*** tear jerker warning***
On July 28th, 2011 our furry friend, Grand Slammin Sam, a.k.a. Sammy (Sam-Bone, Sam Sam, Sammer Jammer) passed away. Wow has this been hard. He was an old man, and was not in pain for long. I held his paw while looking into his eyes and whispered "I'm sorry I couldn't make you all better, I love you" as he took his last breathe. And then I cried. I cried like a little baby, and I continued to cry for a long time. I'm not ashamed, I loved him...
To anyone who has loved an animal with all your heart and had to say good bye, I am so sorry for your loss. This is a pain I have never known.
This dog was apart of so much. When my husband was still my fiance, this scared sick neglected puppy came into our lives. Sammy was there when we bought our first home, he helped us welcome home 2 beautiful babies from the hospital. He traveled all the way across country twice while we figured out where our family fit in this crazy world. He rested with me on quiet evenings when mom-anxiety and stress were just to much, he kissed my face when I cried. Sammy was there when I found out my grandfather had gone to Heaven, he was there when my grandmother joined him.
How do you say good bye to a best friend? How do you just "move on" when you've lost your secret keeper, your foot warmer, your snuggler when no one else understood? The one who never cared if you lost your temper, who never cared that you were in dirty sweat pants with your hair a mess? All he wanted was you to love him while he loved you back...
*sigh*
Yes, I know it will get better with time. I know my heart won't hurt so much as the days pass. But now, right now, it just sucks! We got a sweet card from our vets office that said "Time will pass and the sorrow fade, but the pawprints in your heart remain" I like that. The pawprint on my heart, very true.
A friend sent me this poem, I'm sure many of you have heard it before but just incase here you go:
The Rainbow Bridge
inspired by a Norse legend
By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.
For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.
No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.
They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.
For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.
The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.
inspired by a Norse legend
By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.
For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.
No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.
They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.
For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.
The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.
*WWAAAHHHH*
OK, I know this post is like super sad. I'm sorry! I had to get it all out, I needed some writing therapy.
Sammy's last few days were very nice; we took him out to ice cream, he rode in the car everywhere, we even let him chase geese at the park. He was a happy boy, who brought a lot of sunshine to our world. We'll miss him forever and a day.
Good Bye old man, love you.
au revoir, adieu, ciao, till next time...
