I sent the following PM to a couple of supporters on January 3, 2010:

For more than thirteen months there has been a Sunday ritual – shower, shave, dress, and then a nice long truck ride with my Cherry.  It was one of the spirit lifting things that we did together.  Every week had additional trips but always the same trip on Sunday.  Well, it is Sunday – so the ritual cannot be broken.  A nice long ride along the path we took so very often during that time.  I always had the arm rest raised during these rides so that Cherry could munch on her biscuits or jerky strips as we drove.  During the last few such trips she layed down during the entire ride, and it allowed me to stroke her muzzle.  Of course the arm rest had to be raised for today’s trip.  Call me crazy, but there was a feeling of connection, a spirit lifting feeling for me.  And even though I still feel like the proverbial poop, for a moment, there was peace.  

 When we receive the phone call, we quickly took our long bed, king cab, three quarter ton diesel truck and parked it in the veterinary office parking lot where one normally has to use a shoehorn to park a Cooper Mini.  I left with my little girl in my trembling hands attempting to hold it together.  Once more she was place in her usual place where the arm rest would be, as we rode through the valley once more.  Down some new streets, retracing much of our Sunday Drives, and returning home.  Cherry is once more home.  The fabric of my life and soul is still warped, but at least a little piece of it is again as it should be.  Cherry is once more home.

There is more than one reason for this posting.  First, there is the very selfish desire to bare my feeling to a very wonder, understanding, and supportive community.  Also, after the discussion started by Debra on how she felt about the way that Emily came home, I wanted to show the way that I have chosen – a simple box then separately a simple plaque that can (and will if necessary) be remade until it says just the right words.  Too often, plaques are made by the cremation service or the boxes themselves are etched only to have the mistakes permanently mar what is our tribute to these brave companions.

Below are thumbnail photos with links to larger versions with more detail.  In addition to Cherry’s initial and final box, I have included Allie’s (who we lost to cancer in April 2008) and each of “The Girls.”  As you can see, when Emily ordered Allie’s plaque, she chose a different style and wording.  I adopted that style for Cherry.  The exercise of photographing each box for this posting taught me some lessons as well.  To the casual eye while holding the boxes, there is no noticeable difference between the plaques for Allie, Cassy, or Sandy.  However, the photograph definitely shows that Cassy’s and Sandy’s are more of a matte finish.  Allie’s and now Cherry’s are much more reflective.  Also, the choice of fonts is totally personal.  Again, Cassy’s and Sandy’s are much more legible, but Emily and I like the stylized script.  The community can consider this a sampling to consider.

But here too, I invite all of you to add your hero to this collection.  We can construct a wall of honor for all of them.

Spirit Cherry's Dad