Gone, But Not Forgotten

Dear, Darling Zephyr,

I just finished talking with Mrs. Wetzel from the Obedience Club, the lady who taught your Canine Good Citizen Class.  Remember her?

Well, she remembers you.  Yes, my darling girl, five years and a whole horde of dogs and puppies later, she remembers you.  You were that kind of dog.

I think of you all the time.  Every time I look at my phone, I see your sweet face.  I run my finger over it as if I could pet you, and often I give you a kiss.

Every day at the computer, I see you running across the top of this blog, racing the horses and barking with glee.

After you died, Aunt Karen sent me some poems.  I want to share them with you now because they are so true.  Maybe someone else who has lost their precious doggy friend will find them and be comforted.  They'll probably cry just as hard as I'm crying right now, but hopefully their hearts will be comforted, too.  You'd like that, wouldn't you?

I Only Wanted You

They say memories are golden;
Well, maybe that is true.
I never wanted memories,
I only wanted you.
A million times I needed you,
A million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you,
You never would have died.
In life I loved you dearly,
In death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place
No one could ever fill.
If tears could build a stairway
And heartache make a lane,
I'd walk the path to heaven
And bring you back again.
Our family chain is broken,
And nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.

Author - Vicky Holder

 Treasured Friend

I lost a treasured friend today,
The little dog who used to lay
Her gentle head upon my knee
And shared her silent thoughts with me.
She'll come no longer to my call,
Retrieve no more her favorite ball.
A voice far greater than my own
Has called her to His golden throne.
Although my eyes are filled with tears,
I thank Him for the happy years
He let her spend down here with me
And for her love and loyalty.
When it is time for me to go
And join her there, this much I know,
I shall not fear the transient dark
For she will greet me with a bark.

Author Unknown

Tribute to a Best Friend

Sunlight streams through window pane onto a spot on the floor . . . then I remember,
It's where you used to lie, but now you are no more.
Our feet walk down a hall of carpet and muted echoes sound . . . then I remember,
It's where your paws would joyously abound.
A voice is heard along the road and up beyond the hill . . .

then I remember,
It can't be yours . . . your golden voice is still.
But I'll take that vacant spot of floor and empty muted hall,
And lay them with the absent voice and unused dish along the wall.
I'll wrap these treasured memories in a blanket of my love,
And keep them for my best friend until we meet above.

Author Unknown

About a month after you died, Zephyr, I looked out in the back yard, and Hero had gone over to lay down by your grave.  He stayed there for a long time.  I truly think he knew what he was doing because he was there when we buried you.  We knew he missed you, and I think he was saying so in his own doggy way.
 

After a while, Jet and Bonnie went over to be with Hero.  They didn't know, of course, but they climbed on your grave and then laid down near Hero.  It was really precious, and I wanted you to know.

So dear Zephyr, I want you to know that although you've been gone more than three long months, you will never be forgotten.  You're in our hearts and memories.  You are part of Zephyr Hill Farm and always will be, and your memory will be honored and treasured by all who knew and loved you.

I love you forever, dear Zephie.

Your Mommy