Posted on 12/11/2005 7:42:06 PM PST by The Mayor
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T.G.I.F. at the Finest |
Every Thursday at the Finest  |
Oliver swimming with a fawn. How special was Oliver. We will all miss him, Dolly. I always looked forward to seeing the two of you off on your adventures. Comfort my FRiend, comfort in our Lord. ((((((Dolly)))))
Cool!
Sorry to hear that Dolly.
Peace to you and yours.
Oh dolly. I am so sorry to read about Oliver. I am so glad I was able to meet him this summer. What a secial pup. Codee, my dutchess and many of our Finest Pets will look after him at rainbow bridge. Just remember what a wonderful life you shared with each other. (((((dolly)))))
A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM
The embers glowed softly,
and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room
and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep,
her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me,
angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell,
a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard
to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights
in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic
that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy,
my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded
by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment
or so it would seem
So I slumbered, perhaps
I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud,
and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes
when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough,
I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps
outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble,
I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door
just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold
and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood,
his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled,
some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine,
huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark,
he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me,
and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?"
I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment,
it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack,
brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home
on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment
I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold
and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced
with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said
"Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice.
I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand
at the front of the line,
That separates you
from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask
or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here
like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl
on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas
'Gram will always remember."
My dad stood his watch
in the jungles of'Nam',
And now it is my turn
and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son
in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures,
he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he
carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue...
an American flag.
"I can live through the cold
and the being alone,
Away from my family,
my house and my home.
I can stand at my post
through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole
with little to eat.
I can carry the weight
of killing another,
Or lay down my life
with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front
against any and all,
To ensure for all time that
this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said,
"harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting
and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something
I can do,at the least,
"Give you money," I asked,
"or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little
for all that you've done,
For being away from
your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear
that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us,
and never forget.
To fight for our rights
back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch,
no matter how long.
For when we come home,
either standing or dead,
To know you remember
we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough,
and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you
as you mattered to us.
WE ALL NEED TO PRAY FOR OUR
MILITARY PERSONNEL EVERY NIGHT!
Dec. 12-15,
purple finger for freedom
http://www.purplefingerforfreedom.org/
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1537160/posts
No, tell the truth, you're showing your support for the Iraqi people.
I am so sorry for your loss, Dolly.
I wish I had scrolled down, I also posted this. I need to spend more time reading before I post. This poem must be going around in e-mail.
May God bless you and your Oliver, Dolly. I'm very sorry to learn of his passing.
Dolly, I just received an e-mail from my cousin. They had to have their dog put to sleep this morning. She was old and suffering with terrible seizures from a brain tumor. They are devastated too. I just feel so terribly bad for them, and for you.
Sympathy and love to you, from me.
..not sure I can even get thru one post... so forgive not the individual responses to your comments FRiends..they are appreciated.
Oliver at 5 years old died within 1.5 hrs of first symptom. There was collapse of the lung & the air was filling his subcutaneous tissue & he was puffy all over.. He was not getting oxygen to his heart & the heart was beating like crazy, he was gasping for air & foaming at mouth. guess these are all symptoms are very typical of this condition.
not sure cause but one troubling possibility is gunshot.It is normally a condition according to vet brought on by trauma .. there was no injury to his body
My friend John, who was the kayaker when I found Oliver (he is also on my profile page w/ oliver &his two dogs walking).. was with me last night. I called when all the symptoms started & I panicked & had no clue of ER docs etc.
I met him about 20 minutes south of my home & He drove the rest of way.
We were looking at up to 5K for surgery which might not help. He died within a half hour of us getting there. They were in the process of intubating him. He was conscious the entire time & kept his gaze on me. I tell, you dear friends, there is not a more helpless situation in the world than this
The doc said he lived as long as he did because he was in superb physical condition. Normally this is a half hour death from onset.
I brought oliver in last night & put him on living room floor. I didn't sleep,but held him close all night. several cats joined us .. and Toby was nearby watching. Toby is having a very difficult time also.
today I took O back to my van. the ground is frozen & we have quite a bit of snow. I want to bury him in back yard overlooking the national park & will have "services" .. possibly with those attending, helping with the grave digging. right now I am still pretty much in a daze.
John wanted his two dogs to see Oliver so I took Toby & O to the Brandywine falls area that Oliver simply loved to romp in. chance & Tippy investigated Oliver & friend John took some pix. Including a few for you to see (last one is kiss.. which he has ALWAYS gotten a lot of & a lot of since his death..) O is still very swollen. He is a slick, conditioned dog.. now due to air throughout his body he is swollen
I am not doing well friends.. I feel like my heart has been torn out.. my best friend ever is gone.. thank you for your notes & your prayers..just wanted to give you an update & sorry if I missed someone who wrote...
He had a life full of love and kindness from 'his' humans.
~~~~~~~~
Oh my goodness....no!
Hushpuppie and I both extend our sincerest sympathy to you on the loss of Oliver.
Big Hugs!
(((Dolly)))
I am so, so sorry. You are in my prayers as you adjust to this change. I know you will miss him as I have missed Tippy. Know that you are loved by many.
Chin up..
Dolly...I just don't know what to say or how to say it. I am so sorry and my heart breaks for you. Try to be strong, though I know it will be hard! (((((hugs)))) and prayers for you.
Exactly what I finally decided that I would do. Thanks for the encouragement.
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