Remembering Max - 1999-2007
MISS ME BUT LET ME GO When I come to the end of the road, and the sun has set for me. I want no rites in a gloom filled room, why cry for a soul set free. Miss me a little, but not for long, and not with your head bowed low. Remember the love that we once shared, miss me but let me go. For this is a journey, we all must take, and each must go alone. It's all a part of the Master's plan, a step on the road to home. When you are lonely, and sick of heart, go to the friends we know. And bury your sorrows, in doing good deeds. Miss me, but let me go. - Author Unknown |
| LAST NIGHT I stood by your bed last night; I came to have a peep. I could see that you were crying you found it hard to sleep. I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear, "It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here." I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea, You were thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me. I was with you at the shops today; your arms were getting sore. I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more. I was with you at my grave today; you tend it with such care. I want to re-assure you, that I'm not lying there. I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key. I gently put my paw on you; I smiled and said, "it's me." You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair. I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there. It's possible for me, to be so near you everyday. To say to you with certainty, "I never went away." You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew... in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you. The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning and say "good-night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning." And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide, I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side. I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see. Be patient, live your journey out...then come home to be with me. - Author Unknown |
July 20, 2007
Max, my big English Mastiff “puppy” died today, suddenly, apparently. Rick called me about 6 and told me, after he had cleaned up
the mess because Max lost his bowels. Bless Rick’s sweet heart, he didn’t want me to have to do that. He loaded him in the back
of his truck and we took him to the Marina to let them deal with him. My friends know that Max was like my only child, I had him
since he was 6 weeks old. I didn’t pick him, he picked me. My first husband, Eldon, was still alive, and he went with me to
McAlester to look at mastiff puppies. They had the momma dog and all these wonderful puppies in the back of a pickup, and all of
the puppies stayed up by the cab, except Max. He headed straight for me, and once I picked him up I couldn’t put him down. We
intended for Eldon to hold him while I drove home, but Max wasn’t having any of that. He crawled into my lap between my belly and
the steering wheel, and stayed there almost all the way, except for when he crawled up and wrapped himself around my neck.
I know that nobody else understood why he meant so much to me, most people don’t want a dog even half his size. I’m not sure
myself, I just knew I wanted a big dog.
For a long time he went everywhere with me, even to work – thank you Ken and Tom. I’ll never forget how he used to try to lick Julie’
s feet when she had on sandals. When Eldon died, Max was my rock, he kept me company and was always here to welcome me
home, and gave me something warm to wrap my arms around. He used to lay under my feet out here in the sunroom while I
studied or worked. Got in the way a lot. After Rick came along, he kind of took 2nd place, which is as it should be, but he loved Rick
as much as Eldon, and Rick loved him back. You couldn’t help but love him, even if you didn’t like his bigness and his slobber. I
loved Fleetwood (English Sheepdog I had for a while) too, but he wasn’t Max. Despite all his slobber and ear infections and lumps
and hair that he shed everywhere, he loved me unconditionally, and I will never forget him. I hope each of you at least once in your
life has the opportunity to know the love of a special dog like Max.
In some ways it helps that we have the girls, Lucy and Ethel, our two bloodhounds, but it’s so different because they play more with
each other and they are more Rick’s dogs than mine. They still have that unconditional love that most dogs have for their humans.
But they are not Max. I’ll probably grieve for a while, but mostly I’m remembering his sweetness and him getting in my lap even as
big as he was.
I know some people just don’t get it when a pet dies and a human grieves, but those of us who are animal lovers know why. I guess
I’m being kind of silly, but I miss him already and wanted to share these thoughts with people who have been close to me while Max
was in my life, and I sent this in an email to them. Most of them have or have had dogs who meant a lot to them. So, if you love
animals, especially dogs, whether I know you or not, I hope you treat them well.
SHERRI K. ANDERSON
Max, my big English Mastiff “puppy” died today, suddenly, apparently. Rick called me about 6 and told me, after he had cleaned up
the mess because Max lost his bowels. Bless Rick’s sweet heart, he didn’t want me to have to do that. He loaded him in the back
of his truck and we took him to the Marina to let them deal with him. My friends know that Max was like my only child, I had him
since he was 6 weeks old. I didn’t pick him, he picked me. My first husband, Eldon, was still alive, and he went with me to
McAlester to look at mastiff puppies. They had the momma dog and all these wonderful puppies in the back of a pickup, and all of
the puppies stayed up by the cab, except Max. He headed straight for me, and once I picked him up I couldn’t put him down. We
intended for Eldon to hold him while I drove home, but Max wasn’t having any of that. He crawled into my lap between my belly and
the steering wheel, and stayed there almost all the way, except for when he crawled up and wrapped himself around my neck.
I know that nobody else understood why he meant so much to me, most people don’t want a dog even half his size. I’m not sure
myself, I just knew I wanted a big dog.
For a long time he went everywhere with me, even to work – thank you Ken and Tom. I’ll never forget how he used to try to lick Julie’
s feet when she had on sandals. When Eldon died, Max was my rock, he kept me company and was always here to welcome me
home, and gave me something warm to wrap my arms around. He used to lay under my feet out here in the sunroom while I
studied or worked. Got in the way a lot. After Rick came along, he kind of took 2nd place, which is as it should be, but he loved Rick
as much as Eldon, and Rick loved him back. You couldn’t help but love him, even if you didn’t like his bigness and his slobber. I
loved Fleetwood (English Sheepdog I had for a while) too, but he wasn’t Max. Despite all his slobber and ear infections and lumps
and hair that he shed everywhere, he loved me unconditionally, and I will never forget him. I hope each of you at least once in your
life has the opportunity to know the love of a special dog like Max.
In some ways it helps that we have the girls, Lucy and Ethel, our two bloodhounds, but it’s so different because they play more with
each other and they are more Rick’s dogs than mine. They still have that unconditional love that most dogs have for their humans.
But they are not Max. I’ll probably grieve for a while, but mostly I’m remembering his sweetness and him getting in my lap even as
big as he was.
I know some people just don’t get it when a pet dies and a human grieves, but those of us who are animal lovers know why. I guess
I’m being kind of silly, but I miss him already and wanted to share these thoughts with people who have been close to me while Max
was in my life, and I sent this in an email to them. Most of them have or have had dogs who meant a lot to them. So, if you love
animals, especially dogs, whether I know you or not, I hope you treat them well.
SHERRI K. ANDERSON
THE RAINBOW BRIDGE Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they miss someone very special to them; who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. The bright eyes are intent; the eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to break away from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. YOU have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. THEN YOU CROSS RAINBOW BRIDGE TOGETHER... author unknown GOODBYE FOR NOW, MAX. I LOVE YOU. |
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” Will Rogers |
| For a really great video of the rainbow bridge poem set to music go to http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html |
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I so hope these words are true:
