Test - Page 67

Mary M S · 06-22-2006, 01:46 AM

Mike, He is beautiful, you slammed me when I opened this thread and saw the great pics you have of him. I lost mine, of 15 yrs a rotti/lab mix with a Lab body and the rottie colors. . In shape he looked very much like Hudson, the coat color diffrent.
When Katrina was hitting New Orleans, I was up 3 days and nights with him with CNN on, (he wouldn’t let me turn off lights and he wanted me awake) In some surreal dream (from the lack of sleep), I have since always felt an irrational connection between the two events as if the New Orleans hurricane both destroyed that city, and a large part of me.
I have never been able to talk about this here in the forum, but something about the expression in Hudsons eyes has got to me, forgive me for speaking of mine.
Honestly, I just can not (and will never) get over the loss.
I am...so sorry.... about Hudson.

I pulled together bits (mine/theirs)...a few months after I lost Nav. Have never done (or contemplated doing) anything even in the ballpark like this before, - but I intend to get the following (or some part of it) engraved on stone, rock, bronze...something....someday, placing it where he is buried. When I can deal with it.

NEAR this spot are the Remains
of one who possessed Beauty
without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
and many Virtues of Man without his Vices.

Forced I resign to lean on memory past.
Small solace, but grant when I call
your ghost come over the grim, dim frontiers of death.
Fleeting down the well-remembered path, and to my side again
Be nearby and though unseen
accord what comfort remembrance brings.

Though I lead a dozen living dogs at heel
they shall not growl at you, nor resent your approach.
Scenting but the presence of that great heart
which once shined forth from living eye
in constancy, fearless and absolute.

For a time earth guard that which living guarded me.
Till God willing, spirits resurrected, rejoicing meet.

"Nav," a Dog.
Found by the beach,
buried in our hearts.
August, 2005

Cees Alons · 06-22-2006, 04:56 AM

That's tough, Mike.

And a beautiful post, Mary!

Cees

Mike Frezon · 06-22-2006, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mary M S

Mike, He is beautiful, you slammed me when I opened this thread and saw the great pics you have of him. I lost mine, of 15 yrs a rotti/lab mix with a Lab body and the rottie colors. . In shape he looked very much like Hudson, the coat color diffrent.

.....

I have never been able to talk about this here in the forum, but something about the expression in Hudsons eyes has got to me, forgive me for speaking of mine.
Honestly, I just can not (and will never) get over the loss.

Mary: No forgiveness necessary. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

I don't think we're supposed to get over the loss. I buried a Dalmatian (Schuyler) I had for 12+ years just before I picked up Hudson as a puppy and still--to this day--miss him greatly.

There is no profound wisdom in this except to say I realize that the only reason such separation is hard is because the togetherness was so special and important.

Eventually you'll look back on those last few days with Nav as part of the total journey and come to appreciate them as much as "the good days". After so many years of Nav being there for you, how wonderful that you were there when your dog needed you.

You'll get that marker put together when the time is right for you. But, in the meantime, you've got Nav right where you need him--in your heart.

Mary M S · 06-22-2006, 11:00 AM

If I live to be a little old lady, I know my future. The last 2 yrs in my grandmothers 90ish range, she cried when reminiscing about only two things, (and she was not sentimental.) Out of countless furred and winged friends and all the people populating her long life, she would tear up only - over my Grandfather and “Blackie.” A female dog who the night before her death (of cancer) took her own puppies without my Grandmother knowing, - and dropped one each off, - on the porches, -of “approved” neighbors houses. It always astounded my Grandmother, that all the neighbors who got one of these ‘gifts’ then begged to keep them. She said she had never known a dog to be so well liked and respected by all that met her.

I’ve already from earliest memory had countless ‘companions’, but Nav was different, I will never in my life have it again...it was a rarest of gifts and I understand the ‘miracle’ that I ever, - even - had it once. 12 yrs, or 15 is not half long enough.

I laughed and cried reading your post Mike....the graciousness of your comforting me right now!
Thank you both Cees & Mike.

Nav’s pics are all 35 film, one day I’ll get things transferred digitally.

Here is the goof-ball of my life who came Thanksgiving.

.....
“Mac” A devilish leprechaun in a white suit, in rare moments of repose.

Some Baby pics: one two

More recent: one two

Mike Frezon · 06-22-2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mary M S

My grandmother said she had never known a dog to be so well liked and respected by all that met her.

What a story!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mary M S

I’ve already from earliest memory had countless ‘companions’, but Nav was different, I will never in my life have it again...it was a rarest of gifts and I understand the ‘miracle’ that I ever, - even - had it once. 12 yrs, or 15 is not half long enough.

Understood. Mac and your other pets will certainly have their place in your heart...but Nav has his own special place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mary M S

Nav’s pics are all 35 film, one day I’ll get things transferred digitally.

All those shots of Hudson were 35MM prints. Get yourself a cheap flatbed scanner, Mary. They are simple to hook-up and use. Digital imaging software is just as easy to capture the prints to your hard drive and you can do some nice things, if you care to, through manipulation of the images. It's nice to preserve some special pictures to your computer...and then with a click of an e-mail you can share some of those memories with family/friends. I'll be sending my daughter who's off to College some of those prints I posted of Hudson. Plus, I'll be burning some video of her and her brother meeting Hudson for the first time at the breeders (before we could bring him home!). My wife, son & I watched some of that video the other night and it really helped us through our emotions of the past few days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mary M S

Here is the goof-ball of my life who came Thanksgiving.

.....
“Mac” A devilish leprechaun in a white suit, in rare moments of repose.

Some border collie mixed in there?!

A gorgeous creature! Ever since my dalmatian, I've had a particular affection for white animals with black markings!

When I can, I'll post up a picture of our current dog, Kelly. She's a little mixed-breed that we saved a few years and gave to our son one Christmas. Truth be told, we thought she would be good for Hudson in his senior years. We were right. She is still a bit confused right now.

Mike Frezon · 06-23-2006, 12:10 AM

Here's Kelly. Just a few years old now. She's a completely different beast than Hudson. They got along pretty well...but she would always try to steal away any attention that would be directed towards him. Kinda like a bratty little sister. We think she's part Long-haired Daschund and part Cocker Spaniel...but we're not sure.

Kelly's still looking for Hudson every morning.

Cees Alons · 06-23-2006, 03:12 AM

That's a nice dog - and a beautiful photo!

Cees

Mike Frezon · 06-23-2006, 03:31 PM

Thanks, Cees.

Keith Paynter · 06-23-2006, 05:29 PM

testt

Mary M S · 06-24-2006, 02:27 AM

Its weird Mike, I come in several times trying to ‘see’ the pics of Kelly, but just keep getting the red x’s.
Although I can ‘see’ your pics your last post...Family Affair? Etc.

”Some border collie mixed in there?” I think, he was ‘adopted’ from the pound, but I’ve had two people (one a friend, and one a stranger who was a breeder who stopped and looked at him during a trip to PETCO) The friend has a ranch with several generations of working border collies, they both thought he looked purebred but saw him at about 4-5 months. Now that he’s a few months older I don’t think he is, body is not quite right (but close). The girlfriend told me there are now ‘patterned’ (white base coat with slight black, usually ears/face) border collies and merle border collies...colors once discouraged by breeders in UK but recently becoming highly desirable and expensive in America.

He was all the things...I normally would not go for, ...a smaller sized breed than I prefer, and white was not a color which had ever attracted me before. I visited him several times (he was being treated for kennel cough) at the pound before I adopted...it was his sheer joy of living and total happiness which attracted me.

....I needed “happy”, the house was a big black hole when I opened the door with no Nav. I home office ...I could no longer bear the silence.

I’m having trouble with my cat, like your issues with Kelly...He’s 14 and was feisty and a lion in disguise till Nav died. He did something he has NEVER done before...a wk before Nav died he started tiptoeing around the house and never made a peep...not one meow.....he continued totally mute for at least 2 wks. after Nav’s death. It was obvious he was grieving. He’d never been a cuddlier, and lived in my lap during that time.

The puppy infuriated him, he whapped the crud out of him every time he passed by...No question who was going to own the house. Now ...he likes him (follows him when he’s in the mood) and lets Mac lick his ears, etc. But he started loosing weight when Nav died, and is just not right...., he suddenly overnight became a wisened little old man. I’m very afraid I’m going to lose him too.