To All My Dogs Currier

The Journey (Part 1)

When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey. A journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet will also test your strength and courage. If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark.

Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life's simple pleasures -- jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears. If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information.

Your pace may be slower, except when heading home to the food dish, but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field. Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details: the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig.

Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.

Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching: summer insects collecting on a screen; how bizarre they are; how many kinds there are or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by.

You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chewie toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie with a cat in hot pursuit, all in the name of love.
Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that an old plastic shopping bag adorns your living room rug because your cat loves the crinkly sound. You will learn the true measure of love. The steadfast, undying kind that says, "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together."

Mel Xxxxx June 13, 2009

A touching story, and so true! We have a lot to learn from our precious 4-legged friends. x

♥═══♥ WHY HUMANS LIVE LONGER THAN DOGS ♥═══♥


Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family there were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the four-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn some thing from the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him.

Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.

Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion.

We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right? The four-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply, Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God.

(Author Unknown)

♥═══♥♥═══♥♥═══♥♥═══♥♥═══♥♥═══♥♥═══♥♥═══♥

Mel Xxxxx June 10, 2009

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,
I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.
I saw a wondrous image then of a place that's trouble-free
Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side
Were meadows rich and beautiful -- lush and green and wide!
And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see
Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!
My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new
And I wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, to tell you I'm alright
That this place is truly wonderful, then a bright Glow pierced the night.
'Twas the Glow of many Candles shining bright and strong and bold
And I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,
We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.
So whenever you need to find me, we're never far apart
If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

(written by CG, 1995)

Mel Xxxxx June 8, 2009

For Irene, love from all of us. xxx

~Your Pets In Heaven~

To have loved and then said farewell, is better than to have never loved at all.
For all of the times that you have stooped and touched my head, fed me my favorite treat and returned the love that I so unconditionally gave to you.
For the care that you gave to me so unselfishly.
For all of these things I am grateful and thankful.
I ask that you not grieve for the loss, but rejoice in the fact that we lived, loved and touched each others lives. My life was fuller because you were there, not as a master/owner, but as my FRIEND.
Today I am as I was in my youth. The grass is always green, butterflies flit among the flowers and the Sun shines gently down upon all of God's creatures.
I can run, jump, play and do all of the things that I did in my youth. There is no sickness, no aching joints and no regrets and no aging.
We await the arrival of our lifelong companions and know that togetherness is forever.
You live in our hearts as we do in yours. Companions such as you are so rare and unique.
Don't hold the love that you have within yourself. Give it to another like me and then I will live forever. For love never really dies, and you are loved and missed as surely as we are.

Your Pets In Heaven

(Written by Ken D. Conover)

Mel Xxxxx June 2, 2009

Thinking of you. Love Mel. xxx

•♥• My Forever Pet •♥•

There's something missing in my home
I feel it day and night,
I know it will take time and strength
Before things feel quite right.

But just for now, I need to mourn
My heart -- it needs to mend,
Though some may say, "It's just a pet"
I know I've lost a friend.

You've brought such laughter to my home
And richness to my days,
A constant friend through joy or loss
With gentle, loving ways.

Companion, friend, and confidante
A friend I won't forget,
You'll live forever in my heart
My sweet, forever pet.

(Susanne Taylor)

•♥• It Wouldn't Be Heaven •♥•

I got to the gate of Heaven today, after we said goodbye,
I began to miss you terribly, because I heard you cry.

Suddenly there was an Angel, and she asked me to enter Heaven's gate,
I asked her if I could stay outside for someone who would be late.

I wouldn't make much noise, you see, I wouldn't bark or howl,
I'll only wait here patiently and play with my tennis ball.

The angel said I could stay right here and wait for you to come,
Because Heaven just wouldn't be Heaven if I went in alone.

So I'll wait right here, you take your time, but keep me in your heart,
Because Heaven just wouldn't be Heaven without you to warm my heart.

— Author Unknown

Mel Xxxxx May 28, 2009

My Forever Friend

I know that it must be different,
now that I am no longer there.
I realize how much I was loved
and how all of you did care.
I know it will be hard at first
when you look around for me.
Expecting to find me in my bed
or beside my favorite tree.
Someday you will begin to see
although it'll take some time,
the happy times you shared with me,
the memories are yours and mine.
I'll remember you, my friends,
and how much you meant to me.
So please don't grieve and don't be sad,
it was just my time to leave.

Mel Xxxxx May 25, 2009

♥•♦•♥ ♥•♦•♥ ♥•♦•♥ ♥•♦•♥ ♥•♦•♥ ♥•♦•♥ ♥•♦•♥
Rest your weary head and drift off into dreams,
Frolic in the sunshine and bathe in God's moonbeams.
Use the stars as stepping-stones to take you to your peace,
The pain of life forgotten now you have found release.
Without rain a flower folds, the petals drop and die,
There was no way to save you, you couldn't even cry.
So we cry all the tears instead as we must let you go
To Heaven, and God's garden to blossom and to grow.
The little seed is planted, you'll be watered every day,
The angels will tend all your needs as in their arms you lay.
Your life will be amazing now and full of wondrous things,
Rest in peace, our dear, sweet little ones, go fly on angels wings.
(Author unknown)
♥•♦•♥ ♥•♦•♥ ♥•♦•♥ ♥•♦•♥ ♥•♦•♥ ♥•♦•♥ ♥•♦•♥

Mel Xxxxx May 22, 2009

Home At Last

The trees were blowing in the gentle breeze
The sun was shining thru the leaves on the trees,
The meadows are green and the grass grows tall
Off in the distance you can see a waterfall.

Over the falls; down through the creek
The water flows gently as a rabbit sneaks a peek,
Far up above in the deep blue sky
The birds soar high as they fly by.

The animals play
At the bridge by the waterfall chasing each other
and just having a ball
They play all day from morning to night
There's no more rain; just warm sunlight.

Off in the distance, the trumpets would blow
All would look up and notice a bright glow,
The harps would play and the angels would sing
As another pet has come home, who had earned their wings.

(Written by John Quealy)

Mel Xxxxx May 19, 2009

HEAVEN'S DOGGY-DOOR

My best friend closed his eyes last night,
As his head was in my hand.
The Doctors said he was in pain,
And it was hard for him to stand.
The thoughts that scurried through my head,
As I cradled him in my arms.
Were of his younger, puppy years,
And OH...his many charms.
Today, there was no gentle nudge
With an intense "I love you gaze",
Only a heart thats filled with tears
Remembering our joy filled days.
But an Angel just appeared to me,
And he said, "You should cry no more,
GOD also loves our canine friends,
HE's installed a 'doggy-door"!

Lois Bauders May 19, 2009

They're Only Ours for a Little While

We humans are prone to chase rainbows,
always wanting that pot of gold.
But the wisest of us remember the joy,
of just a small creature to hold.
Allow yourself to accept their great gift,
and know what devotion is worth.
If you've been loved by a dog or cat,
you're the richest person on earth.
But their lives are lived in miniature-
bright sun to palest moon.
They bless our days with innocence,
and faithfulness that's stilled too soon.
These precious lives are fragile,
as fleeting as a baby's smile.
So give them all the love you have,
they're only ours for a little while.
And in the lonely moments,
when you pause to wonder why.
Hold close those brightest shooting stars,
that burn so briefly in our sky.
But then look deeper in your heart,
to know all love must intertwine.
And when the night sky seems the darkest,
you'll see their light forever shine.

(Written by Nancy Hanson)

Mel Xxxxx May 15, 2009