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A Place for Us
by Terri Onorato
I know what you're thinking. You think I'm dead. Because you
cannot see me with your human eyes, cannot feel me with your hands
or hold me in your arms, you think I am gone forever. You recall
how I looked when I left this
earth and you cannot remotely imagine that I am alive in another
place. You are racked and torn by the pain of our separation and
it blinds you to that which is right in front of you...me.
How many times since I left
your immediate sight have you been told that I'm dead and you
should "get over it"? How many times have you cried
yourself to sleep because you feel like an outcast, believing
you're supposed to get
over me because that's what people say is normal but somehow you
can't and no one seems to understand? How many times have you put
yourself through such excruciating pain because you aren't willing
to consider that I am not,
by any means, dead?
I want you to do me a favor and go back in time with me. Remember
the glorious day you brought me home - was I not the most
intriguing creature you'd ever met? Did I not make you laugh and
giggle? Did I not look at you
with such adoration that you wanted nothing more than to spend the
rest of your life with me? I wanted this too.
Remember the days when I was in my prime and we did many things
together. You were so proud of me! I was a good friend and I took
care of you when you cried, were angry or felt down and unhappy.
When you didn't have a lot of
time for me because of your obligations, I waited patiently for
you. I was always there when you needed me. Did I not look at you
with such acceptance and patience that perhaps at times you felt a
bit unworthy? You were never
unworthy in my eyes.
Remember when age crept up on me, my bones became stiff and my
movements slower. Still I met you when you came home and followed
you around. We'd been together for so long, I was your very best
friend regardless of what
you were doing, saying and thinking. Did I not look at you with
such kindness and understanding that you felt overwhelmed? I
couldn't get enough of you.
Remember the last time we saw each other with earthly eyes. You
tried to be brave but I knew you were crying...I know you so well,
better than anyone else in the world. Did I not look at you with
such pure trust and love that
you yearned only to hold me close and keep me with you always? Did
you not promise that you would love me forever? I believed you. If
this is so then why have you let me go by thinking I no longer
exist?
Remember the depth of love in my eyes when I looked at you. Who
created this love? Would the Creator diminish the song of our
laughter that grew and flourished in this love? I am no longer an
earthly figure, this is true. My
body was only part of who I really am and it would have been but a
mere shell on earth if it were not filled to overflowing with my
soul, my spirit and my loving light. When we met you thought I was
cute, pretty and adorable. What kind of relationship would we have
had if this were all that I'd been? How could you have loved me if
I'd had no spiritual substance?
We are all made up of energy that resides far deep down inside of
us, it is our core and our soul, spirit and loving light. It is
the energy that is all of life...it has no beginning, it has no
end. It simply is and always will
be and without it there is no life. You can't see it with the
naked eye nor can you hold it in your hand, it is simply a certain
knowing that this energy does exist. It's a knowing just as you
know that our love existed on
earth - you couldn't see our love in a solid sense, you couldn't
gather it all up and confine it to one place. But you *knew* it
existed. There was no doubt in your mind.
There are those who demand you
get over me, insisting that I'm dead and you'll never see me again
because animals don't go to Heaven. Oh really? I'm here to tell
you different. You were as worthy of my love and undying
devotion on earth as I was of yours. Do you really believe this
love would be snatched from us *forever* by a loving Creator
simply because I wasn't human? Was I not a living, breathing
creation with personality? How could I
have been so if I didn't possess the energy of soul, spirit and
loving light? And if this energy is and always will be, then how
can it be that I am dead? If my core is not the energy that is all
of life then I was never
alive to begin with. But you know better.
You cry because you miss me, this I understand. I miss you too - I
miss the belly rubs, hugs and kisses that we shared. But life does
go on beyond these wonderful, fulfilling physical connections. I
came to this place to continue
on in a new life, not because I didn't love you anymore or because
I wanted something better. I came here because it was time for me
to go to the next phase of my existence, something all living
creatures must do eventually. It
is the normal progression of life. I was not taken away from you
because you cannot take away that which was never owned. My
presence in your life was and is a gift to be cherished and
honored just as I cherish and honor you.
Life is not simply about being born into a body, living a certain
number of years and then dying.
Energy cannot die. We are blessed with time in a body so that we
can learn, share and grow. It prepares us for the next phase of
our eternal life. The body holds within it the true life force of
our existence...our soul, spirit and loving light. Without these
our bodies would be empty, blank, void of feeling and expression.
Without our energy we
would indeed be dead and could never have experienced our love for
each other.
You say that all you have left are memories but this is not so.
You see, when I took leave of my earthly body I left a little
something behind for you. You can't touch it, hold it or examine
it, for what I left behind is
far too uninhibited for confinement. I left in your tender care a
piece of my soul. I placed it right next to your own which is
quite fitting as we were always side by side in our earthly life
together. I love you too much to have left you with nothing but
memories that tend to fade and grow cloudy as the years go by. I
love you too much to have vanished without a trace.
How selfish it would be of me to remove love and light from your
life. I understand your tears, each one you shed is testament to
your love for me and I am honored and humbled. But don't forget
the good things we shared -
remember and smile. This is an honor for me as well. When you need
me I will be here. Close your eyes, relax, take slow, deep breaths
and picture me in your mind. Shut off the world and your notions
of what you think death is and give me a chance. Look for the
subtle signs I send you. Don't stop being proud of me, I am a
friend to be proud of, I am still your friend and soul mate. Don't
memorialize the death of my body but instead honor and celebrate
my never-ending life for it is eternal and forever as is my love
for you.
Until we meet again...
My dad, Walter Mason - May26/10 - Jan 16/77
and my
first dog, Beanie - Jan1/69 - Mar 16/78
"ANNA"
October 12/01 - May 11/04
Anna was a one of a kind girl and will never be
replaced. We miss you beautiful girl! Look after sweet Bosco
at the bridge.
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Masonridge's Bosco
May 29/03 - Aug/03
Please
remember to always remove your puppy's collar when you put him
in his crate. Also, never leave anything close enough to
the crate that the puppy could pull into the crate and strangle
himself on. Bosco managed to pull the strap of his owner's purse
into his crate and strangle himself - a very unfortunate
accident!
"Charlie Chaplin"
March 1991 - August 16, 2004
Charlie was our sugarcat - he had insulin
dependent diabetes for the last 4 years of his life. Charlie never
complained about the constant jabs to his ears and twice daily
injections.
Rest in peace, dear boy.
"Tiger"
Spring 1992 - April 22, 2005
Your heart beats strong now dear boy, play forever with
Charlie.
Lindenhall's Stay
At Home
"Hazel"
Feb 19, 2005 - Aug 25,
2005
Hazel stayed with us for
several weeks playing with Emma. She will be deeply missed by Peggy
and Wayne Donovan, Alice and everyone here at Masonridge.
Can.
Ch. Kulta's All Star
"Mario"
October
28, 1999 - June 9, 2007
June
9, 2007 was one of the saddest days of my life.
Annalee,
Kevin, Randy, Andrew and I had to say goodbye to our dear sweet Mario.
As both
Annalee and I sat with him and held him, Dr. Brian Willows and my son Andrew,
helped Mario end his battle and cross over Rainbow Bridge. Mario was a sweet, gentle, loving soul who loved life to it's
fullest. Even during the last month of his life, he continued
to enjoy his daily car drives, his walks over to give kisses to
Molly and Polly (and make Jaxon jealous) and playing with his youngest
son. I chose these pictures of Mario because they show the Mario
that we all want to remember - even when he was so happy he was
airborne!!
We
all miss you so much Mario. Your spirit lives on in your baby
boy, Masonridge's Kindred Spirits. He is already showing
your remarkable temperament and love of life! Your
little boy is so good Mario, you will be proud of him in the
days and years to come. I know you are watching him and he
has big paws to try and follow. As you took your last
breath, Mason whimpered - we know that at that moment your
spirit left your body and entered his. Mason is going to go and
live with Kevin and Annalee because they also miss you so much Mario
and he is such a special little boy.
Until we meet again........ I love you!
Thank you so much
for watching your baby boy, Mason, Mario!
We are so proud of
him - he's a clone of you!
October 29, 2007 -
yesterday would have been your 8th birthday Mario. Mason
strutted his stuff for you at the Trillium show and came home with
Best Puppy in Breed and Reserve Winners. Thanks once again for
watching over your beautiful little boy!
June 9, 2008.
It's been one year since you left us Mario and the pain has not
gotten any better. You are deeply missed every day. It
doesn't help either knowing that if that one vet in Ottawa had
listened to us, you would probably still be here with us. You
have watched over Mason so well in this past year, he finished his
Championship in very limited showing. Please continue to watch
him sweet Mario. You are forever in our thoughts.
Copyright
Masonridge Retrievers 2002
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