Bonnie,

What a great idea. I also am a lurker and when I miss a couple of days I worry about who may have crossed over and it makes my stomach lurch BUT I also take great joy in seeing all the help the members give to new tripawd owners. It's a very difficult journey and usually family, coworkers and even other dog or cat friends don't understand how you feel and they certainly can't give you advice but the Tripawds community can. And I would like to think many of the new members can make more intelligent decisions and are greatly comforted by the experience of others. It certainly helped me. My little Maggie didn't have too much time but going on this site really helped me with her cancer and I really embraced the "Be More Dog " which is especially important when the end is near and your own emotions are whacky.

On another note I rally behind Elizabeth on starting a new forum on crazy puppies. Here's my Hank at a rare quiet moment. But you can see he is planning something evil.

Penny, Blink, Hank and Angel Maggie

penny4weims said

Bonnie,

What a great idea. I also am a lurker and when I miss a couple of days I worry about who may have crossed over and it makes my stomach lurch BUT I also take great joy in seeing all the help the members give to new tripawd owners. It's a very difficult journey and usually family, coworkers and even other dog or cat friends don't understand how you feel and they certainly can't give you advice but the Tripawds community can. And I would like to think many of the new members can make more intelligent decisions and are greatly comforted by the experience of others. It certainly helped me. My little Maggie didn't have too much time but going on this site really helped me with her cancer and I really embraced the "Be More Dog " which is especially important when the end is near and your own emotions are whacky.

On another note I rally behind Elizabeth on starting a new forum on crazy puppies. Here's my Hank at a rare quiet moment. But you can see he is planning something evil.

Penny, Blink, Hank and Angel Maggie

Hi Penny,
I think you are way more than a lurker here......you are always around to be supportive and help out with your own experience when the need arises, and sure hope you continue to do so. You are a big part of this community, and always will be, so always remember that.

And I think the puppy idea is awesome!! We all surely love puppies around here, kind of a circle of life thing......much needed happiness when some days can be so sad here. Elizabeth and you, both have my vote for this idea!

Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly

micaroxy said

What a great idea. I pop in from time to time but not daily like when Roxy was around. I'll be sure to post updates here when I have news.

Hi Roxy's mom,
I know we all felt the same way you do once our beloved Tripawds leave for the Bridge, so now we have a gathering place here on our Alumni Forum.......Please do come around for any updates with new pups, or just to check in with us......once a member, we will all have a permanent place here, and our precious Tripawds will never be forgotten here.

Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly

Bonnie,

Such a great idea I am in!   Alison and Bonnie- Love the pictures, they truly capture the relationship.

I have continued to stay on to hopefully help new comers and make them feel welcome, as you all made me feel.  You have all brought clarity, empathy and humor to a precarious time in my life.

Laurie

Thank you all for creating yet another magical place within Tripawds; helping us remember joy and find solace in its loss.  It's hard for me to believe that today is one year since our Angel Princess Roxie crossed the bridge.  She was so brave and funny and happy and SO IN-THE-MOMENT-BE-MORE-DOG.  We only had her for the last 15 months of her 12 years, and the last 6 months we supported her battle with that stinking cancer.  I still catch my breath when I look in the rearview mirror on driving-to-the-park days and see a furry face as beloved, but different from, her Samoyed smile.  Our goofy quad-GSD, Smokey has had a new GSD sis named Abby since March, and they have turned into twin idiot lab-brains.  And I hear Roxie's Roo Roo laughing from above because Abby's attached to his butt 24/7 and they go to sleep together exhausted every night.

It just makes perfect sense to me that Sassy and Snoop, Happy Hannah, and all the others whom we've loved and had to let go have had a paw in directing a new soul where it's most-needed and will be best-loved.

I used to believe in "The Dog"; the one and only most-special one in my life.  His name was Logan, I lost him 3 years ago, and I mourn him still.  But without Logan I wouldn't have have his little sis, Spirit M.E. Lou, or Smokey, or Angel Roxie, or Abby.  And then there are all the cats past and present, including one who is fighting her own battle with illness with more fight and feisty than an 8-pound ball of fur should be able to muster. I've lived long enough to now believe that, with each new/old one who comes into my life and stays awhile, that each is "THE Dog", or "THE Cat" in their moment and for their purpose. I think that our hearts expand with the act of loving another, and that makes a special place for the next and the next.  And that honors the memory of each who's passed before.  So I'll pass a prayer up for Roxie and all our friends with thanks for the love they taught us.

Roo-Roo, you're always right here in my heart.

-Liz

Michelle said
You are so right in your description of the "The Dog" or "The Cat"  but I think our Tripawds will always hold a special special spot in all of our hearts.  I know Sassy always will.  Not that I don't think about my dogs that I had before her she just holds a very very special spot.

 Hugs

Michelle & Angel Sassy

Soooooooooooooooo agree with you Michelle...  Maggie will always hold a very very very special spot in my heart.  Forever and ever and ever.....

Awful August...that it was, that it was  

Tracy & Spirit Maggie

Thank you, Michelle and Sally; you always offer support and make others feel so much better.  And Michelle, you and Tracy were absolutely right about our Tripawds having a most special place in our hearts.  I just think we let ourselves be haunted by unnecessary guilt when we open our hearts and homes and selves to another, as if there isn't enough to go around.  What a miracle to have the bonds we have and to celebrate each different one. 

Logan was The Best Baddest Dog Anywhere; that was his title and he earned it and he wore it proudly. He also answered to Sh!%head, but that's another story.  He was the typical Center-of-the-Universe GSD and he negotiated everything.  I'd ask for a behavior, he'd tilt his head to see what reward was in my hand, and all bets were off if it wasn't good enough.  But he'd eventually comply and I'd laugh and laugh at what an old soul he was and so much like me that when he passed I felt like I'd been cut in half.  When we later got the call about Smokey being available I was relieved that his coloring, size, and attitude were completely different from Logan - so I didn't tend to compare them.  Smokey is his own VERY goofy boy who lives to please and shares his treasured stuffies with us and the cats.  He left behind the submissive peeing problem that caused his career change from guide dog school, and he has become Abby's guide through her new life with us.  I love every swish of his wagwag-kisskiss tail, and, although Logan's probably Up There rolling his eyes, I don't think he begrudges me these next loves in my life - because he lives always in my heart.  That, and his urn's the biggest on the shelf!  But Roxie's has the most bling (thanks to Rene).

We just need to be gentle with ourselves.

-Liz and Angel Roxie (and all the rest of our Dearly Departeds)