe someone had put a picture of their dog with a bark or something. So, I used the back button and went back into the thread. Nope...didnt hear anything again. Well, it wasnt the bark of my dog...so it must have been someone else's loved one??!! I think they are closer than we realize. Its just tough to not have them in our physical presence. I still grieve everyday about it, but somewhere in my heart I know we all will be reunited.
Wishing you well.....

[Tom's Dad]

Thanks, everyone for chiming in with your kind words. I thought I was cracking up or maybe had been watching too much Hauntings on Animal Planet. I used to get a sense of Tom often not long after he passed with no outside help (Theresa) But, as time went on, not so much. I'm going to look upon this as a gift from both Tom and Theresa, his "messenger" ~

[Baden]

Hi Gretta's Mom-

I am very sorry to hear about your loss. I just love labs. Mine was a black lab. Im not sure if I am the best person to ask about the grieving process. I think everyone has their own unique way to grieve and their own personal situation. For me, it has been really really hard. Not a day goes by that I do not think about Baden. I miss him more than life itself. He was 15.5 yrs old and he was my everything and my first-I had him since I was 19. I am not married, nor do I have a bf or kids. I do not even live close to any family so besides phone calls I am rather on my own with this. I think those that have family/kids/husbands/wives to fall back on may be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel a bit sooner. For me, I have had to really distract myself by getting busy with work, meeting new people, staying away from people that drag me down but rather pick me up, and just focus on other things. For some people this website has been hugely supportive, but for me I have needed to come here less frequently because it just recreates all of that pain all over again when I see other people suffering in the same way. I am glad that others can be there, as I am still trying to regain my strength. It has been 10 mos for me, and the crying has definitely lessened but I do still wake up after a dream or hear a certain song and cant hold the tears back. Someone once said that you dont get over it, you just get through or learn to adjust. Some days I am honestly just getting through. Other days I enjoy but I still think back to the joy that my dog brought me and I have not found that hereafter. There really is no easy answer. I think there is some comfort in keeping some personal things. I still have my dog beds in the back of my car and when Im tired I crawl in the back and take a nap. I dont care what anyone thinks, I feel somewhat comforted as I can at least still smell him. Its like laying on a temperpedic bed (as I too got the nice ones in his old age). And...I know what you mean about not being able to handle it. I tell my dog to show himself and if he does, sometimes I completely freak out. I think that is why I have not seen a full-on ghost/spirit entity of him. Im just not sure I would be able to handle it. So, I think I get it in small doses. Although Baden was my dog, he was a special entity to my family. My dad still cannot talk about it too much, or should I say on a very deep level. He gets overwhelmed because he is truly sad as well. He tells me how much he misses him.

I do wish you peace Gretta's Mom-its a very hard journey. There are some lovely people on this site who can help you though....
Be Blessed....
Amy