Nikki, rip

[bob perry]

Thanks for that Courtney. Grief , all it's forms, runs deep. Not sure you ever really shake it off.
I just try to manufacture some kind of positive element that will make me feel ok about the chnbge.

I think of Nikki sittong in Spike's lap with his big, forge rough hands cradeling her.
Wish I could feel those hands tonight.

[Courtney]

Thanks for that Courtney. Grief , all it's forms, runs deep. Not sure you ever really shake it off.
I just try to manufacture some kind of positive element that will make me feel ok about the chnbge.

I think of Nikki sittong in Spike's lap with his big, forge rough hands cradeling her.
Wish I could feel those hands tonight.

It took years for me to get over the loss of my first Sheltie, Trinity. She left a gaping hole in my heart, and only after three years of him being constantly by my side, Riley has managed to (mostly) fill that hole. She was a special dog, taken from me far too early (chronic renal failure at 8 years old). Grief is a powerful thing, and though there's nothing anyone can say or do to truly make it better, here's my attempt: the depth of our grief speaks to the depth of our love. Everything is proportional.

I have no doubt that Nikki and Spike are reunited, swapping stories, reliving the good times. No one has come back to inform us about how time passes in heaven, but I believe that heaven is timeless, and that no one "waits."

[tdw]

I'm sorry to hear that BP. You know me, dogs (and cats) seem to leave more of an impression on me than people.

I tell you what however, if it was me with an abscessed tumour, damn I wish they'd give me the needle.

[GerryH]

Gerry, your grand dad was a great role model. Looks like you paid attention. Your a good soul . Thanks for the story.

Thanks, Ed. He really was -- more than I ever knew, because of the understated way that he lived his life. I was truly moved by how proud I was to be his grandson coming out of that experience. I did try to pay attention though, and whenever I need to ask myself how I'm doing in a given situation, I think of what he'd say about it. For good or bad, there simply weren't a lot of grey areas with him.

You should be crying, Gerry. Life is big. We all die. I hope I die the way your grandfather did.

Edit: And we can always use another bass player. What year is your J-bass?

Yeah, we are all gonna go, Keith. Going as he did wouldn't be the worst of it by any stretch.

(I got my bass used; looked up the serial number, it appears to have been made in 95 or 96)

[Lin]

I saw this and thought of this thread.

[Lin]

Something a bit more lighthearted for those of us who like horses and dogs := )

http://youtu.be/fgVPVWXuEoU

[BeauV]

Lin,

Our old dog is snoring next to the bed and there are tears on my cheeks. That was lovely.

Beau

[viktor]

I'm very sorry for Max (and your) loss Bob. I haven't had a dog for many years now. I just don't feel I would be able to spend enough time with one. When we did have dogs we were loving out in the country,I was a house carpenter and could take them to work with me every day. Viki has wanted to get another one for a while now.
Lins post has got me thinking. Thank you Lin that was beautiful.
Russell

[Tigger]

That's a great vid Lin. We have a friend in the Okanagan--she has a rescued German Shepherd--and some horses. The poor dog (came from an abusive situation) cowers in the corner in the presence of strangers--she eventually worked up the nerve to give me a sniff and I was able to give her a good scratch. And then she went outside, and with the horses--she just came alive. An entirely different animal. I wish I could understand what it was and could explain it.

[cap10ed]

Thanks Lin, my wife and I loved that clip. Pam has an older horse and Tegwen our dog doesn’t quite like being in a shared relationship . I’ll have to get the dog to sit in front of the screen and show her how to behave around the horse.

[H B]

Boom Boom....nice...that dog is almost as smart as the horse...heading it off at every pass...but given the little I know about horses, I think the horse was having fun with the dog.

This all just reminds me of the surgery I had on my hand from the 'cat scratch fever' I got after Laura's cat, which was her companion thru her divorce before she met wonderful me, was playing with me one morning not too long before we got married..swap, swap...meow meow..ok I am done, "Chomp", and suddenly, surgery on my hand from nicked tendons via cat tooth marks. Beloved Mindi, is now gone (for several years), but she's left a lasting impression.

Rick, we also have a no dog policy, but I grew up with dogs all the way thru the first marriage, and I am not really a cat person...however, I am recently trying to figure out which is more trouble...a dog or cat on the boat..right now the neighbor comes and checks on the cat that adopted us several years ago, and we still have no dog, but I think she'd be a good boat cat.

Bob, I am sure Nikki & Spike have been reunited.