benny55 said
Katrina, My Dear, Dear, Katrina...

I know this was unbearably hard to write. However, every single word was so heartfelt, so full of grace and so courageous. Perfect, just perfect.

Dymond transitioning so quickly is a shock that stunned us all. Yet, as other "family members" have said, Dymond did it on her own terms!! No struggle, no pain, no stress of " the appointment"...just Dymond surrounded by everyone she loved, enjoying her Chariot and being able to "be Dymond" right up to the moment she shed herself of her earth clothes and wrapped herself up in her beautiful Angel Wings. In time, this will bring you immense comfort.

Right now, it seems like the grief will never end. The intensity of this journey is like no other. The sadness, the void, the lack of routine that you and Dymond shared...we all understand far too well.

But Dymond left you with thousands and thousands of days of loving and happy memories to stay with you forever. It's just hard to bring those to the forefront right now. But you will. You will because that's what Dymond wants you to do!! And you love her so much, you will do what she wants!! Dymond was somproud of how well trained you were!!! She knew she had you wrapped around her paw!!

Dymond has joined the ranks of super Heros who beat this piece of crap disease! Gentle,sweet, kind little Dymond beat the heck out of statistics, prognosis, gloom and doom predictions by vet! DYMOND IS HER OWN DOG AND DOES THINGS DYMOND'S WAY

Thanks to Dymond, this community has another Beacon of Hope to share with others starting this journey. Dymond, you will inspire and touch lives through your legacy here! Your life mattered! Katrina, I know you felt privileged to have Dymond in your life. Trust me, she felt just as privileged to have you in hers!!

Look for the signs from here. As we talked about earlier, you've already gotten a pretty darn good one! DIAMOND PAW! Need I say more!!

As you can tell from your extended family, you are not alone. We are by your side. We understand.

And BTW, the pictures you shared of Dymond, every single one, showed a happy and content girl. She was very secure in that fact that she was loved by you and your mom....and anybody who ever met her! We all fell in love from your first post! I love how she looks up at you with those soulful eyes of hers! The picture you posted under the Trilawd Angels has that same cute look.

Surrounding you with our love and support, and especially surrounding you with Dymond's infinite love and grace..

Sally and My Eternal Light Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle

You're right, I was well trained and I loved every minute of spoiling her. I'm praying, praying and praying again that those signs keep coming, it gives me hope knowing my little girl is thinking of me. God knows I'm constantly thinking of her! (crying)

roxiesmom said
Oh, Katrina, I am so very sorry to read of Dymond's passing.  I remember you found Tripawds right after the community lost a number of well-loved pets very close together, our Princess Roxie among them.  It gave me such a lift to share in the Angel Exchange with you, and you sent back a picture of your beautiful family with a lovely note.  You and Dymond have always been in my prayers.

I'm not here nearly as often as I'd like to be, but I know that the many hearts here share in all our joys and sadness on these journeys.   You gave Dymond a wonderful and magical life, and the gifts she gave you will always be in your heart.

Sending you thoughts of peace and gentle memories, Liz and Angel Roxie Roo

Oh my sweet Liz...you'll never know how much your generosity touched me and Dymond. You and your family have been in my prayers as well. Dymond gave me the best memories and I will most definitely cherish those. Thank you SO much for your words and your selfless act.

Codie Rae said
Katrina, I tried to post on your blog today and also got the error message. So here is what I posted:

OMD, what you are feeling is perfectly normal. Dymond was your everything. It is going to be rough for awhile but eventually you find the right things to do to honor Dymond and you will find new purpose in your life. Give yourself as much time as you need to grieve your baby girl.
Wishing there was something I could do to help,
xoxo,
Martha, Codie Rae, and the Oaktown Pack
p.s. this is one of my favorite poems about loss of a beloved dog, perhaps it will help you feel like you are not so alone ....
Things to do after your dog has died
Sweep the floor

Look out the window

Pant

Make a cup of tea and some toast

But then not eat them

Change the sheets on the bed

Try to sing

Start to cry

Forget what day it is
Stumble into a corner of the floor and hold your knees tightly
Keen

Pull yourself together

Make another cup of tea and this time drink it

Look out a different window
Stare at that spot on the floor where your dog used to stretch out, languid and happy, his paws twitching as he raced across sleep meadows and into dream ravines filled with moss and ferns and the scent of foxes
Look for the Kleenex

Use toilet paper instead

Wander around the house, your heart like a damned anvil in your chest

Heat up leftovers

Push them around the plate before leaving the entire thing in the sink

Look for what is not there

Hear things

Feel the forgotten fur beneath your fingertips

Feel the forgetting begin
Hold a memory, any memory, bright and shining, soft and sad, smelling of wet fur and leaves, with a whisker there and muddy paw prints left on the stairs, of a walk of a hike of a trip to the park with a treat and a bone and a belly rub snacks stolen off the counter and tug of war and the squeaky toy a glance of complicity in play with your hand on head with tail wagging and breath misting in the morning light or the moon over the trees while an owl croons ears are pricked and nose to the ground sniffing, sniffing, sniffing following the invisible trail to its joyful finding
Put on your pajamas
Turn around three times before you curl up by the rope toy and find yourself chasing the echo of a bark into a night that will never end
Grow a tail
 
Catherine Young 11.27.12

Thank you SO VERY MUCH! You caring enough to share your sympathy and the poem helps me a lot. I appreciate it very much.