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I had to go back and look at it a second and third time.Quote:
Originally Posted by K9soul
I wish I had done something like this for Casey. I guess it isn't too late. I honestly do not know how to make a video like that with a mixture of pics and other videos. What program do you use?
There are no words, Jess. Tommy was one in a million, the gentlest, sweetest soul God ever put on this earth. He touched me from the very first day I met him here on PT so many years ago. My heart is broken into a million pieces, thinking he left you so suddenly, without warning; knowing the indescribable sadness you're feeling. Never was a dog more loved, Jess, and he knew that, every minute of his life. I will watch your beautiful tribute video tonight, and cry a bit more, a whole lot more, for precious Tommy and my dear friend.
Love, Sandra
Happylabs - I use Proshow Gold
I just want to say thank you again. In the way that you may feel "I'm sorry" is inadequate, I feel that "thank you" is inadequate to truly express how much your caring words, your shared sadness mean to me. With all the differences of opinion and feelings here, this is one thing we all share in, the understanding of just how much our pets mean to us and how deeply they become intertwined in our being.
A while back, I read a book by Dean Koontz called A Big Little Life (thanks to Staci's recommendation and bringing it to my attention). It is about Dean's love of dogs and in particular his special golden retriever, Trixie. As the chapters wound down to the final one and I came to the inevitable sad end that is unavoidable, he said some profound statements that deeply touched me.
I remembered this today, and found the book so that I could reread those passages. I would like to share a couple of them here that had particular meaning to me and may also to you.
"No matter how close we are to another person, few human relationships are as free from strife, disagreement, and frustration as is the relationship you have with a good dog. Few human beings give of themselves to another as a dog gives of itself. I also suspect that we cherish dogs because their unblemished souls make us wish--consciously or unconsciously--that we were as innocent as they are, and make us yearn for a place where innocence is universal and where the meanness, the betrayals, and the cruelties of this world are unknown."
"Dogs' lives are short, too short, but you know that going in. You know the pain is coming, you're going to lose a dog, and there's going to be great anguish, so you live fully in the moment with her, never fail to share her joy or delight in her innocence, because you can't support the illusion that a dog can be your lifelong companion. There's such beauty in the hard honesty of that, in accepting and giving love while always aware it comes with an unbearable price. Maybe loving dogs is a way we do penance for all the other illusions we allow ourselves and for the mistakes we make because of those illusions."
Maybe that helps give an answer to the agonizing "why" when our hearts are torn in two at the passing of these angels on earth.
And, to give you a smile, I bet he has left not only footprints on all your lives, but little Golden hairs strewn around the fabric of your existence, and many years from now, you'll be unpacking an old sweater or garment and find one, golden and perfect, just a little reminder that all the cleaning and vacuuming in the world cannot make up for one determined Golden's furry "gift!"
I had no idea Dean had written a dog book. His words are beautiful and you can tell he's really experienced a special dog in his life. I'll have to get that book and read it.
Karen, you are so right. It happened to me a few times. I'd tuck them in my jean pocket.
This is so true. Tommy's video was wonderful. What a good boy.:) You're still in my thoughts and prayers Jess. {hugs}Quote:
Originally Posted by K9soul
I saw a comment on Facebook that made me come over here. I am so very sorry to hear about Tommy. There is never a good way to lose such a loved and cherished companion. Please accept my sincere sympathy and this very big *hug* on your loss. Run free, handsome boy. x
I'm so very sorry for your loss of Tommy. :( It is heartbreaking you had to say goodbye to your sweet boy so suddenly. I know the pain is unbearable, you will miss him terribly, but in time, I hope it will be a comfort that he didn't have to suffer a long and painful illness.
I watched your video with tears in my eyes - what a sweet and handsome boy he was.
Jessica, my heart goes out to you - please take care! :love:
Rest in peace, sweet Tommy! :love:
Your tribute video is so beautiful it brings tears to my eyes. Tommy will be very much missed.
So sorry for your loss. What a shock you must be in. But how loved he was! I don't know why you're saying you won't ever see him again. Maybe you believe that. But I don't. I believe it's no accident or coincidence that we are brought together with special furry friends. I believe it's meant to be and that we WILL one day see them again. But for right now, and until then, please accept my deepest sympathy. RIP Tommy.
Still thinking of you Jess. :love::(:love::(
You're missed Tommy!
I'm Deeply sorry of your loss of your boy Tommy,Words cannot express how sorry i am.It's never easy loosing our beloved pets,You now have a Beautiful Guardian Angel walking every step with you,He's not far,He will never leave you.
Hugs to you!
I don't know how to get through this. I went to my mom's yesterday and stayed overnight. It helped distract me for awhile. But when I woke up I just felt a sense of panic that I have to face this again. I have no appetite until late in the day but then when I eat I just feel nauseated. The only time I feel any peace is when I finally feel tired enough to just curl up with the girls and go to sleep.
When I came home, I called his name. I knew he wouldn't come, but I called for him anyway. Maybe I'm losing it.
Oh Jess, it's so hard.:( You're not losing it but I'm sure you feel like you are. It will take time, a long time, to feel better about Tommy.
He will always be in your heart. {{{hugs}}}
Jess i know the feeling all too well :(. My heart breaks for you.
Jess, I still talk to my Bobby even though I know he's not there. I don't know for sure that it's normal but I don't think it's that an abnormal thing to do after losing a loved one. Heck, I would often talk to my hubby after he died too and I think I stayed relatively sane.Quote:
Originally Posted by K9soul
It is so hard I know. I don't know if this makes a lot of sense but maybe it would help a little if you could think of what Tommy would like you do. He was a happy very much loved dog because of you, wouldn't he want you going forward living your life with the legacy of some of the joie de vive he had lodged in your heart, to ease the sorrow a little day by day.
Love and {{hugs.}}
Oh I am SO SO sorry!!! I know you must be having such a painful day already and I pray you can remember all the happy times together. Praying 4 you! Rest in peace, Tommy
I lost him a week ago today. It doesn't seem possible that it has been a week.
Sometimes it hits me anew and I feel sick with the shock of it.
Thank you everyone again for your kindness and love, for your reassurances and understanding.
Jess, this is what I thought when I lost John, and it does make sense! Take your time to grieve and do/say things others may consider crazy - cry all you want, it helps in the long run - and you're allowed to! We're here for you. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisH
Sending big hugs and lots of love. :love:
I'm so so sorry for your loss. I know how hard it is to lose a furbaby when you think they're perfectly healthy. My heart is breaking for you and I wish there was something that could ease the pain.
Chris and Jess,Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisH
I still talk to Captain. Almost everyday I think of something he did, and "mention" it to him. It helps to talk to them, even when they are gone.
Jess, the hurt and pain does go but it takes time, and watching tribute videos like yours and Chris's on Bob make it all come back, but in a good way. You keep on remembering the fun times, the happiness, the joy ....... the love.
Huge Huge hugs to you across the miles. He sure was a special boy.
Love
Michelle
Not on here much so I just saw this, so so sorry.
I remember Tommy from all the way back when I was like 15 (almost 22 now).
So sad to see him go :(
Still thinking of you and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, Jessica!:love: ((((HUGS))))
Tommy's memorial is dear to me and I felt guided when I made it, but I also knew something was missing still.
And so I made this one today. A celebration of a once-in-a-lifetime friend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtjJvqRKyKg
Beautiful, just beautiful. Says it all. {{hugs}}
I will come back and look at your newest tribute to him later. Can't do it right now as I just found the strength to look at the first one. There is something about the gentle spirit of a Golden Retriever that I have never experienced with any other dog, although I have loved them all so much. Honey, Lilly, and Zipper are with Tommy now, along with my Murphy and Kaycee who were also so special, but having loved many Goldens through fostering and ownership, I know what you are grieving over. Even though Honey has been gone for six months now, I still look for her, wish for her every single day and when my daughter is home, we grieve together over our loss.
Tommy is with God and many of our friends now. One day we will all rejoice again, together, in heaven. But I know your grief and mourn with you, Jess.
Watching it now and despite the upbeat song, tears are still forming. I love that joyous one of him jumping up about a minute into the video. I always got a kick out of him and his logs (not sticks). I'm glad you made another video. I hope it helped lighten your heart a little.
Just want to thank everyone again for their words. I am glad I made the 2nd video. He needed something happy that celebrated his life. He was such a beautiful dog wasn't he?
I just still struggle a lot with it. With the snow outside, there are no "Tommy trails" meandering through the yard. I feel a twist in my gut every time I feed the girls and his eager face isn't there. But most of all I miss his coming up with his goofy golden grin squeaking his toy and inviting me to play with him while I work. Plopping it in my lap and wagging his tail. Then sometimes he'd decide play was secondary and he'd rather get some loves and he would just lean into me and gaze up with his big soft eyes. Logan, you are so right. There is no dog on earth like a golden. I will have another someday when the time is right. I know there is a local golden rescue around here, but I'm fighting off any temptation to look at all. Now is just not the time for several reasons. And I know what I really want is Tommy back.
I still get the jolts of panic hit me sometimes as it hits me again he has left this world. I'm just keeping distracted as much as I can. I miss him. Miss him so bad it physically hurts.
The second video still bought tears, but also smiles. Such a gorgeous dog, so very happy and so so loved. I still miss Clover tossing her food bowl around when she decided is was breakfast time, she was just letting me know ;).
Just looked at your second tribute and you know... "Thank You For Being My Friend"..goes both ways. You were his friend while he was here and I'm sure he's thanking you too. What a wonderful friendship and time you both had! What a beautiful dog Tommy was! Can't help you with the pain, but that's the risk we take when we give away our hearts. And your heart you gave him indeed!
I brought my boy home today. I had a dream early this morning that I went out in the yard and when I called the girls, Tommy came out with them. In my dream I called his name and he ran to me. It was so vivid.
I woke right after that and soon went to the vet's office to bring him home for good. I just wish it could have been like my dream instead.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...l/tommyrem.jpg
It's good to see Tommy home. When I was waiting on Mandys ashes (these people delivered) I was so afraid I'd lose it all over again. I was so happy to feel like she was home again. I hope it brings you some comfort Jess.
This is so weird. It really is.
First of all, my apologies for not posting sooner. I am so sorry for your loss of Tommy. I remember Tommy and Tasha pics so well. Tommy always reminded me of the typical Golden stereo-type, goofy, sweet as can be, always smiling, beautiful, handsome, and oh so smiley. He reminded me of Shadow form Homeward Bound. I remember seeing your two back when I first joined. I always always enjoyed the pictures you posted. I am so sorry, Jess, that you are so heart broken. I agree, losing a dog is always hard, but so unexpectedly makes it worse.
Maybe this is cliche, and so many people say it, but when I say Tommy lived the best life he could have, I mean it. He was always so happy.:love: Rest in peace dear boy.
I just recently thought of Tommy. I started reading a book called "Until Tuesday" about a Golden who changed a soldiers life. His picture is on the cover and he reminded me so so so much of Tommy. Just his grin alone. I have started reading it and am really enjoying it. Maybe it would be a good book for you to read to? I know it's strange of me to suggest a book in this thread for you, but the picture of Tuesday on the cover really did make me think of Tommy.
Also I am glad he is home now, where he belongs with you :)
I'm glad for you that Tommy is home now. {{hugs}} I hope having him there helps, I know having my Bobs back has helped me tremendously.
I just watched the second memorial video. It is BEAUTIFUL! Looks like Tommy loved life, lived it to the fullest, and had loads of friends, human and canine. I am glad to hear that Tommy is home again an I hope you will heal better with him near. A reminder to y'all... take the time to take pics of your dogs. You never know when they will be gone. February 4 will be 3 years since our family lost our beloved 3 yr old lab mix to a very untimely death. I realized afterwards that I really don't have many pics of her. Partly her fault... she hated pics, but also my fault. Thankfully I had taken two of her with her buddy just a few days before. Praying for you!
Thank you everyone. There is a sense of finality about it all having him home. I am relieved in that, though the hole he filled in my home gapes so deeply still.
Alysser, thank you for mentioning the book. That has actually been in my Amazon recommendations since I read 'A Big Little Life,' which is about Dean Koontz's golden retriever.
Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts.
I feel like the hurt and tears will never end. I feel like I should be getting better, and instead I'm getting worse. Just don't know how to deal with it. I want the memories and visuals that keep popping into my mind to just stop.
It just takes a long time, Jess. {{hugs}}There is no easy way through, just hug the two that remain and let the tears flow. I've been through loss, both canine and human way too often and what I have come to know is that in time the tears will lessen, and the memories will give comfort instead of pain.
Please don't think because I am planning on giving a home to another dog I don't understand. Tears flow for my Bobs many times a day as I am caught by a memory and wish that I could hug that maddening silly boy just one more time.
Oh Chris, I don't think badly of you at all for looking for a new friend to adopt. I wish I could too but I already have the 2 girls and things have already been tight, I need to make sure I can keep meeting their needs so it is not the right time for me to try and add on more.
The memories of him hurt but it's that sudden illness, the last few hours of his life that haunt me so badly. Of seeing him there, wanting to see his chest rise and fall with breath and knowing it never would again. His eyes as he looked up into my face before I left the vet's office, touching my cheek with his nose. I had no idea it was the last time I'd see him alive. I wish I could have held him longer. His toys lay around here untouched. Like they are dead too. It's so torturous.
I have had losses previously, but none so suddenly and shockingly. I just feel horribly depressed. I look at the girls and for the first time see how they lack things that Tommy fulfilled for me. Isn't that horrible? I need to sit down and write a list of all their special features and quirks. I just wish I could go back to feeling numb again.
I'm so comforted knowing that Tommy is back home with you, Jess, home where he belongs.:love: I'm going to watch your 2nd video now. I know, as with the first, I will cry. But along with the sad tears, perhaps some happy ones as well this time, remembering what a joyful, unconditionally loving soul he was, thinking back on some of those happy times you and he shared over the years...his logs!:)
I know you're still hurting so badly, Jess.:( But you have him home now, and I hope that brings you some peace...and you have us to lean on; don't forget that.
Thinking of you every day, and sending you my love and support, dear friend.